Tobit – letting ideas shine

Based in Ahaus, Germany Tobit is a producer of software, products used to exchange, manage and publish information - a market leader for faxware in Germany. Bright ideas are an important component in the company’s success. But one bright idea seems to shine above all others.

Tobit has recently incorporated Martin Exterior 600’s into an outdoor illumination scheme, which has added an eye-catching touch of personality to the steel gray building.

The installation currently consists of 8 Martin Exterior 600’s and 14 Mac 300’s for the interior lighting, with an expansion of 6 more Exterior 600’s and several MiniMACs in the works. Anyone in the firm can control the fixtures via the Internet.

Managing Director Tobias Groten, who was personally involved in the planning of the illumination, states: “ My personal ideas were so precise that I have personally worked with the architect on the functionality and the look of the building. The functionality was to resemble a prison (!), while design and architecture had to disguise this fact. As software manufacturers, we have a very close relationship to high tech in any form. Hence the idea to show high tech in any aspect: free hanging interior lights, open pipes for climatization and air conditioning, visible metal beams etc. Even on the very expressive roof construction, the beams and supports are clearly visible. While architects usually merely concentrate on the optics in daytime, optics were very important to me at dawn and during night time. The Exterior 600’s allow for an excellent effect with a reasonably low number of fixtures.

“The integration of the lighting systems into the existing infrastructure was also very appealing to us. We have connected the in-house computer network, not only to the Internet, but also with the telephone network, the EIB building management system network, and now even with the DMX network for the interior and exterior lighting fixtures. Therefore, even complex system controlling is possible. The server system, on which our own software “David Professional” is running, is becoming a central hub. It is possible, for instance, to change the light settings by means of voice recognition via telephone or by any computer connected to the internet. Even the exterior illumination can make system status recognizable: red illumination on the roof can for instance indicate that a component of the air condition system has failed; a green façade shows that all systems are ok.”

Tobit’s own control software feeds 1500 meters of DMX line without repetitive amplification. The installation was carried out by the company DeDrei Event, a Martin Contract Dealer who is specialized in architectural lighting and events like exhibitions, road shows etc., under the supervision of project manager Andreas Rudolphi.” Martin Professional GmbH supplied all Martin lighting.