# ZFX Inc.

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{{short description|US performer-flying-effects company}}
{{Infobox company
|name     = ZFX Inc.
|logo     = 
|type     = [Private](/source/Private_company)
|foundation       = [Las Vegas, Nevada](/source/Las_Vegas_Valley)<br />Incorporated February 7, 1995
|location_city    = [Louisville, Kentucky](/source/Louisville%2C_Kentucky)
|locations        = [Utrecht](/source/Utrecht), the Netherlands
|area_served      = Worldwide
|industry         = [Theater](/source/Theater)<br />[Special Effects](/source/Special_effects)<br />[Flying Harnesses](/source/Stunt)<br />Automation<br />[Black Wire Rope](/source/black_oxide)
|products         = 
|revenue          =
|num_employees    = 50 <small>(2011)</small>
|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](/source/Louisville%2C_Kentucky), and [Utrecht](/source/Utrecht), the Netherlands. The company name is pronounced "Zee Eff Eks" (using the [American English](/source/American_English) pronunciation of the letter ''Z''). Founded in [Las Vegas](/source/Las_Vegas_Valley) in 1994 it has provided flying effects for hundreds of professional and amateur versions of [Peter Pan](/source/Peter_Pan_(1954_musical)) and the [Wizard of Oz](/source/Wizard_of_Oz_(1939_film)).<ref name="Live Design">{{cite news |last=Hathaway |first=Brad |title=From Wicked to Wizard, ZFX Flying Directors work the ropes |work=[Live Design](/source/Live_Design) |date=2010-08-06 |url=http://livedesignonline.com/theatre/zfw-flying-directors-0806/}}</ref> and Broadway productions such as ''[Wicked](/source/Wicked_(musical))''.<ref name="IBDB">{{cite news |publisher=Internet Broadway Database |title=Special effects |work=[The Broadway League](/source/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](/source/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](/source/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](/source/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](/source/PLASA) double certified (Theater and Arena) [riggers](/source/Rigger_(entertainment)) of any employer.<ref name="ETCP">{{cite news |title=Search for an ETCP Certified Technician |work=[PLASA](/source/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](/source/Uniqlo) flagship store in Shanghai they worked with the architectural firm [Bohlin Cywinski Jackson](/source/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](/source/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](/source/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](/source/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](/source/black_oxide) [wire rope](/source/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](/source/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](/source/CM_Lodestar_Electric_Chain_Hoist).

==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

{{US-entertainment-company-stub}}
{{Louisville-stub}}

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [ZFX Inc.](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ZFX_Inc.) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ZFX_Inc.?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.