Technical Productions, Inc., Adds Elation Paragon S Units to Inventory

	"We can fine-tune focus and color during the show, dial in CTO to match cameras and LED walls, and then use those same fixtures later as effects or beam lights. Having something that can do multiple jobs just makes it so much easier," says Schaper.

St. Louis-based design, production, and systems integration company Technical Productions, Inc. (TPI) has added Elation Paragon S LED profile luminaires to its rental inventory, investing in the award-winning fixtures to support an increasingly diverse range of event and production demands.

"Every investment we make has to work across a range of applications," says Ryan Schaper, technical director at Technical Productions, Inc. "What we do is so diverse, we can't justify buying fixtures that only excel at one job. So we were looking for a moving light that could shine in certain applications and then fill other roles that it wouldn't typically be used in."

After seeing an early iteration of the Paragon platform at LDI 2023 and the finished product at its official launch at LDI 2024, TPI took delivery in May 2025 and debuted the fixtures at the Opera Theatre of Saint Louis Gala. Since then, Paragon S has become a key component of TPI's lighting inventory.

TPI wanted a fixture compact enough for one person to handle (under 50lb and under 2' tall), yet powerful enough to tackle several environments. It needed to deliver crisp aerial effects and gobo projections, offer outstanding optics and color quality, and provide accurate color for broadcast and live-streamed productions. An IP rating was equally important as outdoor weddings make up a significant part of the company's business.

The fixtures have allowed TPI to rethink traditional lighting workflows. Rather than hanging and focusing conventional Lekos for front light on smaller productions, for example, the company now regularly deploys Paragon fixtures on crank stands, reducing setup time while allowing remote focus and adjustment throughout an event.

"We started putting them in a lot more places than you would typically put a moving light," says Schaper, noting that their use as a front light is a time saver and visually makes the whole setup look better. "We can fine-tune focus and color during the show, dial in CTO to match cameras and LED walls, and then use those same fixtures later as effects or beam lights. Having something that can do multiple jobs just makes it so much easier. It also means more room in the truck and a much more efficient workflow."

For TPI, one of Paragon's defining advantages has been its TruTone variable CRI technology, particularly as a large percentage of the company's productions are filmed or live-streamed. Ryan Luedloff, lighting and service director, says, "We need fixtures that can deliver beautiful saturated colors while also producing exceptional skin tones for the camera, and Paragon lets us optimize both. The technology that Elation put into the Paragon was a huge benefit and something that more than anything really appealed to us."

TPI uses the fixtures with the standard profile lens, and for wash applications pairs the lens with diffusion and shutters. "That works extremely well," Luedloff says. "They are also an impressive beam fixture on their own with the standard lens, with a five-degree beam and a lot of intensity for their size. That said, it's great to know we have the flexibility to swap in a dedicated PC lens in the future if a specific application calls for it."

The fixtures have proven themselves on several high-profile productions, including the St. Louis Art Museum Gala, where TPI used its inventory of Paragon S fixtures alongside rented Paragon M luminaires to transform the museum's Sculpture Hall into an immersive experience themed around the four elements -- fire, water, earth and air. Elation Proteus Maximus fixtures were used to wash the ceiling, Paragon Ms to add texture, and Paragon S units to light the walls, while the artwork was carefully protected using the Paragon's framing shutters and high-CRI output. In a smaller art gallery room, additional Paragon Ms and S units added texture and color.

Using animation, rotation, and prism effects to create movement, depth, and dynamic texture, the production transformed the space into a fully immersive environment featuring scenes that transported guests underwater, into the clouds, inside an inferno, or within a Redwood Forest. The Technical Productions team built video posters into the custom-built dining tables to round out the whole immersive experience.

"We've built a great relationship with Elation's technical support team over the years and through the Gateway Arch project, and that absolutely factored into our decision," Luedloff says. "That gave us confidence in the investment from day one. On top of that, the serviceability of the Paragon is exceptional. Everything is clearly labeled, making maintenance and field repairs straightforward, which is a huge advantage for a busy rental inventory."

Following the success of the Paragon S, TPI plans to expand its inventory with additional fixtures from the Paragon family, including the Paragon M and potentially the Paragon LT.