Pierre Griffioen, founder of Pure Event Gear, has been a driving force in South Africa’s technical rental industry for over 30 years. With decades of experience across multiple disciplines—from lighting and audio to LED panels—it's rigging and trussing that truly ignite his passion. And that passion has most recently manifested in a bold and forward-looking expansion of his Prolyte Verto Truss inventory.
Over the past five months, Pierre has made a significant investment in additional Verto trussing and accessories, reinforcing his belief in innovation and efficiency within the live events industry. As one of the earliest adopters of Verto in South Africa, his continued commitment is a powerful endorsement of the system’s capabilities.
“Verto is so much quicker and silent—none of the usual banging you’d expect during setup,” says Pierre. “We’re showing venues that it’s possible to work quietly, making it feasible to set up any time of the day or night.” The time-saving and noise-reducing benefits of Verto technology have already paid off, with its recent debut at a high-profile fighting championship in Sandton, where it delivered flawless performance. “The punches were hard and the supporters were loud, but the Verto truss went up silently,” Pierre smiles.
Pierre’s current Verto inventory includes 8 x 3m, 8 x 2m, 4 x 1m, and 4 x 0.5m lengths, along with a full range of accessories and corner pieces. This comprehensive selection allows Pure Event Gear to offer maximum flexibility and customization for any rigging requirement.
Pierre began investing in Prolyte when DWR Distribution took over the brand’s distribution in South Africa in 2012. Since then, with the continued support of DWR, he’s built a versatile and reliable Prolyte rigging inventory that includes everything from standard trussing to stage decks—featuring acrylic tops still free of scratches after years of use. “I like their products and what they’re doing,” Pierre notes. “When the Prolyte team visits, they always bring something new and innovative, like their recently launched GM5 Stage Deck. Also, my dad was born in the Netherlands, so there’s a bit of heritage there! I’ve never been, but I’d love to go one day.”
Having a committed regional distributor like DWR Distribution has been key in enabling Pure Event Gear’s growth and ongoing trust in the Prolyte brand. Their service, support, and enthusiasm have played a vital role in introducing innovative rigging solutions to the South African market and building strong partnerships within the rental community.
Thabang Sebothoma, lighting technician and rigger at Pure Event, shares the sentiment. “Verto makes the job easier. Setup time is quicker, and the whole process is smoother,” he says.
Looking ahead, Pierre is optimistic about the growing role of Verto within the South African rental market. “Normal trussing won’t disappear—there’s just too much of it in circulation—but I believe Verto is the future. Once you work with it, you want to keep using it.” His hope is to see more rental companies investing in the system, even if only in small quantities to begin with. “We’ll continue adding to our Verto stock and building a shared pool.”
At Prolyte, we’re proud to support forward-thinking professionals like Pierre Griffioen who value quality, innovation, and performance. And we’re equally proud to collaborate with our trusted distributor DWR Distribution, whose dedication to customer service and product excellence continues to grow the Prolyte community in South Africa. Together, we’re building a quieter, safer, and more efficient future for the rigging industry.