Bigger Frames, Longer Throws: Why the Arrimax 18K Joined the Fleet

There’s a point on set where you stop asking for “more light” and start asking for the right light.

You know the feeling. You’re prepping a night exterior or staring at a 20x diffusion frame and the math just isn’t working. On paper everything made sense, but once you’re actually there, you’re a little short. Not by much, but enough that you start adjusting—adding another unit, moving things closer than you planned, stacking instead of shaping. Before you know it, the setup is heavier and more complicated than it needs to be.

That’s why we brought in the ARRI Arrimax 18K. It’s now available across all Expressway locations, joining our fleet of M18s, M40s, and M90s to round out the ARRI M-Series lineup.

 

Why we added the Arrimax 18K lighting to our fleet

This didn’t come from a wishlist. It came from conversations on prep and on set.

Same situation kept coming up—everything looks good in theory, but once you’re building it, you’re just a little short on output.

Not enough to reset the plan, but enough that you start compensating. You add another unit, move things closer, and before long you’re stacking instead of shaping. That’s usually when things start getting more complicated than they need to be.

The Arrimax is really about avoiding that situation altogether.

 

When should you use the Arrimax 18K lighting?

The Arrimax 18K is best used in high-output lighting scenarios where:

• You need to push light through large diffusion frames (12x, 20x or larger)
• You’re working on night exteriors with long throw distances
• You want to reduce the number of fixtures and simplify your setup
• You need consistent exposure after heavy diffusion

 

Where the Arrimax 18K lighting actually helps

It’s not something you need every day, but when you do, it solves very specific problems.

When you’re working with larger diffusion frames—12x, 20x, or bigger—many units don’t have the power needed to fill the frame while still providing a bright soft source. You end up chasing exposure throughout the day. The Arrimax gives you enough output to stay where you need to be, even after diffusion.

It also helps on night exteriors where you can’t bring the light any closer, but still need a defined direction. The output carries over distance in a way that reduces the need to bring in additional units.

More generally, it helps simplify the setup. Instead of building your level with multiple smaller units, you can get there with one source and shape from there. Fewer stands, less cabling, and less to manage overall.

Arrimax 18K lighting: usable output vs. raw power

The feedback from crews hasn’t just been about brightness—it’s about how usable the light is.

Once it goes through a heavy diffusion frame, you’re still getting a bright, consistent source. You’re not losing more than expected, and you’re not having to rebuild your setup just to maintain exposure.

That makes it easier to keep things consistent as you adjust and refine the look.

 

Power (because that’s always part of it)

If you’ve worked with larger units before, you already know this is part of the equation.

Getting the light is straightforward. Powering it properly is usually where things get more complicated.

We’ve got distro packages ready to go alongside these, so you’re not piecing together a power plan on the day or realizing too late that you’re short.

 

Arrimax 18K lighting: bottom line

Adding the Arrimax 18K is about making bigger setups more manageable.

Less stacking.
Less compensating.
Less rebuilding mid-day.

Just having a source that can actually carry the level you need.

The Arrimax 18K lighting is designed for large-scale film productions that require high output, long throw, and consistent exposure through heavy diffusion.

 

Ready to light

The Arrimax 18K—and the rest of the M-Series lineup—are now available across all Expressway locations.

If you want to check availability or see how it fits into your setup:

→ https://expresswaycine.com

Or reach out and we can talk it through.