The ageing Köpenick town hall had long been unable to offer citizens and the administration the standard that a modern Berlin district needs. This is precisely why the city decided to have it completely refurbished and put the project out to tender nationwide. B.I.N.S.S. was able to fulfil all the requirements for the security technology and IT infrastructure sections and was awarded the contract to fundamentally renew the passive network infrastructure and create the basis for digital administration. In order to guarantee quality, B.I.N.S.S. decided to bring EFB-Elektronik on board during the bidding process. ‘EFB has been a very reliable supplier and partner to us for many years. The company's INFRALAN solutions also impressed both us and the city in this project,’ says André Zander, Purchasing Manager at B.I.N.S.S. GmbH.

In addition to compatibility with other products, the decisive factor was the 25-year system guarantee that the Bielefeld-based system provider offers on all components of the premium brand. This is possible because INFRALAN® only offers high-quality, high-performance components that are technically optimised and tested in Germany. In addition, every installer who wants to offer such a 25-year system guarantee must first complete a special certification course. For Köpenick Town Hall, this quality and investment security are essential to ensure that the next modernisation will hopefully not take place for many decades. For this year's renovation, which started in February 2022, the popular tourist destination had to be completely cleared. EFB-Elektronik then delivered 1,600 Cat.6A patch cables, 500 data outlets, 15 splice boxes and 27 server cabinets from the PRO series directly to the construction site on time over 112 kilometres of copper and fibre optic laying cable. The cabinets serve as floor distributors in the respective parts of the building and accommodate the data networks of the various offices. ‘Ordering from EFB-Elektronik is simply fun!’ says Zander. ‘The short delivery times ensure that the desired products arrive on time. And the price is still right.’

At the same time, EFB-Elektronik ensures close-knit support, ranging from on-site support during the planning phase to the end of the project. This is also particularly appreciated by B.I.N.S.S.: ‘In a listed building, all partners involved must communicate closely with each other and document every step precisely. This requires a much greater planning effort than with other projects - a reliable sparring partner like EFB is worth its weight in gold.’ The neo-Gothic style of the building, which was completed in 1905, also complicates the construction conditions: for example, because particularly narrow angles or hard walls that could break have to be taken into account. A considered approach is essential in order to comply with the strict specifications and not jeopardise the monument. ‘The fact that the EFB products, such as the Keystone modules, are particularly intuitive and easy to install naturally simplifies the installation process considerably, especially when space is at a premium,’ says Zander.
According to the plan, the conversion should be completed by autumn 2024. Citizens and the administration can then look forward to a completely refurbished town hall with advanced IT components that will ensure smooth office operations.