the history of airSYSTEC™ inflatable movie Airscreens and advertising billboards

The principle of inflatable Airscreen movie screen frames dates back to an invention from JC Erik Sahlin in 1971. However, pursuant to a statement of his, the development of inflatable Airscreen movie frames never exceeded a scaled model. The title registered under No. 3,720,455 expired since long. The first inflatable retro-projection Airscreen chamber was registered for patent by the American F. Walter under No. 4,802,734 in 1987. This was registered as a patent on 7th February 1987, though also this never reached marketing. F. Walter confirmed this to us by phone. First ever Mr. H. Ganzevoort of Intec Inc. used inflatable Airscreen movie screens commercially in Germany.

A large number of inflatable Airscreen movie frames were manufactured though by TAPE Media Film GmbH of Munich, Germany, which widespread their Airscreen system for public events and obtained acceptance.

The inflatable Airscreen frames at that time, however, were still sewn at the seams and therefore not airtight. This production type had notable disadvantages with respect as to energy needs and stability at the seams (point of fracture). Therefore the inflatable Airscreen movie frames were limited in size. The largest inflatable Airscreen frame in those days with a screen size of 80’ by 40’ ft. ( 24 by 12 meter) was first used by TAPE Media Film GmbH in 1997 at the Open Air Cinema on Königsplatz in Munich. These inflatable Airscreen movie screen frames became known under the brand AIRSCREEN®. Other projects of TAPE Media Film GmbH with this type of Airscreen were the movie première of Akte X in front of the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin and “Kino am Pool” (cinema at the pool) on a tour through Switzerland. TAPE Media Film GmbH of Munich registered the brand AIRSCREEN® in 1998. As off then inflatable frames, supporting movie screens or advertisement banners, were commercialized by TAPE Media Film GmbH under the brand AIRSCREEN®. Since 1997 TAPE Media Film GmbH operates a production line under license for High Frequency welded inflatable Airscreen frames. Parallel thereto a German based production line for sewn frames continued manufacturing of smaller sized Airscreen frames. After a transition period TAPE Media Film GmbH switched the production of Airscreen inflatable movie frame entirely to high frequency welded frames. Nevertheless the stiching People continued to sell sewn Airscreens. TAPE Media Film GmbH tolerated these sales of stiched Airscreen frames. Other sales agents, like Moviescreens Co., were permitted by TAPE Media Film GmbH to sell products also under the brand Airscreen. Under the synonym Airscreen buyers were to identify inflatable movie screens. From then on the two systems; High Frequency welded Airscreen frames of TAPE Media Film GmbH from Munich and sown Airscreen frames, sold mainly by Moviescreens Co., competed each other. Later-on Moviescreens Co. moved to and sold it’s Airscreen frames from Münster, Germany. As off 2002 Moviescreens Co. aspired to exchange all of the sewn inflatable movie frames, sold by it, against the High Frequency welded Airscreen frames, developed by TAPE Media Film GmbH and it’s managing partner C.J. Schreiber. By doing so, Moviescreens Co. was to increase substantially the quality of the products, sold by it.

In 2003 Christoph Schreiber contributed the brand AIRSCREEN® to the newly founded The AIRSCREEN Company GmbH & Co. KG. Christoph Schreiber, in charge of research and development of the inflatable frames, was at once founding member and main associate of both, The AIRSCREEN Company GmbH & Co. KG. as well as of TAPE New Media GmbH of Munich. From 2003 till 2007 the inflatable frames were substantially improved by C.J. Schreiber as head developer and production chief, giving way to produce an AIRSCREEN® frame of 133’ ft in width by 66’ ft in height ( 40 by 20 meter). For the Venice Film Festival 2004 Christoph Schreiber put-up an inflatable AIRSCREEN® movie frame of 100’ by 66’ ft (30 x 20 meter), stirring-up the visitors. Ms. Angelina Jolie tolled her respect by commenting “It really doesn’t compare to any première or award winning ceremony there has ever been before” (source BBC International) Christoph Schreiber erected an inflatable AIRSCREEN® at the Hong Kong International Film Festival 2005 on the “Tamar site” in-between of Hong Kong’s skyline. With the world record AIRSCREEN® of 133’ by 66’ ft. (40 by 20 meter) a dream of Christoph Schreiber came through, creating a superior class of open air cinema. Christoph Schreiber installed AIRSCREEN® in the soccer stadium Estadio Santiago Bernabeu, the AIRSCREEN® of Real Madrid (the soccer club), admired by the public during the first play of the movie “La Pelicula”. The newspaper “El Paìs” reported on the event. Among the spectators were world stars Râul and Beckham. Finally, in 2007 Christoph Schreiber sold his shares in The AIRSCREEN Company GmbH & Co. KG. With airSYSTEC™ he created a new brand to market all inflatable Airscreen products forth-on, developed by him. Numerous improvements and newly developed inflatable Airscreen products were registered as patents and protected by patent law, e.g. the modular system and the reinforced corners.

The airSYSTEC™ DAYLIGHT, a technical novelty, which permits movie or video projections during daylight, comes along the open air cinema Airscreens (airSYSTEC™ Airscreens) and the advertisement frames (airSYSTEC™ BOARD) of TAPE New Media GmbH’s own production line.

The technical novelty about the airSYSTEC™ DAYLIGHT is the darkened projection space, as well as the very efficient sun protecting sail, which prevents the sun light from the rear projection screen, thereby allowing a High Definition projection image. Up to now, the inflatable airSYSTEC™ DAYLIGHT projection system is manufactured with a screen of 22’ ft (260’’ inch 650 cm) in diagonal. The sun protecting sail comes in a size of 43’ by 26’ ft (13 by 7 meter). Production just started for a smaller-sized unit with a screen of 9’ ft. (110’’ inch 275 cm) in diagonal.