Future-proof, smart and pluggable door communication system for the Zandkasteel in Amsterdam

In the heart of shopping center Amsterdamse Poort, a stone's throw from NS- and metro station Bijlmer Arena, a former ING office and municipal monument from 1986 is being renovated and transformed into a mixed-use building with offices, catering facilities, an international school and approximately 300 apartments. Residents of the 'ready to use' apartments will soon have numerous facilities at their disposal, including Vercoma's innovative IP door communication system. Thanks to iPlusBUS from Beoview, they will reap all the benefits of future-proof, extremely powerful and flexible door communication technology, while installer Blom Elektrotechniek will benefit from all the advantages of a 100% pluggable system.

"In close and intensive cooperation with Blom Elektrotechniek, we fine-tuned the systems for the Zandkasteel," says Arjan Schouten, Manager Sales & Service at Vercoma. "Then, at our assembly department in Wormerveer, all system components were engineered, configured and programmed so that the installer can connect everything plug-and-play." All apartments will be equipped with very nice 7″ touchscreen video monitors, he says. "In addition, the entrances will be equipped with our compact 5″ BEOTOUCH-C touchscreen panels, combined with fully assembled mounting cabinets for the central amenity room."

100% pluggable, flexible and fast

"iPlusBUS offers all the advantages of full-IP door communication technology, but in combination with the familiar traditional simple bus infrastructure," said Schouten. "Other IP systems on the market are star-wired, making installation complex as well as expensive. iPlusBUS changes this. The system is 100% pluggable, so it can be installed quickly and flexibly. If desired, the existing network infrastructure can also be reused. In Sandcastle, however, we opted to replace the entire infrastructure."

Always up-to-date

Thanks to free firmware updates, iPlusBUS remains up-to-date for years to come. An IPGateway Remote also allows remote management and monitoring of the iPlusBUS system. "Also, the system can be flexibly adapted or expanded. For example, it is possible to place a call panel at one's own front door or to add additional monitors."

The BEOTOUCH-C touchscreen panels on the outside are highly impact resistant and offer options for letter addition (A through Z). "This is very interesting for transformation projects such as the Sand Castle, where 300 apartments (and thus addresses) need to be added at once," Schouten said. "To ensure maximum security, using web relays, the control of the entrance doors is controlled from the inside." The video touchscreen monitors in the apartments can easily be expanded with a BWCM Wifi click-in module, so that residents can also receive calls on their smartphones, if necessary.