In this interview, Markus Bürgi, Managing Director of Akustik & Raum AG, answers questions about room acoustics in the catering industry and talks about the innovations from our own production and development.
Mr. Bürgi, did you have a special moment that made you realise how much influence optimal room acoustics have on our well-being?
It wasn't a single event, but rather my passion for room acoustics has grown steadily. As a trained carpenter, I came into contact with room acoustics measures early on. The more I dealt with acoustics, reverberation time or sound velocity, the more I became sensitised to these topics. Accordingly, I am always pleased to receive positive feedback from satisfied customers after acoustic measures have been implemented.
In your opinion, has the importance of room acoustics changed in recent years?
A lot has happened in this area in Switzerland since Akustik & Raum AG was founded in 2004. In the beginning, there were many architectural firms that were «only» interested in the design of their projects, and the room function was left out of the equation. I have noticed a big change here. Architects are increasingly incorporating room acoustics considerations into their planning.
How do restaurant operators benefit when they contact Akustik & Raum AG?
We offer our customers an exceptional service. Our strengths lie not only in the sale of acoustic products, we also develop and manufacture these ourselves in our own production facilities. The expertise of our employees is correspondingly extensive. Our consultants can respond in depth to the needs of the architecture, acoustics and joinery sectors and have the expertise to integrate acoustic solutions perfectly into demanding projects. Our experts know exactly what measures need to be taken to achieve perfect room acoustics.
What innovations can we expect from Akustik & Raum in the future?
Constant market observation and the development of new innovations are among our principles. For this reason, we are currently further developing our FeinMikro Secure fire protection solution. We successfully established the product on the market last year and it is currently certified as "non-combustible" in accordance with EN standards. We are now aiming for "flame-retardant" certification with various cover layers, which will open further doors for us in Switzerland and throughout the European market.
