Ekol Logistics Operation Center
Just Add Power Delivers High-Performance, Low-Cost Video Distribution for Ekol Logistics’ New Operations Center.
Client
Ekol
Where
Istanbul, Turkey
Sector
Technology
Integrator
Trio Sound, Light, and Display Systems
Share
Background
With over 4,000 trucks, train wagons, and containers, Ekol Logistics is the biggest logistics company in Turkey. Recently, the company opened a new state-of the-art operations center in Istanbul, where the latest in AV technology is helping it more efficiently track its cargo. Installed by integrator Trio Sound, Light, and Display Systems, the crown jewel of the space is a massive 3×12 video wall — with an additional four 2×2 video walls as side screens — that displays content from sources including 36 PCs and two satellite receivers.
Challenge
To streamline its operations, Ekol needed the ability to easily send any source to any display and change the video wall configuration on the fly, whether it be one large map across all displays, individual maps on each display, or any other combination. To achieve this, a highly reliable, cost-effective video distribution system with integrated video wall capabilities was required, working in concert with a powerful but easy-to-use control solution.
Solution
“For video distribution, we chose Just Add Power’s 3G Ultra HD Over IP platform, powered by three Luxul XMS-7048P 52-port stackable gigabit managed switches,” said Özgür Demirel, general manager of Trio Sound, Light, and Display Systems. “Not only does the Just Add Power system deliver exceptionally high performance at a low cost, but it offers the built-in video wall capabilities that were needed in this installation.”
Each of Ekol’s displays is equipped with a Just Add Power (J+P) VBS-HDIP-508POE 3G receiver, while each source is outfitted with a VBS-HDIP-707POE 3G transmitter. In addition to support for 4K Ultra HD resolutions, HDMI 2.0 devices with HDCP 2.2, and uncompressed lossless multichannel audio formats — including Dolby Atmos — the platform offers built-in video wall functionality for displays installed in portrait and flipped configurations, as well as image push, pull, and pop features. An integrated scaler on the receiver automatically adjusts the picture to fit the screen. Designed with an innovative modular approach to video distribution, the J+P platform also allows Ekol to cost-effectively add displays, sources, and even emerging formats in the future with ease. Any additional screens or sources would only need another small receiver or transmitter, respectively, added into the system.
Control at the operations center is provided by a Crestron AV3 3-Series system. Using a 15.6” HD touchscreen, staff can change any display to any source and easily select configurations with the tap of an icon. In addition, Ekol wanted maps to automatically switch on the video wall whenever they received an alarm from their cargo. To achieve this, Trio wrote software that transfers the alarm signal on the computer to the Crestron system, which triggers the change on the video wall.
Results
“The AV over IP system at Ekol’s new operations center is the largest of its kind in Turkey, and it has performed flawlessly,” added Demirel. “The company couldn’t be more pleased with its performance, how simple it is to use, and the fact that they can easily and inexpensively add to the system in the future as their needs change.”
