Kramer has delivered a fully integrated control and AVoIP ecosystem for Mid Ulster District Council in Northern Ireland, supporting hybrid meetings, centralised management and simplified operation across its chamber and associated meeting spaces.
Installed by Rea Sound, the upgrade replaces an unreliable legacy conference system that lacked support for hybrid participation and required manual reconfiguration for each meeting. The new deployment spans the council chamber and five additional meeting rooms, all unified under Kramer’s Panta Rhei platform.
At the core of the system is a Kramer control setup built around a custom-programmed KT-2010 touch panel, providing a single interface to manage the entire AV environment. The system integrates a Bosch wireless conference solution, Allen & Heath audio, Panasonic and Samsung displays, lighting control and Kramer’s AVoIP distribution into one platform.
This allows operators to switch between traditional, hybrid and fully remote meeting formats at the touch of a button, automatically configuring audio, video, displays and lighting without specialist technical input.
Video distribution is handled via Kramer AVoIP encoders and decoders, including KDS-17 and KDS-100 units, enabling flexible routing across the network while supporting streaming and recording for remote participants.
The deployment also incorporates Kramer’s Panta Rhei ecosystem, which provides session management, content control, and integration with third-party collaboration platforms. Beyond user-facing functionality, the platform enables real-time system monitoring, allowing IT teams to track performance and resolve issues remotely.
Roger McMullan, director at Rea Sound, said: “The most exciting aspect of this project is the innovative way in which all AV equipment has been brought together under one intelligent, centralised control system. And at the heart of this integration is the Kramer control system.”
The system was designed to preserve the integrity of in-person council proceedings while enabling full remote participation. Councillors joining meetings off-site retain the same speaking and voting capabilities as those in the chamber, supporting consistent governance regardless of location.
Automation has significantly reduced setup time, removing the need for manual configuration and allowing staff to focus on operational tasks. Centralised monitoring via Panta Rhei also reduces the need for on-site intervention, while automated shutdown contributes to energy efficiency.
The upgrade has also improved public access, with meetings now available via live stream or on-demand playback.
JJ Tohill, strategic director at Mid Ulster District Council, said: “I am very pleased with system functionality and look forward to the Council availing of and benefiting from its investment in the coming years. I also wish to acknowledge the professionalism, commitment and quality of Rea Sound in delivering this project within a tight deadline.”