Alongside laser shows, fog machines are quickly becoming a necessity in the entertainment and event industry. You've likely heard of them but do you know how they work and what separates the good from the bad? This article is designed to explain the mechanics of the fog machine and to assist you in picking the right one for your event. You may also want to check out London Lighting Hire as they carry a full line of professional fog machines at discount prices and will gladly assist you with the preparation of your event.



The fog machine is device that emits a dense vapour very similar to smoke or fog. The fog is created by vaporizing either a glycerine or water and glycol based fluid. What happens is the fluid is pumped into a heat exchanger that is kept hot enough to vaporize the liquid, this is known as flashing. As it vaporizes it will rapidly expand and is forced out of a nozzle into the outside air. As soon as it hits the air it forms a grey aerosol which we associate with fog or smoke. London Lighting Hire carries numerous models of fog machines that utilize many different technologies but they're basically just a variation of the process mentioned above.

There are a few factors you should consider when looking to purchase a fog machine as they can vary considerably in price. First, is the amount of time it takes to warm up the heat exchanger. This can be a crucial depending on what your use for the machine is. If it's going to be used for numerous short intervals you'll definitely want to invest in one that heats up quickly so that you don't have to wait. Otherwise, if you only plan on running it continuously than you'll probably be able to get away with one that has a slower warm up time. Another important factor to think about is the amount of smoke that the machine is capable of putting out. This is usually measured in metres cubed per minute and can vary from about 200m3/min all the way up to 5000m3/min. A few extra features that some of the fog machines at London Lighting Hire offer are output and density control for the amount of fog released and a timer to control the duration that the machine runs for.

In addition to fog machines London Lighting Hire also offers a huge selection of lasers, moving heads, scanners, LED's and even outdoor and architectural lights. In addition, they'll work alongside you to create whatever your vision may be. Whether you're hosting a corporate event or are looking to upgrade your dance club, London Lighting Hire not only has a full line of professional products, they have a fully trained team who's been in the business for over 32 years. The sheer size of the company allows them to buy products in bulk and as a result they can offer high quality merchandise at reasonable prices. There's no problem to big for the UK's leading supplier of entertainment production equipment, London Lighting Hire.