Comics Station Antwerp

April, 2017
Antwerp, Belgium

Overview

Comics Station Antwerp is a new indoor theme park starring the most popular Belgian comic heroes, who are happy to welcome visitors. Get ready for a truly unique experience, as this is the first park in the world to be located in an international train station. And it has opted for an interactive approach to bring evergreen comics into the 21st century.

Challenge

A strong partner was required to provide a total technical solution and create a fully interactive experience center to help inspire future generations of comic readers, both young and old.

Solution

A total solution was provided, from audio visual solutions to security, fire alarms, communication infrastructure and air conditioning. Furthermore, all aspects were linked into one combined network.

Product Installation Background

Wim Hubrechtsen, CEO and Partner of Comics Station Antwerp: "We did not wish to become a museum with a retrospective look, but wanted to be an experience for children, for families and for friends. We wanted to find new ways of entertaining. We wanted to show the comics that have been part everybody's lives for over 70 years, which have never been more popular and that inspire all generations around the world. Our dream was to drop our visitors into the world of these characters and let them experience how they changed over time."

The right technology for the right task

To create the interactive atmosphere, Comics Station Antwerp looked for a technology partner that could provide the right solution for the task, which fitted with the total experience they wished to create. They needed to find a partner that was both committed on technology and service.

"We met Panasonic at ISE 2015 and started talking about the project. We made it clear that we were not looking for a manufacturer selling products on a price list. We needed a partner that could look beyond providing a technology solution. We needed the best solution for a highly demanding environment, and for a partner to think along with us during the entire process. We wanted a one-stop shop for all technology combined with on the spot service and support, in order to realise the project within our timeframe."

Quality visual solutions with minimal downtime

From the start, Panasonic and Comics Station Antwerp worked closely together to ensure that all technical requests from Comics Station Antwerp were taken care of. When it came to visual displays and screening, Panasonic provided numerous different models projectors and displays. Comics Station Antwerp installed 22 Panasonic laser projectors and over 90 Panasonic displays with 3rd party overlay functionality, bringing touch screen capability.

"We wanted a one-stop shop for all technology combined with on the spot service and support, in order to realise the project within our timeframe"

To recreate the many imaginary worlds, Comics Station Antwerp chose for Panasonic's laser projectors. That choice was guided by the manufacturer's reputation of low maintenance, proven technology and guaranteerd 24/7 operation, all resulting in a low Total Cost of Ownership. In addition, Comics Station Antwerp chose to minimise the risk of downtime by maintaining a stock of replacement products. This approach reduced any possible downtime to a maximum of 15 minutes.

Hubrechtsen added: "The goal was to ensure a continuity in the projections and displays. In addition, thanks to the edge blending software from Panasonic, Comics Station Antwerp was able to create large screens on various surfaces without overlap creating a fully immersive visual environment, and making visitors dive into the world of their favorite characters."

Result

The experience center felt the added value of a technological partnership. Advantages from the service level appeared rapidly. To help with all technology aspects, Panasonic also relied on its vast network of partners to provide resilience for Comics Station Antwerp in the case of any possible issue.

User's Voice

"The outcome of this partnership was not just to enjoy the fact of working with a manufacturer with high quality products. We will remember the fact of having a reliable partner, someone who helped us to realise our dream," "Thanks to the edge blending software, Comics Station Antwerp was able to create large screens on various surfaces without overlap creating a fully immersive visual environment" — Wim Hubrechtsen, CEO and Partner of Comics Station Antwerp

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