COLUMBIA, Md., Sept. 28, 2020 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- Global design and BIM software provider Vectorworks, Inc. along with founders MA Lighting and Robe lighting have transitioned the General Device Type Format (GDTF) website to VPLT— the German Entertainment Technology Association. This migration will ensure a compliant platform for the exchange and future development of GDTF, which offers manufacturers and users a better way of planning and controlling complex productions from design to implementation for an event.

GDTF was conceived to create a unified definition for the exchange of data for the operation of intelligent luminaires. The unified standard provides a constituent and dependable way to adapt new fixtures and devices in the lighting industry. GDTF was previously recognized by DIN SPEC 15800 as an open standard for the entertainment industry worldwide.

"Technological developments are part of everyday life in our industry and ensure even better opportunities to deliver creative solutions that are precisely tailored to diverse productions of the highest quality," said Randell Greenlee, director of commerce and international affairs at VPLT. "With the publication of DIN SPEC 15800, a new and important standard for the event industry has now been created. We hope for the widest possible dissemination of the standard within the industry thanks to the companies involved — Vectorworks, MA Lighting and Robe lighting — who have strived right from the start for an 'open' standard."

VPLT is the German Entertainment Technology Association, representing around 800 members from the service, personnel, trade and manufacturer sectors of the event industry. The association is actively involved in all of the industry standards and standardization processes of DIN and is represented in the European standardization committee (CEN / TC 433 - Entertainment Technology). The association is also involved in standardization in the ESTA Technical Standards Program (ANSI) in the USA.

"On behalf of the three founding companies, we are all more than pleased to move the GDTF website under the roof of the VPLT, an independent association," said Gerhard Krude, managing director of MA Lighting Technology. "This step is actually underlining what was always the intention of the original website, which is a barrier-free entity for serving the entire lighting industry community of end users, as well as manufacturers regardless of products, brands and boundaries."

To learn more about GDTF, visit gdtf-share.com.

About VPLT
The German Entertainment Technology Association is a trade association that represents companies and individuals from the entertainment technology sector in German-speaking Europe. These members generate a sales volume near 3.5 billion Euros while employing close to 10,000 people and providing about 700 apprenticeship training positions. A conceptual partner of the Prolight + Sound, the world's largest trade fair brand for entertainment technology, the VPLT supports the Messe Frankfurt Exhibition GmbH with the shows in Frankfurt, Guangzhou, Shanghai, Dubai and Moscow.

On a national level, the VPLT represents our members in Germany within the IGVW – a community of interests for the event industry including the German Technical Theatre Technicians Association (DTHG), the EVVC – the European Association of Event Centres and FAMAB – Integrated Brand Experiences Association, and is also associated with the APWPT – Association of Professional Wire-less Production Technologies (APWPT).

The VPLT is actively involved in all the relevant industry standards and norms processes at DIN – the German Standards Institute and is represented in the European CEN/TC 433; Entertainment Technology. The association speaks for and is an agent of its members in regarding government authorities and institutions. It is officially registered in the German Government Lobby Organization Directory. The VPLT is also involved in EU policy decisions and is listed in the European Transparency Register.

About Vectorworks, Inc.
Vectorworks, Inc. is an award-winning design and BIM software provider serving the architecture, landscape architecture and entertainment industries in 85 countries. Creating intuitive software since 1985, we've become the preeminent software built to manage the entire design process. Globally more than 685,000 users are creating, connecting and influencing the next generation of design with Vectorworks on Mac and Windows. Headquartered in Columbia, Maryland, with offices in Newbury and London, England and Vancouver, Canada, Vectorworks is a part of the Nemetschek Group. Learn how we empower designers to create experiences that transform the world at vectorworks.net or follow @Vectorworks.

About MA Lighting
MA Lighting International as master distributor is responsible for worldwide sales and marketing of the professional lighting control solutions of MA Lighting Technology. The current product range offers the grandMA3 series and the MA Network Switch. In the past MA has become well known for its grandMA2, grandMA and dot2 series.

Today, MA Lighting is respected for its technical knowledge and has achieved a unique international reputation for its operational philosophy. The company offers several decades of experience and strictly follows a professional user-centric approach, getting as close as possible to the market via its own international offices and support centers in the UK, North America, Latin America, the Middle East/India, Asia Pacific and Scandinavia/Eastern Europe/Russia – supported by a world-wide distribution and service network.

About Robe Lighting
Robe is among the world's leading moving light manufacturers, recognized for its innovation, quality engineering and dedication to the very highest production values. The company is based in the Czech Republic and all processes involved in making the luminaires is undertaken locally in a 75,000 square meter premises. Currently, Robe employs over 850 skilled staff worldwide. Robe has wholly-owned subsidiaries in six key markets – the U.S., U.K., Middle East, Singapore (Asia Pacific), France and Germany – and a highly proactive and talented regional sales management team which helps oversee and co-ordinate the worldwide distribution network covering over 100 countries.

Robe's moving and LED lights can be found everywhere. They are working and installed on stages and in concert halls, in theatres and all types of other venues; they are lighting all genres of performance from music to TV to drama and opera; appearing on a myriad of diverse events, as well as at theme park attractions and entering the specialist worlds of architectural and environmental illumination.
Robe is also known for being accessible, forward-thinking and understanding the importance of people and personal communication in sustaining a successful enterprise. The excellent communication with those investing in and using its dynamic range of products is at the core of future research and development.

The company is very proud of its independence and private ownership. This ensures the business remains agile, efficient, decisive and focused on producing genuinely creative tools for an imaginative and exciting industry that constantly pushes boundaries.

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SOURCE Vectorworks