Custom Consoles announces the completion of a significant expansion to the Network Operation Centre control desk at the headquarters of Broadcasting Center Europe (BCE) in Luxembourg. BCE, a major provider of media services, serves more than 400 clients worldwide.

“Custom Consoles Module-R and EditOne desks as well as MediaWall and MediaPost monitor display supports were chosen by BCE during the initial construction of RTL City in 2017,” says Rosa Lopez Sanchez, Project Engineer at BCE. “Sourcing all the desks and display supports from a single supplier kept the task of equipment installation and wiring as consistent as possible. It was also logical in terms of efficiency, unified visual styling and future maintenance.”

“The modularity from which Module-R gets its name enabled us to expand the NOC control desk with eight additional 19-inch sections, 3U equipment pods and desk-mounted monitor support arms. We ordered the extra modules direct from Custom Consoles and integrated them ourselves without difficulty.”

“We similarly expanded the MediaWall from its original three sections supporting 12 large display screens to seven sections supporting a total of 28 displays. We were confident that we could extend the Module-R desk and MediaWall ourselves and indeed everything went fine. The insertion between the two surfaces of the desk is perfect. Same for the new screen wall supports. We are highly satisfied with the outcome.”

“Ease of reconfiguration and expansion has long been a key feature of Module-R desks and MediaWalls,” adds Gary Fuller, Custom Consoles Sales Manager. “Standardised desk bay modules and display mounting components combined with robust build quality ensure easy reconfiguration or relocation either by our assemblers or, as in this case, by the customer. The new layout Rosa and her colleagues designed and commissioned is an impressive example of an ultra-efficient control room.”

The NOC control room desk retains its former wrap-round inverted-U footprint, expanded in width to allow simultaneous use by three or more operators. The enlarged desk comprises a 14-bay central section connecting with two-bay-width left and right corner sections and three-bay-width left and right wings. Each of the 14 bays is equipped with a 3U high angled-front equipment pod. Two matching pods are located across each corner section. Desk-mounted 24-inch monitor display screens are attached along the central, corner and wing sections. 

Custom Consoles Module-R desks are designed to offer the greatest possible freedom of choice in terms of desk size, configuration and facilities. Unlike one-piece control room furniture, Module-R desks can be expanded or reconfigured at any time during their working life. Auxiliary pods of various sizes for broadcast industry standard 19-inch rack-mounting equipment can be specified for Module-R desks at the time of installation or added later. Individual elements such as desktops can be replaced easily if required for operational or aesthetic reasons. Customers can select from a wide range of IT-friendly options including single, double or triple width base units, 15-, 30-, 45- or 90-degree angled corner units or curved desk sections to follow any radius.

Custom Consoles’ MediaWall allows flat screen monitor displays of practically any width to be constructed from standard horizontal and vertical support elements. MediaWall can be used as a fully self-supporting structure or coupled directly to the studio wall. Individual screens can be positioned so that the edges meet exactly to form a continuous horizontal display limited only by the boundary of the monitor panel itself. All wiring is fully concealed and can enter or leave the structure at any desired point. MediaWall is available in any specified element widths.