Integrating Solutions

18 March 2011

The latest innovations in AV technology and intelligent building management systems were at last month’s Integrated Systems Europe exhibition in Amsterdam. Peter Middup highlights some of the new technologies on show.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE NEW YORK TIMES (above)

WHILE RECORD NUMBERS ATTENDED ISE 2011, FMs were thin on the ground. That’s not surprising for an event primarily aimed at AV professionals. However, those FM’s that did attend had a fascinating insight into some exciting new AV technologies, integrated control systems and energy saving solutions.

Lutron, leaders in lighting controls showcased their GRAFIC EYE QS system integrated with their ‘sivoia shades’ solution, occupancy and daylight sensors and a KINX keypad for meeting and conference room control. By incorporating KNX, which claims to be the world’s only open source platform for all applications in building control, Lutron is offering end users the potential of linking their technology to an even wider range of applications.

Head of marketing Europe, Andrew Bechgaard, commented " We are committed to producing innovative products that offer our customers the best in energy efficient light control solutions. With the addition of KNX integration we are offering end users even more energy efficient, scalable, artificial and natural light control solutions".

Lutron also profiled a number of energy saving case-studies. Their Quantum total light management system achieved savings of almost 70 percent at The New York Times Building. Daylight Harvesting, automatically dimming lights when daylight is available, produced 20 percent savings and Occupancy sensing 35 percent. Light level tuning, setting the light level for each space, achieved impressive 45 percent savings.

Energy saving was also the theme on the Crestron stand. Among their extensive range of new products Crestron showcased their Green Light commercial lighting and intelligent building management solution (below). To maximise efficiency all building technology and environmental systems, including HVAC, sprinklers and security, can be connected and managed by the Crestron Green Light control system. Crestron quoted typical energy savings for end users of up to 30 percent in the first year alone. The system enables users to monitor both locally and centrally using touch panels and Crestron’s award winning software UK manufacturer, Ikon avs, launched its new range of Synergy AV controllers (right) at ISE.

Ikon avs demonstrated that the new Synergy controllers are easy to install and programme. All the new controllers can be expanded with both hardware and software to provide a wide range of control and interface options including BMS interface, Touch and Ethernet Control.

As one of the leaders in providing hardware and software solutions to simplify the implementation, maintenance and use of technology to create effective environments, AMX chose ISE 2011 to showcase their full range of unified control solutions. Among them was the Resource Management Suite (RMS) AMX’s innovative room management, scheduling and equipment monitoring software package. This offers unprecedented levels of functionality and control capability across multiple applications. RMS ensures that resources can be managed and maintained proactively and to optimum operating and environmental efficiency Also on the AMX booth was HydraPort, a modular retractable cable connection system,

built to accommodate the connection needs of the conference or meeting room user. The new Modero MPV-9000i touchpanel (above) was on display alongside the Novara 3000 Series that is both a standalone user interface and an onboard controller that can be easily configured to operate lights, AV equipment and HVAC systems.