Marking a relationship that began more than 40 years ago, Salzbrenner media has now equipped around 70 Goethe Institutes with interpretation systems, micro port systems, discussion systems, sound reinforcement systems and systems for the hard of hearing.
The Goethe Institute is the Federal Republic of Germany’s official cultural institution, operating on a global scale. The mission of its 159 sites in 98 countries is to encourage German language learning, promote international cultural cooperation and to convey a faithful image of present-day Germany.
‘Initially, Friedrich Salzbrenner, the founder of Salzbrenner media and longstanding customer adviser to the Goethe Institutes, received orders from the institution’s HQ in Munich where,’ says Rainer Hettwer, the project manager in charge of Goethe Institutes at Salzbrenner media. ‘Nowadays, orders are placed directly by the head of each institute, which ensures a more personal and time-efficient contact from the project’s onset. We have known and advised most institutes for decades. Together, we prepare a workflow, install the requested system and provide after-sales service.’
More often than not, the systems integrator installs pre-configured solutions, allowing users to hit the ground running. In many instances, the systems integrator’s technicians and engineers are in charge of the entire project. One of the latest examples of this on-going project is the Goethe Institute in Cairo, which was equipped with a PA system, complete with wireless microphones, custom-made control gear, a projector with a motorised screen, several junction boxes, a discussion system, and cutting-edge lighting technology.
Over recent years, a few additional Goethe Institutes have benefited from all-in installations supplied by Salzbrenner media – the institute in Lagos was equipped with a PA system, wireless microphones and a control rack; the institute in Almaty, Kazakhstan, received a complete set-up consisting of a PA system, wireless microphones, management and projection equipment, including a screen, junction boxes and a discussion system. In the same year, institutes in Rome and Nicosia received comparable installations, which in one case included a video and associated monitoring system for interpreters. Over the years, the PA system installed in Prague has been gradually upgraded to a full-blown interpretation system.
Salzbrenner media technology is also used by several Goethe Institutes on the African continent – in Addis Ababa an interpretation system with three interpretation transmitters, 60 receivers and headphones, an interpretation control panel and a ventilated cabin were installed. For outdoor events, the audio, lighting and stage departments were equipped with a new mixing console, a tailor-made rack with casters, a feedback suppressor, audio accessories, amplifiers and speakers. The order also included a lighting console, spots and mobile stage panels.
Small-scale conference and interpretation systems, discussion and PA systems as well as partial set-ups are also implemented by Salzbrenner media in collaboration with Goethe Institutes in Ankara and Istanbul, Bangalore, Sarajevo, Beijing, Kiev, Madrid, Milan and Hanoi.
The collaboration between the systems integrator and Goethe Institutes means that most suppliers are repeat contracts and quantities can be anticipated, allowing Salzbrenner media to offer highly competitive rates. The company’s familiarity with the various Institutes’ requirements that each system can be tailored precisely to the application at hand. ‘Rather than supplying isolated components, we provide all-encompassing system solutions,’ Hettwer says.
More: http://salzbrenner.com
