DIGITAL PROJECTION LASER TECHNOLOGY IN JCB’S UPTIME CENTRE

Digital Projection’s HIGHlite laser projectors have been selected by Antycip Simulation to be fitted at the heart of JCB’s new Uptime Centre in Rocester (UK). Specifically designed for this application, the Uptime Centre constantly receives a live flow of data including machine status, service times and downtimes. Operators can instantly assess a situation before deciding to send an engineer out if the issue can’t be fixed remotely.

Supervising the integration was John Mould, Commercial Development Manager at Antycip Simulation, Europe’s leading solution provider of professional grade COTS simulation software, projection and display systems, VR solutions and related engineering services.

Antycip Simulation opted for the Digital Projection HIGHlite laser projectors and fitted four of these to the command and control room ceiling. With 11,000 ANSI lumens and 20,000 hours of operation, the WUXGA 3-Chip DLP projectors were an ideal fit for JCB, which was looking for performance and longevity.

According to Mould, the light output of the HIGHlite Laser projector perfectly suited the high brightness environment of the Uptime Centre. “The fact that Digital Projection HIGHlite Laser projector is manufactured in Britain was also an important factor”, he added.

Total cost of ownership was an important criterion for JCB, and the HIGHlite laser projectors were perfectly fitted for this project as Mould explains: “When JCB decided to revamp their existing room, it was fitted with three separate projectors and additional screens on each side. We all agreed that the best solution would be to have all the information should be available in one large image in order to improve the decision making process.”

“Digital Projection’s laser projectors provide great stability over time in terms of image quality but also reduce the requirement for having to change consumables, which due to the design of the room and furnishings immediately below would have been complicated.”

In order to keep within budget and respect JCB’s brief, Antycip Simulation had to work with the existing room design. “Rear projection was not an option because of the room constraints and the size of the projecting area,” explains Mould. “We prepared a special wall surface to help reduce overall costs and avoid future potential issues associated with managing an extremely large tensioned fabric screen.”

In order to enable the projectors to be mounted closer to the front projection surface whilst affording the best amount of usable space below, Antycip specified Navitar short throw conversion lenses on 1.1:1. The Navitar short throw conversion lenses, when carefully integrated, are able to dramatically extend the range of throw ratios available with the HIGHlite Laser. The projectors were custom mounted to optimise the light paths.

Measuring 18m x 4m, the screen width perfectly fits a 3x 4K blended array, with an operational resolution close to an impressive 6,000 x 1,200 pixels. Video content is delivered to the HIGHlite Laser projectors using Extron DTP RX/TX sender units.

In addition to the video solution, Antycip Simulation provided a new audio solution for the room installing eight Extron and Sonance in-ceiling speakers.

“We received excellent feedback from the customer, who is delighted with the result,” comments Mould. “This state of the art command and control environment is a fantastic operational and marketing tool for JCB.”

More Info:
Digital Projection: www.digitalprojection.co.uk
Australian Distributor: www.ambertech.com.au