INTEGRATION March 2019
www.av-integration.co.za
IN THIS ISSUE
ISE 2019 TRIAC FOR NANDO'S DIGITAL SIGNAGE: ROSEBANK LINK BOARDROOM INSTALL: DARIEL
FEATURE
COMMERCIAL LIGHTING
MEDIA PARTNER
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HOSPITALITY & LEISURE
EDUCATION
Exterity South Africa | Johannesburg t: +27 (0) 11 469 0465 e: Sales@exterity.com
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IN THIS ISSUE
CONTENTS
ISE 2019 POST-SHOW REPORT • TRIAC FOR NANDO'S • KRAMER SOLUTION AT DARIEL
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EXTERITY STRENGTHENS SAMSUNG PARTNERSHIP
ISE DELIVERS ITS BIGGEST SHOW YET
ISE 2019: PRODUCT LAUNCHES
SANDTON CITY TOWERS UNDER A NEW LIGHT
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INAVATION AWARDS 2019
AN AWARD-WINNING SMART SOLUTION FOR NANDO’S
4 NOVASTAR MAKES DIGITAL SIGNAGE EASY
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DIGITAL SIGNAGE AWARDS 2019
WILD & MARR ANNOUNCES ITS AMALGAMATION WITH TOMS
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THE CRESTRON EMEA INTEGRATION AWARDS 2019
28 LIGHTING OUR WORKING WORLD
30 ROSEBANK LINK TAKES LED TO NEW HEIGHTS
MICROSOFT TEAMS WITH YEALINK
40 SWAROVSKI SHOWROOM GETS SMART
42 SMART AV FOR A SOLUTIONS PROVIDER
47 DYNAMICS OF ARCHITECTURE AND AV
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EDITOR'S COMMENT
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EDITORIAL Nicole Barnes – Editor editor@pro-systems.co.za +27 (0)66 489 3482 David Cornwell – Staff Writer david@suncirclegroup.com
AV INTEGRATION VISITS ISE 2019
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CONTRIBUTORS Chaz Nielsen | An AVIXA-Certified AV Technologist, Nielsen specialises in AV solutions for the corporate, commercial and domestic markets.
Greetings, and welcome to the latest edition of AV Integration by Pro-Systems. The year started on an exciting note for the AV Integration team as we joined more than 80 thousand visitors at Integrated Systems Europe, held at the RAI in Amsterdam between 5 and 8 February. Once again, the show proved to be the seminal event in the industry calendar, providing the perfect platform for the world’s leading technology manufacturers to launch new products. Among the technology trends at this year’s show were 8K displays; smart building technologies, including Internet of Things integration; AI-equipped devices; the continued progression of conferencing and collaboration technologies; 3D projection mapping; a wider-than-ever choice of curved, flexible, transparent and ever-smaller-pitch LED displays; and further developments in AV over IP and audio networking. We thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity to chat with some of the world’s leaders in LED technology, projection, collaboration solutions, digital signage products and Dante-enabled networked audio solutions for the integration market, gaining valuable insight into the future of professional AV and integration solutions. In addition to the exhibition, ISE served as an opportunity to hold a number of industry award ceremonies, including the InAVation Awards, the Crestron EMEA Integration Awards and the Digital Signage Awards. We are pleased to announce that Triac, a local integration company, scooped a coveted Crestron Integration Award for their work with Nando’s, which features on the cover of this issue. In closing, I would like to thank all of our fellow South Africans who took the time to chat with us about their experience of the show, notably the Electrosonic SA team, Peter Berry of AV Audio and the South African Epson team, among others. It is always an honour and pleasure to see our local market represented at an event of this magnitude: our professionals standing shoulder to shoulder with some of the leading integrators in the world. Enjoy the read
Nicole Barnes
Cover image: Photo by Malan Kotze Photography
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INDUSTRY NEWS
EXTERITY STRENGTHENS SAMSUNG PARTNERSHIP Exterity recently announced that it has strengthened its partnership with Samsung with the release of its latest TVgateway, which integrates seamlessly with Samsung LYNK REACH hospitality middleware. The REACH platform now ingests Electronic Programme Guide (EPG) data directly from Exterity TVgateways, enhancing the information available to hotel guests through their Samsung in-room SmartTV. This latest integration is the result of an ongoing close collaboration, as Exterity and Samsung both strive to develop easy-to-use hospitality-focused solutions that enhance the guest experience. Exterity is a longstanding Samsung Technology Partner, always ensuring that their end-to-end IP video solutions provide support for the latest TV models from Samsung, including Tizen hospitality and signage displays and the Samsung SMART Signage Platform (SSSP 5 and 6). Just like any other end point, the screens can be effortlessly controlled through the new Smart Control app on Exterity AvediaServer. Exterity hardware and software technologies are designed to suit a broad
range of hospitality needs: from standard requirements for content distribution from an Exterity headend direct to REACH on Samsung SmartTVs, through to premium, end-to-end solutions providing live TV, Video on Demand and a suite of interactive guest services using Exterity ArtioGuest middleware on Samsung Hospitality TVs and SmartTVs. Exterity TVgateways are fully compatible with SmartTV clients and deliver live channels including 4K and encrypted content
protected channels. With this new integration, the gateways can provide EPG information into Samsung REACH in the same way they contribute to an Exterity ArtioGuest system. Exterity and Samsung integrated solutions are not limited to the guest room: Exterity’s ArtioSign digital signage software is used in combination with Samsung displays in public areas such as bars and restaurants, reception and conference facilities, to communicate hotel messages, promotions and hotel information as well as entertain guests with live TV and sport. Commenting on the continuing collaboration between the two companies, Dave Allan, head of product management at Exterity said, “This new integration continues to expand our technical partnership with Samsung and gives hospitality customers more options to include high-quality Exterity TVgateways in their projects alongside Samsung REACH, as an alternative to the advanced Exterity ArtioGuest.” Seba Yacoub, senior technologist manager at Samsung Electronics, notes: “We worked closely with the Exterity team to identify the current needs of hoteliers and maximise the benefits of this integration. We were impressed at how quickly the Exterity team was able to complete the integration of EPG with the REACH Solution.”
NOVASTAR MAKES DIGITAL SIGNAGE EASY NovaStar has recently launched two products that work hand-in-hand to make storage, management and the display of digital signage content easier. The hardware side of the solution is the Taurus Multimedia Player. This all-in-one smart card supports both synchronous and asynchronous modes and works seamlessly with either the VNNOX or ViPlex platforms to display your content. Suitable for indoor and outdoor billboards, commercial displays, shopping malls, fixed installations and pole screens, Taurus was designed with stability and ease-of-use in mind, making sure your
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display’s uptime is maximised. The Taurus can also easily split your display into multiple regions, maximising display space and increasing value. The second part of the solution is the software, called VNNOX. This is a cloudbased platform that allows you to access, manage and publish content remotely from anywhere in the world. VNNOX allows for flexible authority permissions, ensuring that content is secure. Real-time display monitoring and publishing records also ensure you always know the current and past status of your display. Custom logo and branding are also available if needed. Also, VNNOX can boast 99.9% operational uptime, ensuring that content is always available for management and display. The LITE version of VNNOX is already a powerful and
streamlined platform that can manage and display your content with just four simple steps, and the PRO version offers even more flexibility and features. ViPlex software is a free download, and this is what you’ll use to manage your content if your displays are close by, and have no need for the long-distance capabilities of VNNOX. ViPlex is stable, streamlined and makes content management a breeze. The Taurus Multimedia Player and VNNOX integrate seamlessly to provide a powerful, secure and stable solution to manage digital display content at any time, from anywhere.
INDUSTRY NEWS
WILD & MARR ANNOUNCES ITS AMALGAMATION WITH TOMS Wild & Marr, a leading distributor of professional audio and electronic products in South Africa, has recently announced its amalgamation with TOMS Sound and Music. Wild & Marr is widely recognised as one of the most trusted and well-established professional AV distribution and technology companies in the country. Over the past few months, the company has been faced with a number of challenges and exciting opportunities that promise to open up a new era in their business journey.
A LEADER IS LOST On 7 January 2019, the industry was deeply saddened to learn of the sudden passing of Joe Copans at the age of 74. Copans served as managing director of Wild & Marr for over 25 years and was widely recognised as a mentor, a visionary businessman and a stalwart of the industry. Mark Gaylard, MD of MGG Productions, states, “Joe was an inspiration and a role model to me in business and I am one of many who was fortunate to have known him.” This sentiment was echoed by DWR
Distribution’s MD, Duncan Riley, who said, “Joe was a true inspiration in my life. His legacy will be missed – a true icon in our market.” According to Wild & Marr, Copans was in the process of negotiating an amalgamation with TOMS Sound & Music in the months preceding his untimely passing – a deal that has finally come to fruition.
A NEW ERA At the start of this year, Wild & Marr Solutions (Pty) Ltd (WMS) was formed, and Gary Furman appointed to the role of managing director. Furman, a 21-year industry stalwart, explains: “With WMS, we are proud to say that the shareholder’s representation allows us to qualify for level 4 BEE. This opens up a whole new range of opportunities to compete in the market while supporting greater black economic participation.” Furman is confident that the restructuring
MICROSOFT TEAMS WITH YEALINK Customers can transition voice and video of Microsoft Teams with Yealink from SkyGroup Communications SkyGroup Communications has recently added Yealink’s voice and video portfolio for Microsoft Teams to its growing communications portfolio. The announcement enables resellers to now add Microsoft Teams to their Yealink toolbox, facilitating a customer’s smooth transition from Skype for Business to Teams. The full portfolio includes complete compatibility between Teams and Yealink, via a new range of audio and video devices that include shared devices (VC200, CP960 and Skype Room Systems). The range enables a customer to improve the communications in their offices, huddle rooms or large conference rooms.
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“With the new range customers can be assured of a solution that simplifies device transition when moving to Teams, while providing a new feature-rich set of benefits evidenced in a consistent user interface that includes both the calling and meeting features of Teams, on superior sound and communications solutions from Yealink,” says Dirk Schreuder, sales and marketing director at SkyGroup Communications. According to Yealink, its conference audio devices (CP960) can now also be upgraded from Skype for Business to Teams and its video devices (Skype Room Systems) are compatible with both Skype for Business and Microsoft Teams.
plan will serve the best interests of the company, its employees and clients. “We are committed, along with our sister companies, to delivering increased levels of service and support to the industry,” he points out. Managing director of TOMS Sound and Music, Rudi Moser, states: “I would like to see the amalgamated company sharpening its focus in all departments. I would like to see us achieve deeper penetration into the market in South Africa and neighbouring countries, as well as realise synergistic benefits that will make our footprint larger in the industry – ensuring that the customer always comes out on top.” Durbach, who is serving in the role of managing director for Wild & Marr, a division of TOMS Sound and Music, concurs, saying that: “I think that the strategy offers enormous potential for both companies going forward. If we strategise correctly and work together, it will be to the benefit of both companies, to our clients and the market in general.” For more information, kindly visit www.wildandmarr.co.za
The full range includes a video solution for desktops and huddle rooms with Yealink’s Android-based VC200; as well as Skype Room Systems for mid-sized rooms and boardrooms, with the Yealink Skype Room Systems (SRS) that include the MVC500 for small rooms and huddle rooms and the MVC800 for mid-sized and large rooms. “As one of the longest-standing distributors of Yealink in South Africa we are able to provide our resellers and their customers with the pre- and post-sales support, training and resources they need to implement effective solutions that complement and expand their unified communications needs. “By bringing customers the best of Yealink and Microsoft in a single solution means that end users can future proof their business communications needs, while being assured of tried and tested technologies that work,” Schreuder concludes. The Yealink CP960 is certified for Microsoft Skype for Business. The Yealink video solutions for Microsoft Teams (including the VC200, MVC500 and MVC800) will formally be released in 2019.
SHOW REPORT ISE 2019
ISE DELIVERS ITS BIGGEST SHOW YET INTEGRATED SYSTEMS EUROPE 2019
Projection mapping at nhow Amsterdam RAI hotel during ISE
The AV Integration team joined thousands of exhibitors and attendees at this year’s Integrated Systems Europe (ISE), held in Amsterdam between 5 and 8 February. Billed as the world’s largest exhibition for AV and systems integration professionals, the show serves as a platform for manufacturers to present new technologies to the market, offers delegates the opportunity to attend internationally-recognised training courses and seminars and also presents a stellar networking opportunity for professionals in the field.
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Showroom floor space: 56,100 m Number of exhibitors: 1,301 Number of first-time exhibitors: 225 Number of attendees: 81,268 Number of certified training courses offered: 36
SHOW REPORT ISE 2019
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"Integrated Systems Europe 2019 was the biggest, broadest-reaching and most exciting edition of the show to date." – Mike Blackman, MD Integrated Systems Events
According to the event’s organisers, Integrated Systems Events, ISE 2019 set new records in attendance, number of exhibitors and floorspace, with 15 halls packed to the rafters with the latest products and technologies that the professional AV market has to offer. On the display side of the show, technology trends that featured included higher-resolution flat panels from a range of vendors, as well as an increase in the number of 8K displays on offer. The growth in the digital signage and out-of-home advertising market has spurred an increase in the number of high-brightness and outdoor screen options, as well as an expanded range of control products designed to optimise digital signage installations across sectors. While LED panels continue to get bigger, brighter and more flexible, projection technologies continue to compete, with manufacturers such as Christie, Epson and Digital Projection presenting new products that feature laser technology with increased lumens and 4K cabilities. AV over IP has shown a steadily-increasing rate of adoption over the past few years, even in developing markets such as our own — a factor that dominated Kramer’s stand, with their theme of ‘AV over IT’ connecting most of the products and solutions on show. Solutions designed to support the continuing trend towards smarter, collaboration-driven corporate meeting rooms took centre stage, with Barco and Crestron both presenting new products that are designed to simplify the meeting room experience while taking advantage of increasingly robust cloud-based technologies. While ISE has traditionally been focused on the more corporate integration side of the professional AV industry, we noticed an increase in the number of manufacturers that are focused on the entertainment and rental side of the market this year, which provided for a comprehensive round-up of new technologies across multiple verticals. Speaking to AV Integration in an exclusive interview during the show, Integrated Systems Events managing director,
Mike Blackman, points out that ISE has evolved into a major influencer in the professional AV and integration market – with manufacturers syncing their research and development cycles to coincide with the show. “A number of manufacturers have explained that because the show is at the beginning of the year, they find it in their best interests to launch new products at ISE, because clients often wait to see what is on offer at the show before starting the buying process for the year,” Blackman says. The impressive number of product launches featured at this year’s event certainly supports his assertion. Reflecting on the highlights of this year’s show, Blackman points to the impressive projection mapping demonstrations that were featured at ISE 2019. These included the awe-inspiring projection mapping sculpture by Bart Kresa, Sviatovid, which premiered at the show, as well as a collaborative project between Integrated Systems Europe, LANG AG, Panasonic, Tenfeet and Green Hippo, which saw the façade of the newly-constructed nhow Amsterdam RAI hotel being used as one of Europe’s largest-ever projection canvasses. “For the duration of the exhibition, attendees were treated to a daily showcase of projection mapping imagery that made use of the building’s unique profile. This was interwoven with constantly-updated exhibition highlights and previews, projected onto two storeys of the new hotel,” Blackman explains. Blackman has confirmed that the 2020 edition of ISE will be the last to be held in Amsterdam, and in 2021, will be opening its doors in Barcelona, Spain. “We are very sad to be leaving Amsterdam,” Blackman states, “but we simply could not find a sustainable solution that would enable the show to grow while remaining at the RAI. We consulted extensively with attendees and exhibitors about possible locations for future editions of the show, and Barcelona ticked all of the boxes,” he concludes. The next edition of ISE will be hosted at The RAI in Amsterdam, from 11 to 14 February, 2020. For more information, visit www.iseurope.org
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INDUSTRY AWARDS INAVATION AWARDS
INAVATION AWARDS 2019 The InAVation Awards celebrated its 12th edition at the Gashouder in Amsterdam during ISE 2019.
shortlisted by a panel of judges and then put to a public vote. Those elligable to vote included AV integrators, distributors, consultants, rental companies and end users, with one vote allowed per participant. With more than 300 entries in some of the categories, judging sessions overran as the panel struggled to whittle down a huge range of high-quality submissions. “As a result of the sheer number of entrants, many categories had as many as ten finalists, and we regrettably had to miss some very deserving projects off the shortlists,” the award organisers explained. AV Integration would like to extend our congratulations to all of the finalists and winners at this year’s event.
At this year's event, 24 awards were given, 12 in the technology and 12 in the projects categories. The InAVation Awards recognise the best that the professional AV integration market has to offer on a global scale, and the ceremony has become an industry-recognised acknowledgement of excellence across various verticals. Winning technologies were
INAVATION AWARDS TECHNOLOGY WINNERS
INAVATION AWARDS PROJECT WINNERS:
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AV Accessory: Kramer AD-RING-5 AV Software: Christie Mystique Install Technology for Control and Management: Extron Room Scheduling Technology for Control Rooms: Datapath VSN 982 Technology for Digital Signage: Peerless-AV Xtreme High Bright Outdoor Display Technology for Entertainment/Live Events: Absen Polaris Audio Technology for Entertainment/Live Events: d&b Soundscape Technology for Large Venue Presentation: Digital Projection Insight Laser 8K Technology for Signal Distribution: ZeeVee ZyPerMX4 Technology for Museums and Attractions: AV Stumpfl Pixera one Interactive Display Product: Clevertouch E-Cap, Pro Series Technology for Collaboration & Conferencing: Extron ShareLink Pro 1000
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Corporate Facility: Bloomberg & AVMI – Bloomberg’s London HQ, UK Education Facility: Polymedia – INHA University in Tashkent, Uzbekistan Hospitality Project: Vichai Trading 1983 – Waldorf Astoria Bangkok, Thailand Healthcare Project: Snelling Business Systems – Quadram Institute, UK Control Room Project: Diversified – IBM X-Force Command: Cyber Tactical Ops Centre, USA House of Worship Project: Delta Tecnostudio – Pope’s Basilica Santa Maria Maggiore in Rome, Italy Leisure & Entertainment Facility: Bright Group – Lulea Ice-Hockey Arena, Sweden Visitor Attraction: Kraftwerk Living Technologies – National Geographic Encounter: Ocean Odyssey, USA Government or Public Sector Project: Arup – NATO HQ, Belgium Retail Project: Auvix – Victoria’s Secret Flagship Boutiques, Russia Transport Project: Engie AV Technologies – Melbourne Airport, Australia Live Event: macomNIYU and POOLgroup – BMW Vision iNext World Flight
INDUSTRY AWARDS DIGITAL SIGNAGE AWARDS
DIGITAL SIGNAGE AWARDS 2019 The Digital Signage Awards, produced in association with Sixteen:Nine, held its ninth awards ceremony at the Tobacco Theatre in Amsterdam on 6 February during ISE. The awards are billed as impartial, independent and objective, and aim to find the world’s best digital signage projects, based on creativity, content, innovation and technology. The judging panel at this year’s edition of the awards was chaired by Dave Haynes, the founder and editor of Toronto-based Sixteen:Nine, an online publication that has followed the digital signage industry for more than a decade. Included in the team of 28 judges were some of the most influential professionals in the digital signage market, including chief marketing, sales and strategy officer at TRISON, Ignacio Alonso; Will Amos, director of the Digital Media Group at Diversified, USA; and Richard Atkins, head of digital production and a partner at Bartle Bogle Hegarty.
“Awards are too often handed out based on high profiles and big budgets, and the charge for the judging panel was to factor many other things into their review. More than anything, perhaps, we all had to consider whether the projects had real objectives and delivered tangible results – however those results are identified and measured.” – Dave Haynes, chair of the Digital Signage Awards judging panel
WINNERS OF THE 2019 DIGITAL SIGNAGE AWARDS The top honour, the Grand Prix Digital Signage Award, was bestowed on Moment Factory for their installation at the Singapore Changi Airport. Singapore’s Changi Airport Group commissioned major new experiential media features to enhance and entertain at different stages of the passenger journey. Voted by air travellers as the World’s Best Airport (according to Skytrax) for the fifth consecutive year, Singapore Changi Airport is taking its passenger experience to a new level with Terminal 4. This involved commissioning Moment Factory to collaborate on two media features designed to entertain passengers as they navigate the airport’s remarkable interior. The award for Outstanding Individual was presented to Chris Riegel, CEO at Stratacache Group. Riegel runs and solely owns what has come to be known as the STRATACACHE Group of Companies – an increasingly global, vertically-integrated company that delivers turnkey digital signage solutions. Riegel has, in this past decade, taken STRATACACHE from a little-known software company with roots in France to one of the biggest and certainly most influential players in the business. In the Overall Solutions category, Pixel Inspiration was acknowledged for their installation at the Halifax Bank in central London. The financial institution’s aim was “to bring their ‘un-bank-like’ approach to one of the busiest high streets in Europe and create a space for people to not only do their everyday banking, but engage with meaningful, cutting-edge technology.” Pixel Inspiration achieved this with a breath-taking installation that spans three floors and includes a raft of digital solutions. Mvix Digital Signage was recognised for the creative execution of their work with Austrian company Delacon, who specialise in phytogenic animal feed additives. The company’s identity is built around staying true to nature – a philosophy encapsulated by the visual solution vividly executed by Responsive Spaces, which featured a dandelion seed-head that visitors could interact with by blowing the seeds off the virtual dandelion and across the screen. “The projects that have won their nominated categories [did so] because of the thinking behind them, the application of the right technology and the investment made in creativity and content. There were also projects that the judges loved and celebrated that maybe had less flash, but did a great job addressing a challenge,” concludes Haynes. The 2020 edition of the Digital Signage Awards will mark the tenth anniversary of the event, and will once again be held during ISE in Amsterdam early next year. For more information on the Digital Signage Awards, visit www.digitalsignageawards.com
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INDUSTRY AWARDS CRESTRON AWARDS
THE CRESTRON EMEA INTEGRATION The Creston EMEA Integration Awards are a celebration of the finest projects featuring Crestron technologies. The 2019 edition – the competition’s 12th instalment – saw 147 entries come in from 71 integrators representing 19 countries from around the Europe, Middle East and Africa region. Reflecting on this year’s awards, which were granted in 15 different categories (both commercial and residential), CEO of Technical Innovations Group, Robin van Meeuwen, said: “Every year, the quality of the entries increases, and this is a testament to the network of leading partners and service providers that choose Crestron to deliver exciting and forward-thinking projects.” This year’s judging panel consisted of four industry experts with extensive experience in commercial and residential technology. Owen Ellis, chairman of the AV User Group; Rob Scott, founder and publisher of UC Today; Karen Stylianides, editor of Grand Designs magazine; and award-winning freelance writer Zoe Dare Hall were entrusted with making the difficult selection. As Ellis commented, the judges were looking “for more than just the innovative use of Crestron technologies, but projects that exceeded client expectations and requirements.” Some notable winners from this year’s Commercial Awards include Avidex SA, who were recognised in the Best Corporate Application category for their collaboration with Agemar SA, one of the biggest maritime companies in the world. This “successful collaboration between the integrator, architect and engineering team” resulted in Crestron technologies being used “in almost every space of the building, which included 20 meeting rooms, two crisis rooms, two training rooms, a board room and an auditorium.” Meanwhile, the award for Best Educational Project was scooped by Visavvi for their University of the West of Scotland (UWS) installation. In this “closely-contested category,” the award was eventually given to the £110M campus project, which features “the largest single deployment of DM NVX in Europe, and perfectly [showcases] the art of the possible with AV over IP.” Discussing the range of Crestron technologies that Visavvi implemented, David Johnston – assistant director of ICT at UWS – said: “Visavvi … delivered our vision using an extensive array of Crestron technologies. Reliability and support are vital to the reputation of a leading university.” The award for Best Application of DM NVX – Crestron’s revolutionary AV over IP encoder/decoder technology – went to Langard s.r.o. for the Czech Republic’s National Museum Prague, where an extensive reconstruction project was completed by the 28th of October 2018: the country’s 100th anniversary. Featuring 192 AV sources in overhead spaces and a further 192 displays in each room of the building, Martin Soucek information systems designer at the National Museum, said about the
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BEST APPLICATION OF DM NVX: National Museum of Prague by Langard s.r.o
Caption
BEST APPLICATION OF DM NVX: National Museum of Prague by Langard s.r.o
project: “An exhibition to mark the anniversary of our country was a great challenge and a matter of prestige. I especially appreciate the great ease of installation of Crestron.” Fast food brand Nando’s is known for its cheeky corporate personality and provocative advertising campaigns – and so it is, perhaps, not surprising that the collaboration between Triac and the South African company earned the prize for Most Unique Application at the 2019 Crestron EMEA Integration Awards. Read all about this exciting project in our exclusive feature on pages 24-27. Best Hospitality Project went to HENRI for their automation installation at the five-star Lutetia Rive Gauche, an iconic Parisian Art Deco hotel. During a recent renovation, HENRI undertook to automate every one of the hotel’s 184 rooms, designing a comprehensive system for lighting management and control of motorised curtains, temperature and in-room AV options. Furthermore, every room in the hotel is equipped with no less than five Crestron TSW-560 touch screens, integrating regular hotel room amenities like “Do Not Disturb” messages and wake-up calls. The managing director of HENRI, Michael Sherman, commented: “The Lutetia
ON AWARDS 2019
BEST CORPORATE APPLICATION: Agemar SA in Greece by Avidex SA
BEST EDUCATIONAL PROJECT: University of the West of Scotland by Visavvi
Hotel is one of the very few in the world to implement such a high level of technology in their rooms, replacing keypads with touch screens and really pushing forward this technology to improve the client’s experience and comfort during their stay." Finally, the gong for Best User Experience went to MK2 Audiovisueel, a Dutch company entrusted with the recent integration of the KLM International (ICA) Business Class Lounge. In this category, the KLM lounge was declared “the clear winner … as the solution is futureproof, highly flexible, cost-effective and infinitely scalable, fitting the look and objectives of the ICA Lounge.” These thoughts were further underscored by Boet Kreiken, executive vice president of customer experience at KLM, who said: “KLM aims to offer the most attractive lounge in the world; a destination in itself. The new lounge concept ties in seamlessly with KLM’s strategy, centring on providing the ultimate hospitality experience, innovation and perfect customer service.” AV Integration would like to congratulate all the winners, whose projects – in the words of Robin van Meeuwen – are “confirmation of how innovation, excellence and creativity in using Crestron technology can enhance lives.” For a complete list of winners, and to learn more about Crestron’s exciting AV integration solutions, visit www.crestron.com.
PRODUCT LAUNCHES
ISE 2019 PRODUCTS
INTEGRATED SYSTEMS EUROPE 2019
AV INTEGRATION joined thousands of manufacturers, integrators, technicians, distributors and consumers at Integrated Systems Europe 2019 (ISE), held in Amsterdam from 5 to 8 February. The exhibition saw a record number of product launches featuring audio, visual and integration technologies. Here follows a small selection of products that may be well-suited to the local market.
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AUDIO
ISE 2019 PRODUCTS
INTEGRATED SYSTEMS EUROPE PRODUCT LAUNCHES AUDIO
HARMAN AKG CBL Boundary Layer Microphones “One of the biggest requests we hear from technology managers is for an all-around really great sounding table mic that can also blend nicely into all kinds of conference rooms,” said Paul Krizan, HARMAN Professional Solutions Product Manager. “This is that mic.” •
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Available in two coverage patterns to support a variety of meeting space sizes and shapes Microphones feature intuitive talk/mute controls and elegant design aesthetics Screw terminals for simple installation RF interference suppression Easily-identifiable LED cues for meeting participants to indicate current talk or mute status
For more information, contact www.harmanaudio.com www.audiosure.co.za
AUDIO
Bose Professional DesignMax loudspeakers The new range of DesignMax loudspeakers combine the legendary quality of Bose audio products with impeccable aesthetics. With ten loudspeakers and two subwoofers to choose from – including ceiling-mounted, surfacemounted, and outdoor-rated options – the DesignMax range offers great flexibility without compromising on style. •
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DesignMax loudspeakers range from 2-inch low-profile models to 8-inch high-SPL compressiondriver loudspeakers Elegant form factor surface enclosures, sleek, minimum-bezel grilles and removable logos allow DesignMax loudspeakers to blend with any corporate or office décor Surface-mounted DesignMax loudspeakers feature hidden U-brackets and the unique design holds the loudspeaker closer to the wall, providing a much cleaner appearance, while for installers, unique QuickHold mounting mechanisms on each DesignMax loudspeaker make the installation job easier
For more information, contact www.pro.bose.com www.alpha-tec.co.za
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ISE 2019 PRODUCTS
AUDIO
INTEGRATED SYSTEMS EUROPE PRODUCT LAUNCHES AUDIO
Shure Microflex Complete (MXC) Conferencing System At this year’s ISE conference, Shure announced its new integrated audio conferencing solution, the Microflex Complete (MXC) Conferencing System. Because of its intuitive user interface and advanced productivity tools, Microflex Complete makes sure that user comfort level is a top priority. •
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The conferencing system incorporates Microflexbased gooseneck microphones, high-quality loudspeakers and advanced audio processing to ensure speakers and participants can hear and be heard With the ability to support multilingual meetings (up to 31 interpretation channels) – and accommodate up to 3,800 participants – it offers optimal flexibility and control to meet language standards and requirements Furthermore, features such as electronic voting, agenda handling, flexible microphone control and a companion electronic name sign for speaker identification enable greater productivity and engagement
For more information, contact www.shure.com www.wildandmarr.co.za
AUDIO
Meyer Sound MPS-482HP Power Supply Pablo Espinosa, vice president and chief loudspeaker designer at Meyer Sound, commented: “The MPS482HP is the ideal choice for IntelligentDC systems in smaller rooms with limited loudspeaker requirements and no place for a full equipment rack. The MPS-482HP can be placed up in a drop ceiling, in a cable trough, or easily attached to the wall in a cabinet or closet.” •
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Typical applications for the MPS-482HP as the primary power supply include smaller board rooms, hospitality suites, home theatre installations and intimate hospitality and retail establishments It is particularly suited for creating 2-channel systems with compact loudspeakers, such as the MM-4XP, UP-4XP, and UP-4slim Additionally, it can power up to six Ashby-5C or four Ashby-8C ceiling loudspeakers and is also ideal for powering surrounds in immersive configurations
For more information, contact www.meyersound.com www.prosound.co.za
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AUDIO
ISE 2019 PRODUCTS
INTEGRATED SYSTEMS EUROPE PRODUCT LAUNCHES AUDIO
d&b audiotechnik DS20 Audio Network Bridge The DS20 is a natural networking choice for d&b users, as Henning Kaltheuner – head of d&b market intelligence – explained: “d&b customers now have the freedom to choose a networking solution… while working comfortably within the intuitive d&b workflow.” •
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Integrating seamlessly as part of a d&b system, the DS20 Audio Network Bridge interfaces between Milan networks and AES3 digital audio signals The DS20 Audio Network Bridge simultaneously provides distribution of Ethernet control data Furthermore, as well as providing an interface from the Milan audio network to the digital inputs of d&b amplifiers via Ethernet, the DS20 provides four digital AES3 input channels for applications such as a ‘break-in’ from a front of house console
For more information, contact www.dbaudio.com www.stageaudioworks.com
AUDIO
Audix adds Dante and AES67 to their ceiling microphones “At Audix we have been pioneering ceiling microphone solutions for conferencing, distance learning and other zone capture applications for over a decade now,” said Gene Houck, director of sales at Audix. “We are proud that we offer the widest selection of ceiling microphone models available in the industry today.” •
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Audix will offer Dante and AES67 enabled versions of the M3 tri-element hanging microphone, the steerable flush-mount M70 and the M55 hanging ceiling microphone Although Dante is by far the most widely-used digital networking platform, Audix is also offering the streaming interoperability of AES67
For more information, contact www.audixusa.com www.dwrdistribution.co.za
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COLLABORATION ISE 2019 PRODUCTS
INTEGRATED SYSTEMS EUROPE PRODUCT LAUNCHES
COLLABORATION
Yamaha SWP2 Series L2 Network Switches “Yamaha began manufacturing network products for the IT market 20 years ago and currently has a majority share of the domestic SOHO router market,” said Yoshi Tsugawa, general manager of Yamaha’s PA division. “We are confident that the SWP2 series will prove to be an ideal solution for high-performance Dante audio networks of any size.” •
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The SWP2 series of L2 network switches includes twin 10G uplink ports, making them ideal for high-capacity Dante networks running at 96kHz Available in both multi (SWP2-10MMF) and single (SWP2-10SMF) mode models, two optical fibre cables can be connected and link aggregation activated to provide trunk line redundancy via spanning tree (MSTP) protocol A simple ‘Optimise for Dante’ switch setting makes them easy to set up for stable Dante network operation, without the expertise in network technology and operation needed when using standard intelligent switches
For more information, contact www.yamaha.co.za
COLLABORATION
Lifesize Icon 700 Conference Room Solution “Today’s businesses and their employees rely on video conferencing for their mission-critical communications,” said Craig Malloy, CEO of Lifesize. “Our goal with our next generation of Lifesize solutions was to challenge the status quo of ‘good enough’ quality and create a better-than-in-person meeting experience that eliminates the stress, time and money waste associated with commuting to and from meetings.” •
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Designed with industry-first 4K video conferencing capabilities, the Icon 700 offers full-motion 4K content sharing and an unparalleled quality experience The Icon 700 conference room solution also features native integration with an easy-to-use cloud service designed for live 4K video and ultra-wideband Opus audio for exceptional clarity optimised for human speech
For more information, contact www.lifesize.com www.skygroupcom.co.za
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COLLABORATION ISE 2019 PRODUCTS
INTEGRATED SYSTEMS EUROPE PRODUCT LAUNCHES
COLLABORATION
HARMAN Collaboration Alliance with Zoom At ISE 2019, HARMAN announced a new strategic partnership with Zoom Video Communications, including product offerings designed to “transform standard meeting spaces into powerful collaboration centres.” •
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The AMX Acendo Core Collaboration System is immediately ready to support and natively run the cloud-based Zoom Meetings application, with the ability to launch Zoom Meetings with one touch and providing a platform for wireless document sharing, web browsing, room scheduling and more The AMX Modero G5 Control Panels also immediately support the cloud-based Zoom Rooms controller application The AMX and Zoom collaboration is the first of its kind to offer users the ability to simultaneously and seamlessly run the Zoom Rooms app alongside touch-based room control applications
For more information, contact www.amx.com www.wildandmarr.co.za
COLLABORATION
i3 Technologies HUDDLE 3.0 i3 Technologies launched its “flexible meeting room solution,” the i3 HUDDLE 3.0, at ISE 2019. The affordable system comprises a plug-and-play collaboration display for huddle meeting rooms that is simple, intuitive and customisable – allowing users to experience the comfort and ease of use of an integrated Windows computer. •
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With the i3 HUDDLE 3.0 you can simply walk into the room, take notes, access files, surf the web, share your screen, meet with a remote team, consolidate your ideas on the whiteboard and plan the next meeting instantly The i3HUDDLE works flawlessly with any UC platform, any hardware or any operating system – meaning that ideas can be captured, shared across the organisation and developed on the fly, allowing companies to harness the power of productive collaboration
For more information, contact www.i3-technologies.com www.skygroupcom.co.za
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COLLABORATION ISE 2019 PRODUCTS
INTEGRATED SYSTEMS EUROPE PRODUCT LAUNCHES
COLLABORATION
Crestron Flex Unified Communications and Collaboration Solutions “The Crestron Flex range still allows people to give easy presentations and get that control they know and like from the Crestron brand, but brings in the Unified Communications aspect that is so important for the future of meeting spaces and collaboration,” said Rupert Denoon, regional director (South Africa) at Crestron EMEA. •
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Crestron Flex solutions provide a simple, consistent user experience in all the places people work and meet Crestron Flex delivers a native Microsoft Teams, Skype for Business, and Zoom Rooms software experience, including one-touch join Crestron Flex solutions also benefit from zero-touch deployment via the Crestron XiO Cloud platform
For more information, contact www.crestron.com
COLLABORATION
Kramer Network 2.2 “We’ve been pushing AV over IP for years, with very few takers, but this year we feel the market is really going to mature,” said Bruce Genricks of Electrosonic, the South African distributor of Kramer Electronics. “AV professionals are now ready for this technology, they can see the benefits, and the price point has come down.” •
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Kramer Network is a comprehensive IT management platform designed to let IT and AV teams quickly deploy, configure, and manage an entire professional AV installation from anywhere in the network The latest version of the solution offers support for Dante and third-party devices It also offers AV routing for combined virtual and physical matrices, Kramer Control integration and more
For more information, contact www.kramerav.com www.electrosonic.co.za
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VISUAL
ISE 2019 PRODUCTS
INTEGRATED SYSTEMS EUROPE PRODUCT LAUNCHES VISUAL
ZeeVee ZyPer4K Silent Decoder “ZyPer4K SDVoE encoders and decoders are deployed at thousands of endpoints globally, delivering uncompressed 4K content with sub-1ms latency to an unlimited number of displays directly through off-the-shelf 10G Ethernet switches,” said ZeeVee CEO, Bob Michaels. •
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The ZyPer4K Silent Decoder features an innovative fanless design that reduces noise in locations where the hum of a fan is problematic In addition, it eliminates source electrical noise that can affect the performance of connected video displays An attractive oversized heat sink keeps the unit cool during operation and it has a 10Gb Ethernet connection, as well as a 1Gb network port, which enables it to be used for any IP network device such as digital signage media players, IP cameras, video/audio conferencing equipment and even WiFi network equipment
For more information, contact www.zeevee.com www.electrosonic.co.za
VISUAL
Christie MicroTiles LED “Christie has been very successful with the MicroTiles brand – and both customers and our integrators love it because it makes for an easy, creative solution. With that in mind, Christie took everything great about MicroTiles and brought it to narrow pixel pitch LED,” said Ted Romanowitz, senior product manager at Christie. •
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Delivering P3 colour space, and featuring fullycompliant HDR-10 and patented software that keeps the wall calibrated at 97 percent or greater uniformity, Christie MicroTiles LED are suitable for broadcast sets, corporation venues, museums, retail outlets, stadiums, arenas and higher education The system includes a low-profile ADA-compliant QuickMount system so displays can be created in any shape and size, including 90-degree inside/outside corners and both concave and convex curves Other powerful capabilities include 12-bit 4K at 120Hz input sources with integrated image processing, scaling and simple switching, all of which combine to deliver unmatched image performance
For more information, contact www.christiedigital.com/emea www.stageaudioworks.com
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ISE 2019 PRODUCTS
VISUAL
INTEGRATED SYSTEMS EUROPE PRODUCT LAUNCHES VISUAL
LG Transparent OLED signage Making its European debut is the one-of-a kind LG OLED Falls display that welcomed visitors at the main entrance of LG’s booth. The display was made possible by 88 flexible Open Frame OLED displays that curve up to 1,000R for wrapping around various surfaces. •
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Reduced bezel size to provide an immersive and seamless viewing experience Limitless contrast and the deepest blacks Accurate and stable colour reproduction Optional Curvature Calibrator(CC) supports the coordination of displays with various convex and concave curvatures
For more information, contact www.lg.com/global/business
VISUAL
Pufferfish PufferTouch 2+, featuring the Barco F80-4K laser projector Peter Pauwels, VP of sales, pro AV and events in the EMEA territory at Barco, commented: “The PufferTouch 2 and PufferTouch 2+ demonstrate how the partnership between Barco and Pufferfish has gone from strength to strength. Barco is always thrilled to be involved in any innovative technologies Pufferfish produce and look forward to doing so again in the future.” •
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Pufferfish turned to Barco in search of a projector that would bring their spherical displays to life, and this collaboration led to a cutting-edge development in projection technology, with the F80-4K laser projector from Barco The portable, robust PufferTouch displays offer on-sphere touch interactivity and resolutions of up to 4K, and are available in either 600 or 760mm screen sizes
For more information, contact www.barco.com www.peripheralvision.co.za
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VISUAL
ISE 2019 PRODUCTS
INTEGRATED SYSTEMS EUROPE PRODUCT LAUNCHES VISUAL
Absen Fine Pixel Generation display solutions At this year ISE’s conference, Absen launched a new line of narrow pixel pitch (NPP) displays, which included three indoor and outdoor LED solutions designed to satisfy all kinds of requirements, such as fixed installation, rental and staging, control room and corporate applications. •
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Featuring the latest in Integrated Matrix Device (IMD) and Common Cathode (CC) technologies, the new Aries Series (AX 1.5mm) and CR Series (CR 0.9mm) provide three times the strength of traditional LED video walls while consuming 20% less power By combining the two technologies in an innovative way, Absen has further reduced the pixel pitch of its LED video wall whilst ensuring maximum durability Furthermore, as it supports the HDR10 (highdynamic-range) standard, the AX 1.5mm allows for a much broader range of colours, while being still road-rugged thanks to its corner edge protection The AX 1.5 is also ideal for fixed installations due to its 27.5” cabinet size, achieving a 16:9 aspect ratio
For more information, contact www.absen.com www.dwrdistribution.co.za
VISUAL
Samsung QLED 8K Digital Signage Solutions “By introducing 8K in display signage, businesses can deliver impeccable picture quality to their audiences in a way that was previously not possible,” said Reginald Nxumalo, director of consumer electronics, Samsung South Africa. •
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Included in the range is the 82” QLED 8K Signage, which combines the market’s highest resolution with Artificial Intelligence (AI) upscaling technology – producing lifelike images, and enabling users to enjoy immersive viewing experiences The QLED 8K display also delivers enhanced black colour presentation through local dimming and Quantum Light Control, as well as featuring HDR10+ along with 4,000nit peak brightness and providing 100 percent colour volume The company also announced at ISE 2019 that they will be launching a 292” version of their popular The Wall display in 8K in the first half of 2019
For more information, contact www.samsung.com/za
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Photo by Malan Kotze Photography
INSTALLATION
An award-winning smart solution for Nando’s Nando’s recently approached South African AV integration, lighting and control specialists Triac to realise their need for an innovative technology solution to enhance the dining experience and improve efficiencies at their restaurants in South Africa. Triac was recognised at the recent Crestron EMEA Integration Awards, held in Amsterdam during Integrated Systems Europe 2019, for their creativity and unique application of Crestron technology for the restaurant chain.
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INSTALLATION
If you have seen any Nando’s ads, you will know that the brand pulls no punches – is always innovative, always pushing the boundaries and at the cutting-edge. It must have been this approach that saw the meeting of minds between Nando’s and AV integration specialists Triac. Founded in 1987 in South Africa, the Portuguese-inspired food chain Nando’s now operates in over 1500 outlets in 25 countries. The international brand required a way to take casual dining to the next level at its multiple restaurants in South Africa, recognising that lighting and ambience can set the tone for a great dining experience. Triac, a lighting and control specialist based in Johannesburg, was tasked with implementing an intelligent control solution that would enhance the restaurant experience, improve efficiencies and promote easier management of these assets.
THINKING OUT OF THE BOX The integrators at Triac designed a bespoke Crestron solution to manage lighting control, audio distribution and other peripherals across the new Nando’s flagship restaurant rollout, as the new brand standard. The client required an integrated solution that could be packaged in a simple and innovative way and which could easily be deployed across many locations countrywide. The ‘Black Box’ concept allowed Triac to design a bespoke solution that was robust, affordable, secure, easy for contractors to install and quick for Triac to deploy.
The uniqueness of this solution is the combination of intelligent processing and cost-effective hardware, with a geographically autonomous communications layer wrapped into a powerful RMS cloud-based software solution.
A key requirement was a system that could successfully control multiple LED light sources and offer a predictable lighting result every time. Crestron’s universal dimmer technology, which enables every output to be separately configured, allowed for the various LED load types to be matched. This resulted in smooth, full-range dimming across all the lighting zones, delivering great results in all instances – even in regions with inconsistent mains power supply – allowing for a warm and inviting atmosphere for diners, and ensuring that the restaurants are always comfortably set up for a great user experience.
CUSTOMISED CLEVERNESS Every Nando’s restaurant has its own signature design, incorporating locally-crafted furniture, richly patterned and brightly coloured finishes and showcasing original artworks. For this reason, Triac delivered a bespoke lighting scheme to complement the interior and exterior design of every individual restaurant. A range of very specific light fixtures was selected with the correct warm colour temperature, deep, rich colour rendering and narrow beam angles to create interest and depth in the lighting design. Automated lighting scenes – triggered at various times of the day, and automatically adjusting with the changing seasons – fade between morning, day and evening scenes, always ensuring a warm and inviting ambience. This system begins bright and early with the morning scene at 6am, for cleaning and early preparation for the staff, while the vibrant day scene fades in at 10am and then cross-fades into the intimate evening scene at sunset, with an auto-off setting at closing time leaving only security lighting on. The audio system control benefits from the same concept of using pre-set scenes to respond to changing needs at different times of the day and night. The morning scene audio volume is elevated for the special show on the brand's dedicated radio station, to prepare the staff and get them extra-motivated for the day ahead. The pre-set volume adjusts automatically through the day to the appropriate volume level for each of the various areas of the restaurant. This ensures that volume levels are always correct: elevated for the noisier serving and outside areas, and set against the mid-range for the more relaxed general seating areas. A wide variety of Crestron Sonas loudspeakers – including the in-ceiling range, surface-mount exterior speakers and pendants for high-ceilinged areas – were installed to deliver a great audio experience with wellbalanced, high-quality sound.
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Photos by Malan Kotze Photography
INSTALLATION
Nando's, Montecasino Johannesburg
AUTOMATED OPTIMISATION One of the key requirements was for the system to be fully automated and not to require any intervention from staff or managers. This way, the system is used as it is intended and cannot be overridden or adjusted on a whim, ensuring that the restaurant’s atmosphere is always optimised and that its staff members are allowed to focus on their jobs. Of great importance to Nando’s, and a big motivation for incorporating the integrated control system, was the benefit of substantially reducing their energy usage. The dimming of LED lighting is directly proportional to energy saving. Furthermore, it increases the life of the LED light exponentially by reducing the heat inside the LED, having a big impact on the maintenance and life expectancy of the LED fixture. Incorporating the control of other peripherals, such as the signage, further adds to these savings. Other devices and systems in the restaurant will be added to the system in the future, further enhancing the energy saving aspect. Crestron’s RMS System, meanwhile, is a web-based platform that allows for real-time, remote monitoring of all individual systems integrated into the network.
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This intelligent asset now presents the client with valuable information for asset planning and deployment, automation and control of all systems and devices, condition monitoring and preventative maintenance, warranty and operating performance metrics, sales and marketing intelligence and, of course, power consumption.
INSTALLATION
“Nando’s tasked us with designing a competent control solution with onboard automation and remote access to meet the growing demands of an innovative client. A Crestron system was the obvious choice, offering real-time monitoring and control. Providing modularity, the system allows for potential expansion in the future. We wanted a system that we could rely on to be robust and stable, factoring in the high demands of a busy restaurant environment – with the help of Crestron we have successfully been able to do this.” – Ryan Ashford-Smit, managing partner at Triac
Sashi Ranjith, the owner of Nando’s Monte Casino, comments: “The system is awesome. As an experienced restauranteur, one of my biggest pain points was constantly having to manually manage multiples systems. The solution now takes care of this for us 24/7, so we can focus on looking after our patrons.”
AN AWARDED INSTALLATION The collaboration with Triac has been extremely successful for Nando’s. Forty outlets are already equipped with the Crestron solution, with another
fifty installations planned – highlighting how the technology and the integrator’s smart design, together, are delivering real benefits for the restaurant group. In recognition of this outstanding project, integrators Triac were recently awarded the Most Unique Application (Commercial) prize at the Crestron EMEA Integration Awards 2019. The company was also a prizewinner in the Crestron Deployment Challenge at the 2019 ISE Conference held in Amsterdam in February.
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COMMERCIAL LIGHTING
Photo by Michael Lotriet
LIGHTING OUR WORKING WORLD
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Since the commercialisation of electric lighting at the turn of the 20th Century,
Architectural lighting technology to assist in
lighting has dramatically changed the way that we live, work and play.
buildings a facelift – returning the Sandton City Office Towers to the position of
Nowhere is this more apparent than in our
giving one of Johannesburg’s most iconic
dominance that the structure has enjoyed
commercial spaces, and – with the rapid
over the Sandton cityscape for the past four
development of lighting technology,
decades. We then take a look at an
particularly the explosion in LED and networked control – the landscape is set to
interesting installation in Cape Town, where Hagar lighting control was used to automate
change yet again. In the past, we harnessed
the lighting fixture sales floor for Hästens,
the ability to control our environment by turning on the lights. We are now evolving to a point where we are able to use technology to get our environment to turn the lights on for us, and the implications are enormous. In this feature, we take a look at a few commercial lighting installations that illustrate the diversity of applications that are
the official South African distributor of
possible in this market. In Rosebank, Primary Colours has used LED strip screens to transform an out-of-home advertising solution into an innovative and awe-inspiring architectural lighting installation. In Sandton, DWR Distribution has used Anolis
Swarovski Lighting. The common thread that runs through these installations is the use of state-of-theart lighting technology to illuminate our commercial spaces, not only in response to our current needs but also pre-emptively. The inclusion of ground-breaking lighting control platforms, networking capabilities and cloud-based monitoring and control has revolutionised the way that we perceive commercial lighting and promises to offer the professional AV integration market a wide range of new opportunities.
FEATURE
COMMERCIAL LIGHTING
30 ROSEBANK LINK FOR 36 ANOLIS SANDTON
– Nicole Barnes
FOR 40 HAGAR SWAROVSKI LIGHTING
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COMMERCIAL LIGHTING
ROSEBANK LINK TAKES
LED TO NEW HEIGHTS The façade of the recently-completed office building development, Rosebank Link, situated in the heart of Joburg’s trendy Northern Suburbs, has been transformed into an innovative out-of-home advertising platform by Primary Colours, a local digital display solutions provider. AV Integration spoke with Primary Colours co-founders, Grant Neill and Ashendra Singh, about the project in a recent interview.
features a breath-taking design that is both elegant and edgy. According to Paragon, who served as architects on the project, the façade of the Rosebank Link consists of a steel-clad shell with articulated strip windows that allow natural light to filter into every office module. “The faceted East and West Façades have a visual quality emphasised by articulated strip windows, which transform from day to night, and the flush, glazed North and South Façades allow for views over the greater urban area of Rosebank,” says Paragon in its description of the project design.
FROM BILLBOARD TO BRILLIANT THE NEW JEWEL OF ROSEBANK The recently-completed commercial high-rise, Rosebank Link, has redefined the skyline of one of Johannesburg’s trendiest suburbs. Towering an impressive 15 storeys high, the Rosebank Link consists of two basement parking levels, a pedestrian walkway with ground floor retail space, a five-level parkade and eight storeys of rentable office space. Conveniently situated at 173 Oxford Road, in the heart of Rosebank’s business district, the Rosebank Link offers direct access to the Gautrain station, The Zone and Rosebank Mall, and has been designed to offer tenants the infrastructure needed to realise a smart and ecologically-friendly working environment. The Rosebank Link was completed in December 2018 and
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According to Neill, who has extensive experience in outdoor advertising, rapid developments in LED technology and the digitisation of media have provided advertisers with new platforms to reach potential customers that transcend the limitations of traditional broadcast and large-format print advertising. He points out that traditional outdoor advertising solutions, such as printed billboards, are expensive to produce and require constant manual replacement. “Large-format commercial LED displays offer an attractive alternative, both for advertisers and for property developers, especially as LED technology is developing at a rapid rate and is becoming more affordable. Property owners are starting to cotton on to the fact that they can erect a screen on their building and create a new revenue stream from hosting
Photo by David Cornwell
COMMERCIAL LIGHTING
“Property owners are starting to cotton on to the fact that they can erect a screen on their building and create a new revenue stream from hosting out-of-home advertising campaigns. Architects also realise that incorporating a screen into the building design at the initiation of a project makes it a lot easier to achieve an aesthetically pleasing result.” – Grant Neill, co-founder of Primary Colours
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Photo by David Cornwell
COMMERCIAL LIGHTING
“Grant came up with the concept of using LED strips to create a wash light effect across the façade of the building. Once they saw our concept, architects proposed integrating the LED strips in a highly creative way to emphasise the unique angles that are one of the defining features of the Rosebank Link.” – Ashendra
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Singh, co-founder of Primary Colours
COMMERCIAL LIGHTING
out-of-home advertising campaigns. Architects also realise that incorporating a screen into the building design at the initiation of a project makes it a lot easier to achieve an aesthetically pleasing result,” says Neill. The property developers involved in the project identified the location and visibility of the Rosebank Link as an ideal opportunity to incorporate an out-of-home advertising platform into the façade of the building from the outset. “During the conceptualisation phase of the project, we were approached with a concept of how to incorporate a large-format LED screen into the façade of the Rosebank Link. The Primary Colours team consulted with architects working on the development, and we came up with the idea of making the screen asymmetrical to compliment the design of the street-facing façade of the building,” Neill explains. Once the design for the LED screen was decided, the concept took a completely novel turn, with Neill proposing to incorporate a video-based architectural lighting effect, using LED strips, to accentuate the striking lines that dominate the façade of the Rosebank Link. “Grant came up with the concept of using LED strips to create a wash light effect across the façade of the building. Once they saw our concept, architects proposed integrating the LED strips in a highly creative way to emphasise the unique angles that are one of the defining features of the Rosebank Link,” says Singh. Neill explains: “My idea was to use video lighting as a wash light on the building, and then tie that wash into the content as it displays on the screens. I got our production department to model the building from the architectural drawings, and we put in the LED strip lighting. I took the model to a meeting and showed it to the client, and they were instantly sold on the idea.”
THE TECH SPEC Once Primary Colours’ ambitious concept and design for the Rosebank Link out-of-home advertising solution was accepted by the client, Neill and Singh set about sourcing the technology that would enable them to bring their idea to life. The installation called for a large-format LED screen that would provide a high-quality picture during daylight and after dark. Additionally, viewing angles on the screen needed to account for the fact that the façade of the Rosebank Link is rarely seen from the front, as motorists on Oxford Road approach the east-facing façade of the building on the way to Hyde Park and Sandton in the north, or while heading south towards the Joburg city centre. After extensive research and consultation, Neill decided to specify the DigiLED 10mm SMD Screen. Neill explains that some modifications needed to be made by the manufacturer to achieve the desired effect, the most important being configuring the screen to provide extra-wide viewing angles. “When you drive down Oxford Road, you never see the building head-on, but rather from an angle. So, it was very important that we found a product with very good horizontal and vertical viewing angles – which DigiLED could provide.” With HD 720 resolution and the ability to display 16 million colours, the LED screen that has been built into the façade of the Rosebank Link measures 18 metres wide and seven metres high (1,728 pixels wide x 745 pixels high). Geometrically patterned cladding was used to underline the fact that the screen is an authentic part of the building’s fabric. “Using DigiLED’s new technology, we have been able to create an exceptionally flat screen that offers maximum viewing angles to both pedestrians and drivers,” explains Singh. “With no off-angle colour shift, the screen offers advertisers a unique way to tell their stories, in the most impactful way possible.”
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COMMERCIAL LIGHTING
STRIPPING THE SKYRISE While the impressive screen that dominates the façade of the Rosebank Link represents cutting-edge technology, it is the building’s strip lighting that sets this project apart. Most impressive when viewed at night, the ribbons of coloured video displays are designed to reflect from the building’s edges, giving a more harmonious “wash” effect. This “smart lighting” spans a total length of 226 metres and stretches across 15 floors of the building. “What you see on the screen is integrated with the lighting strips so that the advertising you see matches the lighting that you see across the entire building. The net result is that one can use the entire building as an advertising space because we can address the lighting aspect as though it was a screen,” says Singh. Primary Colours used hundreds of meters of DigiLED LED strip, together with 38 control boxes, intricately designed cabling and state-of-the-art media servers and control software to achieve the desired effect. “One of the biggest challenges was installing the control boxes across 15 floors to ensure that all of the strips could be operated together with the screen from a single control point. We needed to attach the LED strips to the Rosebank Link via watertight perforations in the building’s façade and connect them to the control boxes, which took an enormous amount of planning and careful design to achieve,” Singh points out. “In the end, we are extremely proud of what we have achieved and are confident that we have set a new standard for out-of-home advertising solutions in the country,” he concludes.
A COLLABORATIVE SUCCESS Primary Colours have achieved a unique out-of-home advertising platform that offers advertisers a breath-taking canvas while also adding to the overall aesthetic of the iconic Rosebank Oxford Road strip. Neill points out that key to the success of the project was the high level of collaboration between themselves, the property developers, architects and engineers, from conception to completion. “Usually what happens is that screens are an afterthought in a project and there are a few problems with that. One is that, architecturally, the screen does not fit in with the building design, and the other problem is having a retrofitted screen approved after a building has been completed. If you design the building with the screen in place from conception, it is much easier to have it approved together with all of the other structural aspects of the building,” Neill explains. The partnership between the stakeholders involved in the Rosebank Link project continues to flourish, as Primary Colours currently provides after-sales services through a service-level agreement that covers both technical and operational support. “Advertisers send their ad content to our design team, who then ensure that content for the LED strip is developed to enhance their campaign material.” Singh goes on to explain that the installation is
network-enabled, and therefore content can be uploaded and changed instantaneously and remotely. “We have all of the control and monitoring software installed on the media players, and if anything goes wrong, we can monitor the system remotely from anywhere with an internet connection." Neil confirms this, saying: “With a simple internet connection, we can make changes to the content, turn things on and off and nobody has to be on-site – except to fix a physical problem, which we can identify through remote monitoring of the hardware.” According to recent research published by Forbes, as much as 90% of all the data in the world has been created in the past two years. As a result of this phenomenal acceleration in content generation, people are being bombarded with advertising every time they connect to a digital device. Very soon, all of the marketing messages, spam and pop-ups become “noise” that is easy to ignore. The out-of-home advertising solution realised by Primary Colours for the developers of the Rosebank Link provides a canvas that is so immense and visually appealing that it is almost impossible to disregard, and it is a great example of the power of professional audiovisual project implementation to produce results that test the boundaries of what we think is possible.
“What you see on the screen is integrated with the lighting strips so that the advertising you see matches the lighting that you see across the entire building.” – Ashendra
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Singh, co-founder of Primary Colours
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COMMERCIAL LIGHTING
SANDTON CITY TOWERS UNDER A NEW LIGHT DWR Distribution’s architectural lighting and installation division recently partnered with Liberty Properties to light one of South Africa’s most iconic buildings, The Sandton City Office Towers.
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COMMERCIAL LIGHTING
The Sandton City Office Towers is one of the oldest and most iconic skyscrapers in the Sandton Precinct and towers 110 meters above the Sandton City Shopping Centre and Sandton Convention Centre. Dubbed the wall street of Gauteng, the Sandton central business district is home to many of South Africa’s leading local and international businesses. Owned and operated by Liberty Properties, the Sandton City Office Towers remains a symbol of Sandton’s position as an economic capital on the African continent, a fact that property owners decided to highlight by implementing a dramatic revamp of the exterior of the building in 2014. The Sandton City Office Towers were first opened in 1973 and have dominated Sandton’s skyline for four decades. Over the past few years, a surge in construction and development in the Sandton Precinct has resulted in a number of skyscrapers competing with The Sandton Towers for dominance of the cityscape. In response, property owners, Liberty Properties, decided to invest in a dramatic revamp of the Sandton Towers in 2014, which resulted in a complete overhaul of the external cladding of the skyrise. Following the completion of the redesign of the external cladding of The Sandton Towers, Liberty Properties approached DWR Distribution’s architectural lighting and installations division with a proposal to upgrade the architectural lighting design of the cap of the building, a metal-louvred pyramidshaped cap that protrudes 15 metres above the roof level of The Towers. Liberty Properties wanted a lighting scheme that would be able to change colour. In response, DWR’s architectural lighting specialist, Johnny Scholtz, presented a proposal using colour-changing architectural LED fixtures from Anolis, a leading manufacturer of architectural lighting products.
“I needed something that would offer excellent colours, as that was the client’s primary objective, and the installation had to look fantastic, be reliable, durable and cost-effective. Anolis ticked all the boxes.” – Johnny Scholtz, architectural lighting specialist, DWR Distribution
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COMMERCIAL LIGHTING
DESIGNED TO INSPIRE Scholtz’s lighting design for the Sandton City Office Towers includes 84 Anolis LED fixtures to replace the ageing white LED-based installation atop the building. “I needed something that would offer excellent colours, as that was the client’s primary objective, and the installation had to look fantastic, be reliable, durable and costeffective. Anolis ticked all the boxes,” Scholtz explains. Included are 60 Anolis ArcLine Outdoor Optic 36 RGBs with 31-degree lenses, which Scholtz used for the side panels and base of the cap. According to the manufacturer, the Anolis ArcLine Optic range combines state of the art lighting technology with a balanced design profile to create truly professional architectural lighting systems. The high-quality wide angle LEDs ensure that a constant effect is delivered. Anolis utilises high-powered Luxeon Emitters throughout the Anolis ArcLine Optic range, which Anolis states provides unsurpassed performance, reliability and quality. The ArcLine fixtures are located on and around the existing roof sections that form the base of the steel structure supporting the cap’s metal flats. The ArcLines evenly wash the façades of the pyramid, as they rise above the ‘Sandton City Tower’ sign. In addition to the ArcLine fixtures, Scholtz included 24 Anolis Divine 160 RGBWs, 16 of which are fitted with 41-degree lenses, and eight with 24-degree lenses to precisely fill the cap spire with beautiful, rich and colour changing luminescence. The Anolis Divines light the spire portion of the cap from the inside and are strategically positioned and secured to concrete plinths as well as to the peak’s structural I-beams via special brackets designed and fabricated by DWR. The fixtures are in a variety of positions, optimised to give the most comprehensive coverage beaming right up the tower.
“The Anolis Divines are extremely punchy, and the quality of the light is superb” states Scholtz. “We knew that the Anolis fixtures would ensure the range of colours the client wanted,” he adds. In line with the brief provided by Liberty Properties, the colour scheme selected is inspired by the signature blue of Liberty’s corporate identity but is also able to cycle through a full range of colours. “The colour-changing ability of the Anolis architectural LED fixtures means that we are able to change the colour of the Sandton Tower’s iconic pyramid cap to mark special occasions or holidays,” Scholtz points out. The result is that Liberty Properties has the flexibility to decide what colour to light the Sandton skyline, achieving the dynamic and engaging visual experience envisioned for the project.
SMART POWER AND CONTROL Scholtz has employed Anolis’ proprietary ArcControl DRS (DIN Rail System) to power the installation, which he describes as “a modular system that is perfectly suited to the project.” The Anolis ArcPower DRS consists of a range of modules, which are able to create system power and control for the entire range of Anolis LED fixtures. By combining the latest LED driver technology and data protocols with the industry standard EN, IEC DIN rail mounting system, the ArcPower DRS allows a flexible and efficient range of options to manage the simplest and most sophisticated of lighting schemes. Separate power supply, control and output modules allow systems to be built to meet the precise requirements of the specified products, leading to easier installation and higher system efficiency. DWR’s architectural lighting and installation division have achieved a truly breath-taking lighting scheme for the Sandton City Towers. The project adds to the company’s growing portfolio of installations, which includes some of South Africa’s most visually striking buildings, including the Mall of Africa and the PwC tower in Waterfall City.
“The colour-changing ability of the Anolis architectural LED fixtures means that we are able to change the colour of the Sandton Tower’s iconic pyramid cap to mark special occasions or holidays.” – Johnny Scholtz, architectural lighting specialist, DWR Distribution 38
COMMERCIAL LIGHTING
SWAROVSKI SHOWROOM GETS SMART When Swarovski Lighting suppliers Hästens recently sought to modernise their Green Point new-build showroom, the company turned to ElectroMechanica to supply a state-of-the-art Hager smart building solution. AV Integration takes a look behind the scenes at this impressive new automated lighting control system.
LIGHTING AUTOMATION The project commenced towards the end of 2017 and was completed in the first quarter of 2018, according to Ryan Whitelaw, product manager for building automation at ElectroMechanica. “Our brief was to supply a centralised control of all of the light fittings on display,” he explains. A wholly-owned South African company, ElectroMechanica offers its clients state-of-the-art products sourced from leading local and international brands, all complying with recognised international safety standards and performance specifications. The brief for the Hästens project included not only control of the premises, with the activation of various themes such as for morning and night, but the aim was also for the store’s salespeople to be able to demonstrate the lighting products to customers via integrated tablets. “The customer wanted to achieve a centralised control of each light fixture
on display from an app on smartphones and tablets, and a wall keypad switch to perform grouped scenarios such as ‘good night’ and ‘good morning’ functionalities to activate and deactivate all the lights in the showroom from a centralised point.” Whitelaw continues: “The specification of the lighting products is quite technical, which is why we proposed the advanced Hager solution. We needed to cater for a range of lights – LED, incandescent, halogen, 0-10V dimming – some light fittings, such as the chandeliers, required a dimming load of 1000W. The different Hager dimmers were specified according to each individual lighting fixture requirement.” He describes the project as a flagship for building automation in the country, which is gaining in popularity in South Africa due to a growing requirement for energy efficiency, convenience and sustainability. “There has definitely been noticeable growth in the smart home and building automation market over the last three years. Whereas in Europe it is almost a standard across most households, businesses and commercial buildings, we are only starting to align ourselves now,” Whitelaw says.
THINK SMART, THINK HAGER ElectroMechanica were sensitive about providing an automation solution that would suit the rarefied atmosphere of the Hästens showroom, where the light fixtures on display are bejewelled with genuine Swarovski crystals. For this reason, as Whitelaw explains, they specified highquality Hager B7 switch frames, which feature a clean design, Vega D enclosures with a ready-to-mount configuration, and the domovea automation dashboard, which is controllable from a
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COMMERCIAL LIGHTING
“The most expensive cable is the one that was never installed – luckily, there are no expensive cables with Hager coviva." – Ryan Whitelaw, product manager, ElectroMechanica
smartphone, tablet or the wall-mounted keypad. “The domovea server was supplied and installed in the Hager distribution board, which connects to the Hager KNX system and the internet for local and remote control through the domovea app on smartphones, tablets and computers,” Whitelaw says. “The sales people are able to dim and switch each light fitting circuit from their smartphones and tablets, resulting in a unique light fitting product demonstration and the ability to showcase the light fitting’s performance, functionality and aesthetics. “Furthermore, the dashboard provides for an intuitive control of a range of devices, from lights to shutters, heating, air-conditioning and other systems, from single rooms to entire floors. The main advantage is that it allows for easy control from a single point, including remote control via an app available for iPhone, iPad and Android devices. The dashboard even allows for energy consumption data to be stored for comparison against various timeframes, from days to months.”
As well as this attractive aspect of ‘future-proofing’, Whitelaw points out that the coviva wireless solution can also lead to significant savings in other project areas. “The most expensive cable is the one that was never installed – luckily, there are no expensive cables with Hager coviva. It a wireless smart building solution designed for retrofitting and problem-solving, and does not require any construction work or additional cable routing in order to be installed.” Whitelaw concludes by stating, “The Hager solution forms part of ElectroMechanica’s extensive product range of high-quality industrial electrical goods, motor control switchgear and electronic automation products for a range of clients and market segments. The Hager B7 range, itself, is only one of twenty high-end designer switches and socket ranges that the company offers. These products are ideally suited for the residential and commercial sector, as well as the marine industry.”
FUTURE-PROOFED As Whitelaw explains, part of the appeal of the Hager solution is its forward-thinking functionality. “Adding or removing products to the installation is very easy due to the products being DIN rail-mounted and compact in size. Extra space was allocated in the Hager distribution board for future growth and expansion. Therefore, the products clip on the DIN rail and connect to the system with ease. “Additionally, the Hager coviva wireless automation system can be used for expansion purposes as it integrates with the Hager wired DIN rail system via the KNX protocol. The coviva solution is a decentralised system that is comprised of transmitters and receivers operating on a radio frequency of 868 MHz, which are placed in any light switch wall box and ceiling vent to control lighting, blinds, air conditioning, gates and much more.”
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INSTALLATION CORPORATE
SMART AV FOR A S
Dariel, a leading software development company based in Johannesburg, recently upgraded their boardroom and meeting spaces using Kramer’s state-of-theart technology to ensure seamless wireless presentation experiences. 42
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OLUTIONS PROVIDER AV Integration spoke with senior systems engineer at Dariel, Francois Coetzer, as well as integration specialists Integrated Home and Office about the project. Since its inception in 2001, Dariel has established itself as a leading software developer in South Africa and across the broader African continent. The company specialises in developing bespoke software solutions for clients across a multitude of sectors and prides itself on being forward-thinking and client-focused in all of their business practices. Late last year, Dariel Solutions’ management team decided that after eleven years in the same location, it was time to move the company to new premises. This provided an ideal opportunity to overhaul the company’s dated audiovisual systems. “The AV solution that was in place in our boardroom was awkward, and it was often difficult for non-technical team members to use. While we had a projector that could be connected to a PC, there were multiple remote controls for the different aspects of the system, and users invariably had to call on technical support to ensure that the room was working before we held large meetings in the space,” explains Coetzer. When the company decided to move premises, management allocated a budget to upgrade the company’s AV capabilities, with a close focus on the installation in the executive boardroom. “As a technology-based company, it is important that we project an image that is coherent with the services that we offer. As such, we wanted to have a boardroom solution that ensured a tech-savvy and user-friendly experience, both for our team and for our guests. At the same time, I had a defined budget for the AV installation, and needed an integrator that would understand our specific needs and limitations,” Coetzer explains.
PARTNERING FOR SUCCESS Coetzer approached a number of integration specialists to design a wireless presentation solution for the company’s boardrooms and meeting spaces. “I sourced a number of prospective designs and quotes, and we decided to award the contract to Integrated Home and Office as they were the only integrator that was able to deliver on the features that we wanted, within budget,” Coetzer says.
Company director at Integrated Home and Office, Mark Fourie, explains that he and his team have been working in the commercial integration space for about five years. However, Fourie has extensive experience in the professional AV industry, having specialised in broadcast and post-production facilities before deciding to explore opportunities presented by the fairly recent and rapid expansion of the residential and commercial AV markets. Corporate accounts manager at Integrated Home and Office, Lucinda Hattingh, meanwhile, has a long-standing relationship with the team at Dariel that precedes her joining Fourie’s team, and therefore from the outset had a solid understanding of both the organisational culture and the AV needs of the company. “Lucinda and Mark came in for a meeting, and they were able to specify a solution that fit my purpose and my budget. Right from the onset, the Integrated Home and Office team understood my problems and space, and they were able to offer me a turnkey solution that would ensure we had one contractor who would take care of all of the components of the installation,” Coetzer points out.
DESIGNING A SOLUTION The main objective of the executive boardroom installation at Dariel was to deploy a highly efficient wireless presentation system that offered centralised control and would provide a seamless and secure platform for the BYOD style of meeting most often used by the Dariel team and their clients. In response to this brief, Hattingh and Fourie proposed a solution based on Kramer Electronics’ comprehensive range of boardroom solutions. “While we are generally brand agnostic as an integrator, Kramer is a manufacturer that has a proven track record for solid and well-supported products across verticals in the professional AV market,” Fourie points out. In addition, Fourie and his team have worked with Kramer’s South African distributor, Electrosonic, for a long time, and have come to trust the technology that they provide. “Electrosonic has a well-deserved reputation for outstanding customer service. We have always been able to rely on Electrosonic to support our clients with swift responses, personal service and exceptional turnaround times on repairs,” states Fourie. To ensure that centralised control was achieved, Hattingh specified the Kramer VS-62H matrix switcher for 4K@60Hz. This unit enables analogue audio signals that employ advanced auto switching schemes and control options to be processed. The switcher, which supports resolutions up to 4K@60Hz (4:2:0) and WUXGA, is also able to reclock and equalise signals, and it can route any input to either or both outputs simultaneously. For video switching, the Kramer DIP-31 with Maestro Room Automation was deployed. The DIP-31 is a 4K@60Hz (4:2:0)
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INSTALLATION CORPORATE automatic switcher for HDMI, VGA, Ethernet, data and unbalanced audio signals. It supports various modes of input selection and transmits signal via HDMI cable to the VS-62H, which is housed in the company’s rack and serves not only as the aesthetic, but also the operational heart of the organisation’s offices. The DIP-31 functions as a step-in commander when connected to a VS-62H matrix switcher, and can manage RS-232 commands to support display powering options. The in-built Maestro Room Automation features an intuitive user interface that enabled Fourie and his team of integrators to fully automate Dariel’s executive boardroom, including input/ output connectivity, routing and button pressing. As a result, Coetzer and the Dariel team do not need to change sources, manage audio or deal with manually connecting the projector in the boardroom. To ensure pristine audio in the executive boardroom, Hattingh specified the Kramer FC-46xL, a high-performance HDMI audio de-embedder. The unit can de-embed audio from the HDMI input or from the HDMI output audio return channel to S/PDIF, TOSLINK and analogue audio outputs simultaneously. For sound in the boardroom, Integrated Home and Office specified the Kramer PA-120Z power amplifier, which is housed in the server room and is connected to four Kramer Galil 4-C closed-back compact ceiling speakers.
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Coetzer and the Dariel team decided that using a projector in the executive boardroom, rather than migrating to an LED screen, remained the best solution for their purposes, and therefore Integrated Home and Office specified the NEC M403H professional projector for the space, which projects directly onto a wall. “In our previous premises, we decided to dispense with our projection screen and project directly onto the wall of the boardroom, and we have found this to be a very effective solution for our needs. We decided to upgrade the projector to ensure a better image and to enable wireless connectivity, which has proven very successful,” states Coetzer. Hattingh concurs, explaining that Integrated Home and Office have installed numerous NEC projectors for both commercial and residential applications over the years, and have found the product to offer excellent quality while being both robust and affordable for the South African market.
THE USER EXPERIENCE With the backbone of the installation taken care of, the Integrated Home and Office team turned their attention to the user interface and elected to implement Kramer’s VIA GO Wireless presentation solution together with the Kramer KT-107 touch panel. The Dariel team wanted to deploy a solution that would be best suited to a BYOD model, which meant that the system
needed to be flexible in terms of its compatibility with multiple operating systems. The VIA GO gives iOS, Android, Chromebook, PC and Mac users instant wireless connectivity with advanced presentation capabilities. The product features content streaming with crystal-clear mirrored images and video playback, and supports iOS, Windows and Android mirroring. VIA GO is easy and flexible to install with both built-in Wi-Fi and LAN connectivity, and the solution includes industry-leading 1024-bit encryption for secure use on the internal network. To guarantee that users are offered a seamless meeting room experience, the Kramer KT-107 table-mounted touch panel has been installed in the executive boardroom and serves as the main point-ofentry for meeting participants. “Integrated Home and Office worked with Kramer programmers to configure the touch panel to be as user-friendly as possible, and thus far we have not had a single staff member requesting assistance once they are familiar with the three simple buttons on the interface,” says Coetzer. Coetzer concludes by stating that: “Our brief for this project was to implement an affordable wireless presentation system in the executive boardroom that would reflect our corporate identity as a solutionsdriven and forward-thinking organisation – without over capitalising on the installation. Integrated Home and Office, with Electrosonic’s support, have delivered on every front – and we could not be happier with the end result.”
DYNAMICS O
EXPERT OPINION
BY CHAZ NIELSEN
An AVIXA-Certified AV Technologist at Audio Visual Centre, Nielsen specialises in AV solutions for the corporate, commercial and domestic markets. It has been said that “success is a journey, not a destination” – but I say that sometimes, it’s the journey that teaches you a lot about your destination. Architects and solutions technologists can learn a lot from this saying. How we approach the planning phase of a building project, as well as who we choose to include, makes a huge difference to the final product and resultant customer satisfaction. The present-day consumer has become so used to technological advances within the office or home helping them fulfil their day-today tasks, that it would be unwise for any architectural firm not to brush up on their knowledge of the available AV technology that could be incorporated into their next project. The perfect building project does not consist solely of steel, brick and concrete that have been put together to create an outer shell that looks good to the external viewer. The employee and visitor experience is the most important aspect that electric and plumbing contractors, IT Integrators, engineers, designers, architects and AV technologists
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should be concerned about when taking on a new project. It’s all about finding a balance between new-age, high-tech gadgetry inside the building, interior design and practicality within the environment. There is a reason why audiovisual engineers are often referred to as “solutions architects.” This is because, in more ways than one, these highlyskilled professionals are committed to offering customers not only the latest and greatest gadgets and technology, but also to providing an
CUSTOMER 1MANAGING EXPECTATIONS When you are meeting with the client on site to discuss their “vision” and create a foundational record of their requirements, you may find it extremely helpful to have a technologist present to counter any over-the-top demands regarding technology and how it can and should be utilised within their specific environment. For example, if a client envisions a massive aquarium in the middle of an office reception area, your technologist can put forward the idea of a 4K LED video wall instead, which is easier and cheaper for both the client and the building team.
IS EXPENSIVE 2RETRO-FITTING AND UNNECESSARY If your client has invested a large sum on money in the construction of a high-end office space, it is likely that they will need to create a productive, modern working environment – especially if it is a large corporation with international lies. These requirements could be used by property developers, architects and interior decorators to “up-sell” their services. Make sure that you plan for things like cable routes for AV and network requirements. Consider things like sufficient sizes of conduit and trunking, housing space for equipment racks, complete equipment/server rooms with proper ventilation facilities, raised flooring or ceiling cable trays, accurate cut-outs and reinforcement in the walls for screen or TV mounting – and the list goes on. There is nothing worse for an installer than to arrive on site only to find that there are no utility holes in the bulkhead to get into the ceiling, nor any provisions made to pull necessary cabling. It is
aesthetically-pleasing outcome that is designed to answer the client’s AV needs. Too many times in my career I’ve encountered a site inspection where the AV and IT infrastructure has been neglected during the initial planning – and this almost always has dire consequences for contractors and end-users alike. Here are a few reasons why it is essential for architects and property developers to include an AV integrator as early as the initial site inspection and even during brainstorming sessions with the client.
probably best to have a conversation about these provisions up front, and therefore avoid a potentially awkward conversation later when you must re-quote your customer and inform them that your team will have to cut and drill into their newly-built office walls so that they can hang the screen and hide cables. Remember, time is money and labour is expensive – so when you end up having to modify the site due to poor planning, it eats into profits and can cause unnecessary frustration for your team and the customer.
BIRDS 3TWO WITH ONE STONE We see how IT is merging with AV more and more these days, and the same can be said of increasing collaboration between AV integrators and shopfitters, security companies, interior designers, construction engineers, electricians, HVAC technicians and the like. Modern buildings require AV systems – from the background music in the reception area to the table microphones fitted in the executive boardroom. The more we work together and merge our different industries, the faster our economy will grow and thrive. For instance, remember to plan out your network coverage areas appropriately and mark where all Wi-Fi access points, network patch panels, HDMI wall-plates, ceiling microphones, control panels, speakers and sub-woofers and CCTV cameras will be mounted to ensure optimal performance. Having an AV professional attend your planning meeting can help you to gain the customer’s trust in your company’s ability to deliver on your promises. Collaborating with other experts on your building designs will also increase your knowledge-base and build valuable relationships that could set up future business opportunities.
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SOCIALS
SPOTTED AT ISE Amsterdam
Claire Badenhorst of Pro-Systems and Phil Lord of Christie Digital
Timothy Wilson, Epson South Africa
Absen head of marketing, EMEA, Alex Couzins
Eugene Coetzee, Bruce Schwartz, Viljoen Lambrecht and Bruce Genricks of Electrosonic
Francois Van Der Merwe and Denzil Smith of MGG
MD at TV Audio, Peter Berry
Cosimo Cecchi demonstrates the Powersoft Mover
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Coenraad Labuschagne of Edit Microsystems and Damien Swarts of Interactive Audio Visual Solutions
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Phone: P100 Series
Tabletop: M100 Series
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INTRODUCING CRESTRON FLEX UNIFIED COMMUNICATIONS SOLUTIONS. Call, present or videoconference instantly and securely with a tabletop conference system. Manage contacts, calendars and meetings with a voice-over-IP desk phone. Experience the pure sound and sight of a front of the room wall-mount smart soundbar with a 4K camera, powered speakers and beam forming microphones. One solution. One experience. One touch.
All brand names, product names, and trademarks are the property of their respective owners. Certain trademarks, registered trademarks, and trade names may be used in this document to refer to either the entities claiming the marks and names or their products. Crestron disclaims any proprietary interest in the marks and names of others. Crestron is not responsible for errors in typography or photography. Š2019 Crestron Electronics, Inc.