04August
Heineken goes Digital
The new Sedibeng Brewery in Gauteng, which brews and bottles a range of premium beers for the local market including Amstel, Heineken and Windhoek Lager, was officially launched on 25 March this year, having been completed 3 months ahead of schedule at a total cost of R3.5 billion.
Located on 83 hectares south of Johannesburg, Sedibeng has been described as “one of the most advanced breweries in the world”. The brewery invested in state-of-the-art equipment not only in its production plant, but also in its administration building – installing the very first Crestron Digital Media system in South Africa.
Sedibeng’s brief to HFX Systems was for a stable, yet easy-to-use audio visual control system for their new administration building which would allow for high definition video to be distributed to designated zones and which would also simplify boardroom operations.
With 40 years experience in systems integration around the world, Crestron easily met the criteria. Crestron had also just globally launched their latest and revolutionary Digital Media System which made it the obvious choice of a control system for the brewery.
Crestron DigitalMedia
Crestron began designing products with HDMI technology more than five years ago and have shipped thousands of HDMI products over the past three years, but DigitalMedia is more than just another HDMI switcher or extender, it is the only solution for the digital age. DigitalMedia is a complete, integrated solution that manages, controls and distributes all analogue and uncompressed HD digital content over twisted pair or fibre, including embedded data such as HDCP, EDID and CEC.
Getting the green light
The layout and design of the system, as well as finalisation of the proposal was undertaken by Kobus Bosch (Co-Owner and Sales Executive-HFX Systems), Peter Von Grazouw (Systems Design Specialist-HFX Systems) and Rupert Denoon (Crestron Product Manager – Electrosonic).
“Needless to say the proposal was approved, and in August last year we had to begin the tedious task of pre-wiring the site, using no less than 3 kilometres of cabling in the process,” said Kobus Bosch.
At the heart of the system is a Crestron AV2 Processor, a Crestron DM 8x8 Switcher, a Marantz BD5004 Blu-ray Player and an HD PVR Multichoice Decoder. The high definition video and audio signals are distributed via multimode fibre and CAT5 to Room Control Modules located in each of the seven zones in the admin building – the reception area, three 8-seater meeting rooms, two 12-seater meeting rooms and an entertainment area.
Reception and 8-Seater Meeting Rooms
The reception area and the three 8-seater meeting rooms are controlled via Crestron CNX B8 with 8-button keypads. From the keypads, the user can control basic functions of the Samsung 40’’ LCD screens and also switch between DSTV, DVD and LAN PC. In the 8-seater meeting rooms there are local VGA+ audio connections provided by the Pro Connect 500 pop-up units on the desks.
12-seater Meeting Rooms
Downstairs, the 12-seater meeting room is controlled from a Crestron TPS 6L 6’’ touchpanel which controls a Panasonic Viera 58’’ Plasma, a Marantz SR 6004 AV receiver, a Sony PXS G80 HD video conferencing unit, a Kramer VP728 Scaler, as well as the lighting. PC connectivity is also provided from the boardroom table via a Pro Connect 500 pop-up unit, which provides for an HDMI connection, a local VGA+ audio connection, a second VGA+ audio connection to feed data back into the Crestron System via a Crestron DM Text unit to be displayed throughout the building, and 220V mains supply for laptop chargers.
The second 12-seater meeting room on the first floor is a duplication of the downstairs meeting room, with the exception that videoconferencing facilities were not required.
Both the 12-seater meeting rooms are equipped with five in-ceiling loudspeakers consisting of three Bowers & Wilkins CCM817s for the front, left, right and centre, whilst the surrounds are a pair of Bowers & Wilkins CCM616s. Powering the Bowers & Wilkins is a Marantz SR 6004 AV Receiver.
Entertainment Area
The Entertainment area is controlled from a Crestron TPS 4L 4’’ touchpanel. The user can select input sources such as DSTV, DVD, iPod, USB, local PC (VGA+ audio) and LAN PC. The touchpanel controls three Samsung 40’’ LCDs, a Marantz SR 6004 AV receiver, a Kramer VP728 Scaler, an Optoma EX785 (5000 ANSI Lumens) Projector and a Grandview 92’’ motorised tab tension screen. Loudspeakers used in this area are two pairs of JBL EON 510 Active Loudspeakers. There is USB connectivity for mass storage devices and a local VGA + audio connection provided by a Kramer 2x4 Wall plate, as well as a Marantz Audio iPod docking station.
Programming
Programming the system was the responsibility of Ryno Breedt (HFX Systems), Wayne Nuen and Rupert Denoon (Electrosonic) and overseen by Kobus Bosch (HFX Systems). Rupert Denoon handled the fibre splicing, which was a first for many of the installers. “The wiring is totally different to standard wiring, but once you know how it works, it is much quicker and a lot easier,” said Ryno Breedt .
The project was successfully completed in 225 hours.
The Sedibeng Brewery
The Sedibeng Brewery is 75% owned by Heineken and 25% owned by Diageo. These two companies and Namibia Breweries Ltd are shareholders in a cost sharing joint venture, Brandhouse Beverages (Pty) Ltd, which is a leading South African marketing, sales and distribution company for premium alcohol beverages.
“Each of our premium beers is brewed under the watchful eye of Heineken, Amstel and Windhoek brewmasters, in accordance with the original recipes and the highest international brewing standards,” said Johan Doyer, Managing Director of the brewery.
With an initial capacity of 3 million hectolitres, the brewery is already being expanded to further increase capacity by 1 million hectolitres by September 2010 in anticipation of growing demand.
It is estimated that the brewery will generate an additional R1-billion for the local economy through the indirect employment of 100 support service workers and through the local purchasing of packaging and raw materials.
Sedibeng employed around 3500 people on site at the height of the construction and more than 225 permanent jobs will have been created at the brewery by the end of 2010.
Tom de Man, Managing Director of Heineken Africa described the new brewery as one of the most advanced in the world and has been built with due care for the environment.
“Heineken is the number two brewer in Africa and the Middle East and the significant investment that we made in the Sedibeng brewery with Diageo, one of the largest private investments in South Africa in the past year, shows our commitment in South Africa. With the start of local production, the economics of the venture will now start to deliver. I’m proud that we made big progress in South Africa which will further enhance Heineken’s global growth profile.”
Nick Blazquez, Managing Director of Diageo Africa, said that the new brewery will help support the strength of the Brandhouse partnership between Diageo, Heineken and Namibian Breweries.
“South Africa continues to present significant opportunities for growth in premium alcohol beverage categories. Against this backdrop, we believe that Brandhouse is extremely well poised to continue to grow its share and further extend its position as the leading supplier of top quality beers and spirits in the country. Sedibeng represents the next step in what has already proved to be a very successful and mutually beneficial association between our companies.”
Sedibeng’s brief to HFX Systems was for a stable, yet easy-to-use audio visual control system for their new administration building which would allow for high definition video to be distributed to designated zones and which would also simplify boardroom operations.
With 40 years experience in systems integration around the world, Crestron easily met the criteria. Crestron had also just globally launched their latest and revolutionary Digital Media System which made it the obvious choice of a control system for the brewery.
Crestron DigitalMedia
Crestron began designing products with HDMI technology more than five years ago and have shipped thousands of HDMI products over the past three years, but DigitalMedia is more than just another HDMI switcher or extender, it is the only solution for the digital age. DigitalMedia is a complete, integrated solution that manages, controls and distributes all analogue and uncompressed HD digital content over twisted pair or fibre, including embedded data such as HDCP, EDID and CEC.
Getting the green light
The layout and design of the system, as well as finalisation of the proposal was undertaken by Kobus Bosch (Co-Owner and Sales Executive-HFX Systems), Peter Von Grazouw (Systems Design Specialist-HFX Systems) and Rupert Denoon (Crestron Product Manager – Electrosonic).
“Needless to say the proposal was approved, and in August last year we had to begin the tedious task of pre-wiring the site, using no less than 3 kilometres of cabling in the process,” said Kobus Bosch.
At the heart of the system is a Crestron AV2 Processor, a Crestron DM 8x8 Switcher, a Marantz BD5004 Blu-ray Player and an HD PVR Multichoice Decoder. The high definition video and audio signals are distributed via multimode fibre and CAT5 to Room Control Modules located in each of the seven zones in the admin building – the reception area, three 8-seater meeting rooms, two 12-seater meeting rooms and an entertainment area.
Reception and 8-Seater Meeting Rooms
The reception area and the three 8-seater meeting rooms are controlled via Crestron CNX B8 with 8-button keypads. From the keypads, the user can control basic functions of the Samsung 40’’ LCD screens and also switch between DSTV, DVD and LAN PC. In the 8-seater meeting rooms there are local VGA+ audio connections provided by the Pro Connect 500 pop-up units on the desks.
12-seater Meeting Rooms
Downstairs, the 12-seater meeting room is controlled from a Crestron TPS 6L 6’’ touchpanel which controls a Panasonic Viera 58’’ Plasma, a Marantz SR 6004 AV receiver, a Sony PXS G80 HD video conferencing unit, a Kramer VP728 Scaler, as well as the lighting. PC connectivity is also provided from the boardroom table via a Pro Connect 500 pop-up unit, which provides for an HDMI connection, a local VGA+ audio connection, a second VGA+ audio connection to feed data back into the Crestron System via a Crestron DM Text unit to be displayed throughout the building, and 220V mains supply for laptop chargers.
The second 12-seater meeting room on the first floor is a duplication of the downstairs meeting room, with the exception that videoconferencing facilities were not required.
Both the 12-seater meeting rooms are equipped with five in-ceiling loudspeakers consisting of three Bowers & Wilkins CCM817s for the front, left, right and centre, whilst the surrounds are a pair of Bowers & Wilkins CCM616s. Powering the Bowers & Wilkins is a Marantz SR 6004 AV Receiver.
Entertainment Area
The Entertainment area is controlled from a Crestron TPS 4L 4’’ touchpanel. The user can select input sources such as DSTV, DVD, iPod, USB, local PC (VGA+ audio) and LAN PC. The touchpanel controls three Samsung 40’’ LCDs, a Marantz SR 6004 AV receiver, a Kramer VP728 Scaler, an Optoma EX785 (5000 ANSI Lumens) Projector and a Grandview 92’’ motorised tab tension screen. Loudspeakers used in this area are two pairs of JBL EON 510 Active Loudspeakers. There is USB connectivity for mass storage devices and a local VGA + audio connection provided by a Kramer 2x4 Wall plate, as well as a Marantz Audio iPod docking station.
Programming
Programming the system was the responsibility of Ryno Breedt (HFX Systems), Wayne Nuen and Rupert Denoon (Electrosonic) and overseen by Kobus Bosch (HFX Systems). Rupert Denoon handled the fibre splicing, which was a first for many of the installers. “The wiring is totally different to standard wiring, but once you know how it works, it is much quicker and a lot easier,” said Ryno Breedt .
The project was successfully completed in 225 hours.
The Sedibeng Brewery
The Sedibeng Brewery is 75% owned by Heineken and 25% owned by Diageo. These two companies and Namibia Breweries Ltd are shareholders in a cost sharing joint venture, Brandhouse Beverages (Pty) Ltd, which is a leading South African marketing, sales and distribution company for premium alcohol beverages.
“Each of our premium beers is brewed under the watchful eye of Heineken, Amstel and Windhoek brewmasters, in accordance with the original recipes and the highest international brewing standards,” said Johan Doyer, Managing Director of the brewery.
With an initial capacity of 3 million hectolitres, the brewery is already being expanded to further increase capacity by 1 million hectolitres by September 2010 in anticipation of growing demand.
It is estimated that the brewery will generate an additional R1-billion for the local economy through the indirect employment of 100 support service workers and through the local purchasing of packaging and raw materials.
Sedibeng employed around 3500 people on site at the height of the construction and more than 225 permanent jobs will have been created at the brewery by the end of 2010.
Tom de Man, Managing Director of Heineken Africa described the new brewery as one of the most advanced in the world and has been built with due care for the environment.
“Heineken is the number two brewer in Africa and the Middle East and the significant investment that we made in the Sedibeng brewery with Diageo, one of the largest private investments in South Africa in the past year, shows our commitment in South Africa. With the start of local production, the economics of the venture will now start to deliver. I’m proud that we made big progress in South Africa which will further enhance Heineken’s global growth profile.”
Nick Blazquez, Managing Director of Diageo Africa, said that the new brewery will help support the strength of the Brandhouse partnership between Diageo, Heineken and Namibian Breweries.
“South Africa continues to present significant opportunities for growth in premium alcohol beverage categories. Against this backdrop, we believe that Brandhouse is extremely well poised to continue to grow its share and further extend its position as the leading supplier of top quality beers and spirits in the country. Sedibeng represents the next step in what has already proved to be a very successful and mutually beneficial association between our companies.”
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