ZFX Inc.

{{short description|US performer-flying-effects company}} {{Infobox company |name = ZFX Inc. |logo = |type = Private |foundation = Las Vegas, Nevada Incorporated February 7, 1995 |location_city = Louisville, Kentucky |locations = Utrecht, the Netherlands |area_served = Worldwide |industry = Theater Special Effects Flying Harnesses Automation Black Wire Rope |products = |revenue = |num_employees = 50 (2011) |subsid = |homepage = [http://www.zfxflying.com/ zfxflying.com] }} '''ZFX Inc.''', commonly known as '''ZFX Flying''', is a performer-flying-effects company based in Louisville, Kentucky, and Utrecht, the Netherlands. The company name is pronounced "Zee Eff Eks" (using the American English pronunciation of the letter ''Z''). Founded in Las Vegas in 1994 it has provided flying effects for hundreds of professional and amateur versions of Peter Pan and the Wizard of Oz.<ref name="Live Design">{{cite news |last=Hathaway |first=Brad |title=From Wicked to Wizard, ZFX Flying Directors work the ropes |work=Live Design |date=2010-08-06 |url=http://livedesignonline.com/theatre/zfw-flying-directors-0806/}}</ref> and Broadway productions such as ''Wicked''.<ref name="IBDB">{{cite news |publisher=Internet Broadway Database |title=Special effects |work=The Broadway League |date=2003-10-30 |url=http://www.ibdb.com/person.php?id=69985}}</ref>

Its flying directors are known for wearing the Utilikilt<ref name="Utility Kilt">{{cite news |last=Orosz |first=Monica |title=Peter Pan's flight not just pixie dust, Company routinely sends actors soaring, has rented equipment for Charleston play |work=Charleston Daily Mail |date=2009-10-29 |url=http://www.allbusiness.com/humanities-social-science/visual-performing-arts/13335922-1.html}}</ref><ref name="Pagosa Springs">{{cite news |title=Peter Pan is up in the Air |work=Pagosa Springs Post |date=2007-04-26 |url=http://www.pagosadailypost.com/news/4048/Peter_Pan_Is_Up_in_the_Air_/ |archive-date=2012-03-23 |access-date=2011-04-24 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120323030321/http://www.pagosadailypost.com/news/4048/Peter_Pan_Is_Up_in_the_Air_/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> as the official company uniform. It has the most E.T.C.P double certified (Theater and Arena) riggers of any employer.<ref name="ETCP">{{cite news |title=Search for an ETCP Certified Technician |work=PLASA |date=2011-05-01 |url=http://etcp.plasa.org/cert_technicians/search.php |archive-date=2012-07-23 |access-date=2011-05-02 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120723160514/http://etcp.plasa.org/cert_technicians/search.php |url-status=dead }}</ref>

In 2010 they branched out from flying performers in live productions to also flying mannequins in retail stores. Starting with the Uniqlo flagship store in Shanghai they worked with the architectural firm Bohlin Cywinski Jackson in making multiple mannequins flying in a 20-meter atrium and an overhead carousel of rotating mannequins in acrylic pods.<ref name="Uniqlo">{{cite news |title=Uniqlo Shanghai Flagship Store |work=Architect Magazine |date=2010-12-10 | url=http://www.architectmagazine.com/adaptive-reuse/uniqlo-shanghaiflagship-store.aspx}}</ref> Those concepts helped Bohlin Cywinski Jackson to win the EuroShop RetailDesign award in 2012.<ref name="Award">{{cite news |title=EuroShop RetailDesign Award 2012|work=EHI Retail Institute |date=2012-01-16 | url=http://www.euroshop-award.com/winners/award-winners-2012/index.html}}</ref><ref name="BCJ Award">{{cite news|title=UNIQLO Shanghai wins EuroShop RetailDesign Award|work=Bohlin Cywinski Jackson|date=2012-01-16|url=http://www.bcj.com/public/news/article/128.html}}{{Dead link|date=August 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

The company is the largest producer of black-oxide-coated wire rope in the world,<ref>{{Cite web | url=http://loumag.epubxp.com/i/174531/107 |title = Louisville Magazine - OCT 2013}}</ref> producing black wire rope for internal use and also for the majority of the Cirque du Soleil shows.

It is also known for its collection of antique industrial and entertainment rigging including Nicopress tools and the oldest known working CM Lodestar.

==References== {{reflist}}

==External links== *{{official|url=http://www.zfxflying.com}}

Category:Arts in Louisville, Kentucky Category:Companies based in Louisville, Kentucky Category:Entertainment companies established in 1995 Category:1995 establishments in Nevada Category:American companies established in 1995 Category:Special effects companies