PPDS has supported the internationally acclaimed Beeld & Geluid museum – home to one of the largest media archives in the world – introducing its ‘zero power’ and advanced colour Philips Tableaux ePaper and welcoming a new era of sustainable displays. Located on Media Park in the Dutch city of Hilversum – a 30 minute drive from central Amsterdam – the spectacular Beeld & Geluid museum – also known as the Netherlands Institute for Sound and Vision – is one of the country’s most recognisable buildings, with a unique, colourful façade of 2,244 rotatable glass panels that are matched only by the institution’s awe inspiring internal architectural design.
Opened in 2006, all areas of the building – from 16 metres underground to 26 meters above – are dedicated to managing, safeguarding (archiving), and showcasing all types of media, from radio and television programs to video games, podcasts, and social media. In addition to revolving exhibitions, the venue also regularly hosts a variety of public, educational, and corporate events, and features two large theatre halls, each with large screens and coloured LEDs incorporated into the walls and ceilings. With a rich history of visual technology innovation dating back to the dawn of the commercial audiovisual era, Philips products – both old and new – feature prominently throughout.
Hylke Thiry, Team Manager Sales and Business Developer, Beeld & Geluid, commented: “Philips has been at the forefront of audiovisual innovation since the very beginning, and with its Dutch heritage, we are immensely proud to be home to many of its products.”Aligned in their commitments to sustainability, the Beeld & Geluid team wanted to cut down on the amount of paper wastage generated through the museum, which included personalised welcome messages, upcoming events, exhibit information, wayfinding, and more. Seeking a digital alternative and working closely with PPDS, Beeld & Geluid were able to seize the latest innovations and breakthroughs in ePaper display technology, a market being driven by PPDS and long term technology partner, E Ink.
Capable of displaying a static image 24/7 for days, weeks, months, or even years without using a single kilowatt of energy (or even needing to be plugged in) PPDS’ multi-award-winning 25” Philips Tableaux displays were the standout choice and a true game changer for the museum, adding an ever growing list of benefits and capabilities. Philips Tableaux displays from PPDS became the world’s first 60,000 colour ePaper signage solutions launched by a leading display manufacturer in 2023, delivering an array of exciting new visual opportunities – including substantial cost of ownership and energy savings.
Versatile and portable by design, the Philips Tableaux displays can be placed anywhere in the museum, including in permanent and temporary installations. Running on an Android SoC, the museum’s team can manage and update content either manually or entirely remotely. This allows effortless tailoring of screens to meet the unique needs of guests and visitors; content can easily be changed based on factors like location, time of day, current event, personalised greetings, or important safety information. Displays only require a connection to an electricity source in the museum when content is being updated, immediately reverting to zero power upon completion. One image change uses just 0.0025 kWh. For context, boiling a kettle uses the same amount of energy as 17 image changes, while 208 image changes would translate to eight hours of average laptop usage.
With no cables required, the setup in the museum is hassle free, and the team were quickly in command of content creation and management, able to simply swap out content when required. The installation has been deemed a complete and immediate success by the museum, with reductions in paper usage and wastage throughout the venue, while also cutting printing costs. The introduction of Philips Tableaux displays has also brought time management savings for staff, with content updates able to be handled centrally and instantly, as well as scheduling and revolving messaging to suit. Hylke Thiry added: “Philips Tableaux are at the forefront of a new and more sustainable display era. The Philips Tableaux has led the way again in digital display innovation, and we are very pleased to be able to welcome our visitors with these most sustainable ePaper displays. Perfect to highlight innovation in action and the ongoing story of AV here at Beeld & Geluid.”
Ron Cottaar, Head of Global Marketing at PPDS, concluded: “PPDS and the Philips brand have a long and successful association with the Beeld & Geluid, providing a rich history of innovation throughout the museum, both on display and in its archives. We were delighted to once again support the team in delivering a new generation of technology and visual capabilities, while, crucially, helping to bring new sustainable opportunities and financial savings, with Philips Tableaux.”
