Artec Technologies AG: one of Germany's safest discos. The “MAD” Discotheque in Eisenach is a magnet for visitors from all over Europe. The 3 millionth visitor was already recorded in 2005. And the disco is safe too – a comprehensive security concept ensures this, and uses no less than 62 cameras and highperformance recorders from Artec Technologies.

That a disco can make an appearance in the media under the subject of security - and that in a positive sense – is proven by the example of “Germany’s safest disco”. Even the red-top press reported on the MAD in Eisenach, and what the Wagner brothers have built up here was also the subject of an article in the well-known women’s magazine “Bild der Frau”. The disco attracts visitors to Eisenach from great distances, far beyond the state borders of Thuringia and Hesse. There are regular guests from Hamburg and Holland and some of them even come from Switzerland.

From the Planning Stage to the Champagne Flute

The brothers began the project in 1995 and, after an initial delay, got the rural dance club pumping: more than 3 million visitors came within the first ten years. The tale didn’t unravel without its ups and downs however - for example, they had to box their way through against Flynt Publications: the publishers issue, amongst others, the MAD magazine and fought a trade name battle against the disco operators from Thuringia. But the Wagner brothers knew from the beginning what they were doing: they had been running a disco outfitting company with more than 40 employees since 1989.

They had already equipped more than 150 discos throughout Europe, including some in Turkey and Moscow: “turnkey service from initial planning to the champagne glass”, as it says in the company history that is published online. This experience and know-how brought the creators of MAD the valued “German Disco Award”.

All-encompassing Security Concept

It is self-evident for the Wagners that safety and security are important subjects – after all, over 35,000 guests come along each month and, at peak times, more than 100 staff are on duty. And just the sheer size of the room that is operated here for the sole purpose of intensive partying requires a sensible security concept. The dance floor alone is 2,500 m2 divided into four areas – add to that no less than 30,000 m2 of exterior area with around 1,500 parking spaces.

The first priority here is the safety of the guests: anyone who gets the idea of going on the rampage here is monitored and recorded. The Wagner brothers really had a problem with this before the introduction of the new security measures: vandalism and violence were a big issue. And it’s all about securing material values, starting with the vehicles of the disco visitors right up the warehouse. This contains beer, vodka and other consumables with a total value of around €100,000 ready to quench the thirst of the dancing guests.

80 % Fewer Criminal A ssaults

Criminality has dropped dramatically in the meantime, above all thanks to the 62 video cameras that were installed in MAD. That is more than in any other German discotheque. This measure has reduced the number of registered injuries by an impressive 80 % and it has been accomplished with the help, amongst others, of the systems from Artec whose Multieye Enterprise Recorder looks after the recordings from the analogue, network and dome cameras. It has eight analogue and 16 IP inputs.

Add to this a 16-channel Business I with REC 100 expansion for a recorder capacity of 100 images as well as a 32-channel Business II recorder. The video data is presented in two separate offices on two TFT displays and a beamer by a Video Center II. Two other workstations equipped with Video Center UU are contained within the private areas of the disco operators.

There is also a special workstation for the security staff that contains a plan of the whole premises. From here, cameras can be controlled via the plan and emergency exits opened. The data of those who flip out here and represent a danger to other visitors are sent directly to the police. But the guests can also control some of the cameras – a significant contribution to the feeling of ones own safety and, of course, also to acceptance of the security measures.

In this way, the operator’s security measures have become a service for the guests, just like the membership cards that can be obtained for free entry. So for those who wish, they can be welcomed by name and with their favourite drink.

Contact:

Artec Technologies AG,
Diepholz, Germany
Tel.: +49 5441 5995-0
Fax: +49 5441 5995-70
info@multieye.de
www.multieye.de