Barco introduces more investment protection for control room technology

Barco, a professional visualisation provider, has introduced new RGB laser rear-projection video walls and reinforced its commitment to the mission-critical control room market.

The new offering strengthens the value proposition of rear-projection technology as the reliable, sustainable and long-lifetime visualisation solution, and will be available for both new installations and to upgrade the installed base.

As a broad visualisation solution supplier, Barco offers rear-projection, LCD and LED indoor video walls with options depending on the specific application and customer needs. For mission-critical control rooms, rear projection remains a key visualisation technology, the company said. This is especially so for medium-to-large control rooms that work with dashboards and Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) content, typically within the utilities and transportation markets.

The Barco RGB Laser ODL series is a flagship solution. With the introduction of this new laser engine, the ODL series now gets a major update which further establishes the RGB Laser series as the premium solution in the market, Barco said. This will strengthen and safeguard the unique value proposition of rear-projection cubes by further extending the lifetime of existing infrastructure, protecting long-term serviceability commitments up to 10 years, and offering a sustainable solution that considers ergonomics.

The high-brightness RGB laser engine allows control rooms to operate optimally under any condition. The Sense X calibration system automatically and continuously adjusts brightness and colour over the complete wall during its entire lifetime, making sure the displayed images reduce eye fatigue in 24x7 applications. Additionally, no heat is radiated out of the screens, which further optimises the ergonomics for the operators and simplifies the room temperature control systems.

The next-generation laser engine introduces new laser banks, improving the light source lifetime in different operational modes. The guaranteed 10 years of maintainability secures the system for the future, which is instrumental for mission-critical control rooms. The accompanying WallConnect software has been enhanced to improve the user experience during setup, configuration, operation and maintenance. Along with the ODL-series’ motorised seven-axis alignment, this makes the installation process smoother and simpler. The system is also ready for remote management and monitoring, optimising the availability and lifetime within mission-critical environments.

The new engine is now available within the full RGB Laser portfolio, covering 70” to 80” sizes and supporting both FHD and SXGA+ resolutions. Multiple screen options are available to fit the the different applications, control room environments and budgets.

Existing customers can upgrade their installed base of lamp and LED cubes, which means a complete technology refresh can be accomplished while retaining the mechanical structure and screens. This not only lowers the cost and timeframe of the refurbishment, but also reduces waste and can often be accomplished without any operational interruption. Being able to upgrade video walls (typically running for more than 10 years) with the latest projection technology at a reduced cost, for another 10 years of service, is a key advantage of rear projection.

The ODL series has also been awarded the Barco Eco Product label A in recognition of its reduction of the environmental footprint. Barco’s ecoscoring scores energy efficiency, material usage, packaging/logistics and end-of-life processes in line with the ISO14021 standard.

“By introducing the next-generation RGB Laser ODL series, Barco is again breaking the bar in the rear-projection cube market,” said Jay Badvel, Product Manager at Barco.

“With this new engine, we go far beyond excelling at the technical level. We further enhance the lifetime, secure the reliability and lower the environmental footprint. The upgrade capability, reusing a large part of the infrastructure, in combination with the modularity, repairability and refurbishment options, further contributes to a true circular economy."

"Barco's new visualisation solution reinforces our commitment to the mission-critical control room market, which relies on products that can be used long term with reduced downtime for repairs," said Ta Loong Gan, MD, Barco SEA.

"This next generation laser engine will help to enhance rear projection technology for countless control rooms in Asia."