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iSP Arbors

At iStudio Projects, our iSP Side-Loading Rod Arbor series is a professional-grade counterweight fly system arbor engineered for theatrical rigging applications ranging from intimate black box venues to full-scale performance halls. Available in seven travel heights from 3 ft through 9 ft, the series provides a precisely matched counterweight solution for virtually any stage configuration or fly tower dimension. Each arbor features a heavy-duty side-loading rod design that allows counterweight bricks to be loaded and unloaded from the side at the loading rail — a practical, efficient workflow that keeps load changes fast and straightforward. Structural integrity across the full rod height is maintained by required spreader plates at every 2 ft interval, ensuring rigid rod alignment and dimensional stability even at maximum counterweight capacity. Compatible with both standard 5″×1 7/8″ and 5″×1 1/8″ counterweight brick formats, the series scales from a compact 56 lb arbor body carrying 504 lbs (ISP.RA3) up to the 100 lb flagship ISP.RA9 capable of accommodating nearly 2,000 lbs of counterweight — giving production teams the flexibility to precisely balance everything from lightweight drops and scrims to fully loaded pipe battens carrying heavy scenic elements. Every unit is stamped with a fabrication date for full lifecycle and inspection traceability and is built in compliance with ANSI E1.47 annual inspection requirements.

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Product Description

Manufacturer: iStudio Projects, Inc.

Address: 4540 S. Pinemont Drive, Suite 100, Houston, TX 77041

Rod Diameter: 3/4″

Arbor Width: 10″

Spreader Plates: Required every 2 ft along full rod height

Brick Compatibility: 5″×1 7/8″ and 5″×1 1/8″ standard counterweight bricks

Inspection Standard: ANSI E1.47 (annual inspection required)

Fabrication Date: Stamped on each unit

  • Seven Travel Heights in One Unified Series — available from 3 ft through 9 ft travel height, providing a precisely matched counterweight arbor for any fly tower configuration or venue scale
  • Side-Loading Rod Design — counterweight bricks load and unload from the side at the loading rail, enabling fast, efficient brick changes without disassembling the arbor
  • High Counterweight Capacity — scales from 504 lbs (ISP.RA3, 5″×1⅛” bricks) up to 1,961 lbs (ISP.RA9, 5″×1⅞” bricks), covering the full range of theatrical load requirements
  • Dual Brick Format Compatibility — accepts both 5″×1⅞” and 5″×1⅛” standard counterweight bricks, offering flexibility in counterbalancing precision and load increments
  • Spreader Plates Every 2 ft — structural spreader plates at 2 ft intervals along the full rod height maintain rod alignment, rigidity, and dimensional stability at all load levels
  • Fabrication Date Stamped on Each Unit — enables full lifecycle tracking, inspection scheduling, and compliance documentation from initial installation through end of service life
  • ANSI E1.47 Compliant — designed and labeled for annual inspection per the industry-standard rigging safety inspection protocol
  • Heavy-Duty Construction — 3/4″ rod diameter and 10″ arbor width provide robust structural performance across the full capacity range
  • Scalable Across Productions — the consistent series architecture allows venues to specify multiple arbor heights within the same fly system for varied line set requirements
  • iStudio Projects Proprietary Design — engineered and documented by iStudio Projects, Inc., with full cut sheet documentation available for all seven variants

Load Limit: Never exceed the maximum brick capacity for the installed model — consult the product data sheet for the specific capacity of each model by brick type; overloading creates a critical out-of-balance condition that presents an immediate safety hazard
Brick Loading: Load and unload counterweight bricks only at the designated loading rail with the arbor positioned at the correct loading height; never attempt to add or remove bricks from a moving arbor
Brick Compatibility: Do not mix 5″×1⅞” and 5″×1⅛” bricks within the same arbor without recalculating total counterweight; always verify the combined load is appropriate for the batten being balanced
Spreader Plates: Confirm all spreader plates are properly seated and secure before operation; missing or loose spreader plates compromise rod alignment and structural integrity, particularly at higher travel heights (RA7–RA9); do not operate with any spreader plates absent or loose
Rope Condition: Inspect the operating line before each use for twisting, kinking, fraying, or damage; do not operate with a compromised rope — at high counterweight loads, rope failure presents a severe safety risk
Equipment Condition: Do not operate damaged, malfunctioning, or field-modified equipment; any modification to the arbor structure, rod, spreader plates, or attachment hardware voids safe operating parameters
Clearance: Maintain clear zones around the full arbor travel path, rope paths, and all pinch points; at taller travel heights (RA7–RA9), the extended arbor travel zone requires a proportionally larger clear area
Sequential Loading: For high-capacity models (RA7–RA9), load counterweight bricks sequentially and incrementally to maintain balance throughout the loading process; do not front-load the full counterweight capacity before connecting to the batten
Annual Inspection: Required per ANSI E1.47; document the fabrication date, inspection date, inspector name, and any observations for each unit; the fabrication date stamp on each arbor supports this tracking
Brick Storage: Store unused counterweight bricks in a stable, organized rack near the loading rail; never leave loose bricks on loading rail platforms or in areas where they could fall into the fly tower
Decommissioning: Any arbor showing structural deformation, rod damage, or attachment hardware failure must be removed from service immediately and inspected by a qualified rigger before return to use

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