Lift Report

The experience accumulated by base electronic gmbh was a part of the package. It was possible to recruit the defunct company’s chief developer and its telephone support manager for the “reconstruction” project. Contracts for 85,000 cars, using four separate and independent emergency call systems (FWG 85, FWG 90, System 99 und FWG 05), each entirely different in regard to technology and topography, as well as delivery of the Servitel program made by the Schindler group (between 1985 and 2000 and again as of 2006) all speak for themselves.

… were more than difficult. The problems to be solved were many and “fires” had to be fought on all fronts, all at the same time. A new emergency calling system had to be implemented while, at the same time, the company was handling the repair needs of the old systems still in service.

Telephone support for the 25,000 cars then equipped with older systems had to be put on a solid footing. It was also necessary to establish a complete response center, including both the hardware and the software. Almost in passing, new customers had to be acquired in spite of these circumstances – and that in a market where confidence and reliability are key.

… was passed on June 1, 2005. That was the day on which the pilot run for the “FWG 05” emergency call system was finished , concluding six unprecedented months during which the idea was rushed from the drawing boards to the production line.

In the four months that followed, the youngest scion of the FWG family was subjected to extensive field testing under harsh everyday conditions. The trials focused on interference resistance, reliability and ease of operation.

The tests were concluded to the satisfaction of everyone involved. Installers, in particular, praised the excellent and thoroughly intuitive operating concept. This point was especially gratifying since none of the installers had anything but the instruction manual to guide them while setting up the unfamiliar unit. The rest is (company) history.

At present base engineering gmbh turns out about 6,000 emergency call units a year at its manufacturing site north of Hamburg. Development, production and subsequent testing and quality control work are all carried out in-house – and that’s a matter of company policy.

Speaking on this topic is Gilbert Baumann, who is responsible for technology and development: “This concept lets us respond much quicker to changes in the telecommunications market. This is of inestimable benefit to our customers, as has been seen in the past. ‘Can’t be done’ is not an option. And quite apart from that, I doubt whether farming out the entire production process to Asia would be in our best interests.” The customer base has grown to more than one hundred clients, many of them who submitted inquires because we had been recommended. Happily, this development continues.

The objective is to offer an emergency call system that can hold its own in the competitive world, one that satisfies all the customer’s requirements. This doesn’t necessarily mean developing the cheapest unit on the market. Rather, it involves identifying the most economical solution for our customers. Here the entire life cycle has to be taken into account, along with the complete catalog of requirements – from ordering and connection to routine maintenance and any repairs that might be needed.

The FWG 05 – and now the FWG 09, as well – were designed to be suitable for modernization and retrofitting work. Simple two-conductor wiring with up to ten call units on a single phone line, at a theoretical maximum length of 1.8 km for the cross-connections, lets the customer master almost any circuit requirements.

Auxiliary equipment such as a multiplexer or PABX is not required. Any later expansions – examples include intercoms for machine rooms or integrating remote data transmission for various controls, video and so on – can be effected even after initial installation is complete, without having to augment the wiring.

FWG systems are typically mounted on the roof of the car. Not only does this mean quick installation but also effective protection against vandalism. Thanks to the unique design, the failure of any one unit, even if it is part of a group, will affect only a single car. The rest will continue to function without interruption.

Remote parameterization, operation using GSM adapters and the like are standard. The flexible configuration in the “custodian” software version permits connection to a responder without having to set up a separate response center. All the features, from sounding a simple alarm to connection in full compliance with EN 81, are peerless.

Complete pre-programming, including bilingual announcements as per customer specification, makes commissioning as simple as possible. This is where a unique guarantee comes into play. Anyone who can not establish a connection to the response center three minutes after correct installation can contact our support department.

“If we, working with the customer, are unable to analyze and solve the problem by phone, then a technician will be on the spot – gratis – within 24 hours, anywhere in Germany. But this hasn’t happened in five years,” according to Jan Möller, support manager.

Support, support, and more support. The product philosophy is consistently targeted on reliability, operability and connection speed. “Or, as our customers put it: ‘FWG – flawless workmanship guaranteed’,” as Carsten Seemann, the man responsible for business matters, points out. “It would be absurd to fritter away this advantage with a lack of after-sales support. Our striving for customer satisfaction continues all the way through to training installers, free of charge, at the customer’s location. The installers are the people who work with our units, day in and day out. We are keenly aware of the advantage of closeness to the customer.”

   

… has a name and it is FWG 09. “This system is what we wanted to build in 2004 but the time constraints imposed by the business situation forced us to postpone the effort,” says Gilbert Baumann.

“The response to the FWG 09, in the course of our first appearance as an exhibitor at interlift 2009, was so overwhelmingly positive that we sometimes felt we’d stumbled into a fairy tale,” adds Carsten Seemann.

Trade fair visitors were especially excited about the audio quality. More than 80 prospects requested systems for trials. “That’s a great reaction, and one that gives us great motivation for our work,” follows up Gerhard Baumann, the seasoned development chief.

It’s not entirely clear, however, whether the visitors were drawn to the stand because of the loud and clear calming announcement in the demonstration unit or whether they were curious about the telephone booth, restored with lots of tender, loving care.

“It really makes no difference why they came. The main thing is that they were there! The future looks good for base engineering gmbh,” is how Carsten Seemann concludes the interview.