Vulcan Hazer helps Illuminate the Sky on K’gari Island
In 2024, Concept Smoke Systems were invited to support one of Australia’s most ambitious outdoor light and sound experiences: Illumina – Return to Sky, staged on the remote island of K’gari (formerly Fraser Island).
Working alongside internationally renowned light art studio Ramus and the team at Lumina Visual Productions, Concept supplied a fully customised atmospheric smoke solution designed to deliver consistent haze across a large outdoor site exposed to challenging coastal weather conditions.
Project Overview
The Illumina experience relies heavily on precise atmospheric conditions to enhance its largescale lighting, projection and laser effects. Traditional hazers would struggle with the demands of an open, windswept site with no permanent infrastructure and limited on island servicing.
To meet these challenges, Concept engineered a bespoke solution based on our Vulcan Hazer platform, selected for its reliability, high output, efficiency, and proven resilience in long duration applications.
The Concept Solution
1. Customised Vulcan-Based IP Enclosed Units
Designing a system that could survive K’gari’s harsh coastal environment required careful consideration. The machines needed protection from rain, wind, sand, salt air, insects, and wildlife, while still allowing high-output haze to be delivered exactly where the creative team needed it.
Before finalising the solution, several enclosure and distribution concepts were explored:
- Fully enclosed system with centrifugal blowers
An early concept involved housing the Vulcan Hazer within an IP-rated enclosure and using centrifugal blowers to drive haze through a network of ducts.
- Stand-alone IP-rated Vulcan Hazer
Concept also investigated and designed a fully self-contained IP-rated version of the Vulcan Hazer offering a compact all on one solution.
- Hybrid design: Vulcan with extended nozzles through an IP enclosure (final solution)
The selected approach combined robust protection with operational simplicity.
The Vulcan was mounted inside an IP-rated weather enclosure, with elongated stainless-steel nozzles passing through sealed ports in the housing. These nozzles connected directly into localised ductwork around the light show, allowing haze to be distributed precisely and discreetly.This design kept the critical hardware protected from the elements while ensuring efficient haze delivery with minimal maintenance.This hybrid configuration ultimately offered the strongest balance of ruggedness, reliability, serviceability and controllability, making it ideal for the demanding, remote conditions of K’gari.
Integrated automatic fluid-refill system
Given the remote location and the logistical challenges of servicing equipment on K’gari, minimal maintenance was a critical design requirement. Once the audience arrives and the show begins, there is no opportunity for technicians to manually top up haze machines or access equipment.
To ensure uninterrupted operation over multiple consecutive nights, each customised Vulcan Hazer was equipped with an automatic fluid-refill system. This feature proved essential for the project’s success.
The system allowed all nine machines to be replenished from a single central 1000-litre IBC reservoir, positioned away from public areas and easily accessible to the creative team. After each performance, the refilling process occurred automatically, with all units drawing exactly the amount of fluid required to restore themselves to full operating capacity.
The entire fleet could be completely refilled within minutes, without technicians having to visit each enclosure individually, carry containers across the site, or expose the units to the elements.
This approach dramatically reduced daily maintenance demands, improved operational reliability, and ensured the machines were always ready for the following night’s show, an essential requirement for an installation of this scale in an environment where spare equipment, technical staff, and workshop facilities were limited.
Controllability of haze volume / density
To give ultimate control over atmospheric effect, a number of DMX Gas Regulators we supplied. A small but powerful tool that allows real-time adjustment of smoke output through standard show control systems.
This enabled the creative team to:
- Match haze intensity to cue timing
- Compensate for unpredictable winds or environmental conditions
- Maintain consistent visibility for projection and laser elements
- Reduce unnecessary fluid consumption
Controllability of haze volume / density
To give ultimate control over atmospheric effect, a number of DMX Gas Regulators we supplied. A small but powerful tool that allows real-time adjustment of smoke output through standard show control systems.
This enabled the creative team to:
- Match haze intensity to cue timing
- Compensate for unpredictable winds or environmental conditions
- Maintain consistent visibility for projection and laser elements
- Reduce unnecessary fluid consumption
Why the Vulcan and ViCount Are Ideal for Large-Scale Outdoor Environments
High output with exceptional hang time
The Vulcan and ViCount Hazer produce an ultra-fine atmospheric haze capable of carrying beams, projections and lasers without creating dense clouds or rapid dispersal. Even in breezy coastal conditions, the haze maintains its structure and visibility far longer than traditional water-based systems.
Very low running costs
The systems use approximately 75% less fluid than water-based machines to achieve the same level of light absorption or obscuration. For long-running installations like Illumina, this offers an enormous operational saving, with systems often pay for themselves through reduced fluid consumption alone.
Smallest particle size in their class
The Vulcan and ViCount Hazers generate particles around 0.2-0.3 micron, up to ten times smaller than many competing systems. This ultra-fine haze produces:
- Enhanced light transmission for sharper beams and greater visual clarity
- The cleanest effect in its class
- Lower fluid consumption
- A safer atmospheric effect
Designed for ultimate reliability
All Concept Hazers are built for demanding, continuous-use environments.
The Vulcan and ViCount automatically clean their heat exchangers after every activation (automatic purge), virtually eliminating the risk of blockages and dramatically reducing the need for servicing.
For a remote location such as K’gari, where access to tools, spares and engineers is extremely limited, this level of reliability and support was essential.
Outcome
The installation successfully brought a unique atmospheric quality to the Illumina experience, helping shape the incredible visual depth that audiences and critics have praised. All nine units performed without interruption, providing the consistent haze environment required for the show’s bold creative vision.
Ramus and Lumina VP’s feedback highlighted the reliability of the systems, ease of integration into the wider show infrastructure, and the confidence they had operating the equipment in a location where backup options were extremely limited.
Conclusion
This project demonstrates Concept’s ability not only to provide industry-leading smoke systems, but to engineer bespoke, environment-specific atmospheric solutions for unique creative challenges worldwide.
Whether it’s remote islands, harsh climates, or complex integration into cutting-edge lighting systems, Concept’s Vulcan and ViCount products continue to prove their value as the go-to choices for demanding professional applications.
If you have a project requiring custom smoke or haze solutions, our team is always happy to help.
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