NEP unveils first purpose-built 4K truck for Australia

NEP Australia has launched the newest addition to its OB fleet, HD11, which is the country’s first purpose-built 4K broadcast truck and the first equipped with Sony’s HDC4300 4K and high-speed camera technology. Designed and developed by NEP Australia’s engineering team, the truck was constructed by prominent UK-based coachbuilder A Smith Great Bentley (ASGB).

HD11 is dedicated to the late Geoff Rudder – until early 2015 general manager of Resources and Logistics – who throughout his career championed NEP Australia and Global Television’s pursuit of technological excellence.

NEP Australia president Soames Treffry says HD11 is a fitting tribute to a treasured colleague. “Geoff was a key member of our Technology Group and keenly interested in the development of our super trucks, and what would work best for our clients. He brought the first-ever expanding standard definition digital OB van to Australia, DP1, and determined our second generation vehicles would begin with HD1.

“We are accordingly proud to dedicate HD11 – the first in our next generation 4K-HD fleet – to Geoff. His ability to see the future and, most importantly, how it would improve client service made a lasting contribution to our industry. He was taken too early but his influence lives on.”

Initially based in Sydney, HD11 will service productions around Australia, including major live sport and outside studio broadcasts.

NEP Australia project director Milan Milenkovic says: “HD11 breaks the mould in terms of what can fit inside an OB truck and also what can be achieved with it.

“The enhanced technical power will meet the ever-growing needs of our diverse clients, with the Sony 4K high-speed camera systems a particular advantage as live 4K production becomes increasingly common.

“HD11 will also be the broadcast super truck every operator wants to work from. We have added a range of exciting new features and a fresh colour scheme that will enhance the experience, support creativity and make what is always a pressured environment as comfortable as possible,” Milenkovic remarks.

Specification strengths

HD11’s capabilities include:

Maximum-length trailer with full-length double expanding sides, creating more than 65m2 of interior space;

Ultra-fast physical turnaround with one-touch deployment;

90kw of cooling designed for the extreme Australian climate;

34-seat capacity with generous egress and enhanced operator work spaces, accommodating: 9 EVS operators, 7 CCU operators, 3 audio control positions, 13 production gallery seats, and more;

Virtual System Manager (VSM) fully integrated with every truck system;

New NEP-designed touch screen with completely configurable control panels;

Imagine hybrid router with 502 inputs, 824 outputs and 22 multi-viewers;

Up to 28 x Sony HDC4300 4K and high-speed cameras – an Australian first – and 10 point-of-view (POV) or specialty cameras;

Up to 10, 12-channel EVS machines with 10Gbs networking;

Sony’s MVS8000X vision switcher with second-generation control panel;

Lawo mc256 audio mixer with 64-fader panel featuring in PAT-supplied audio console;

Reidel 192 x 192 communications system.

In tribute to Geoff Rudder, HD11’s number plate is NSW GRudd. Sister truck HD12 will join HD11 in early 2016, ready for the NRL and AFL seasons.