Atlona, a Panduit company, opened its newly updated EMEA Training Center in Schwalbach, Germany, just outside Frankfurt at the Panduit European headquarters. Originally opened in 2020, the facility has been completely renovated and restructured to serve the next generation of AV training requirements, with all content and equipment unified with company training facilities in the USA.

The EMEA facility emphasizes Atlona’s flagship product brands that serve the latest AV business trends in collaboration, connectivity and control. Training scenarios include Omega collaboration and presentation, OmniStream AV-over-IP and Velocity control systems, providing partners with hands-on user experience before deploying systems in the field for end users.

Training courses are divided into modules and levels, including AV fundamentals, networking, control and system setup and configuration. Most training commences online before transitioning to hands-on training and advanced theory.

“Knowledge is power, and the greater the depth of knowledge we provide to our partners, the stronger position they will be in for success,” says Thorsten Goecke, business director, EMEA, Atlona. “Customers first learn the foundational concepts of AV then the fundamentals of Atlona’s product line, including how to design and implement these products as part of our extensive online curriculum. Then they are invited to our Schwalbach training facility for hands-on control system programming and AV system installation. The important takeaway is that our partners will gain a thorough knowledge of every solution Atlona provides and learn how to deliver the best solutions and services to their customers.”

Goecke says that partners have expressed strong interest in Velocity training as AV control continues to evolve in ways that serve new requirements, including remote systems management, which opens new revenue opportunities for integrators. “Velocity changes the game by offering the simplicity of drag and drop configuration for simple AV systems as well as advanced custom GUI and customizable drivers for deeper control inside complex AV environments,” he said. “Velocity is fully featured with scheduling plus automation, along with advanced remote management capabilities, and with our training program, that learning curve is greatly reduced.”