ZEISS planetarium in Berlin’s Prenzlauer Berg district will reopen following extensive renovation work and upgrades in the form of new ZEISS technology. The centerpiece of the refurbishment is a ZEISS hybrid planetarium, comprising a video projection system complete with ten ZEISS VELVET projectors for full-dome projection and a star projector of the type ZEISS UNIVERSARIUM Model IX specially built for the Berlin planetarium. This system enables planetarium shows like never before. “With its new ZEISS technology, the planetarium is one of the world’s state-of-the-art star theaters,” says Dr. Martin Wiechmann, Head of the Planetariums business unit at ZEISS.

The ZEISS VELVET projection system enables extremely high-resolution films, videos and visualizations piloted live – such as the space flight through the universe – to be projected onto the 23-meter dome surface in a realistic way. The ZEISS VELVET projection system generates images with more than 25 million pixels – eleven times as many as a movie theater projector. “The ZEISS technology allows us to rethink the planetarium. The technical possibilities open the door to the authentic and breathtaking presentation of all sciences. It the first major step to a science theater that redefines our place in the cosmos in the here and now beyond the limits of astronomy,” says Tim Florian Horn, Head of the large ZEISS planetarium.

While the star projector makes the night sky shine with natural brilliance, the digital projection system supplements the programs with a wide diversity of didactic presentations and colorful astronomical objects taken from current research. Although there are two different projection systems – one mechanical and analog, the other digital – the control software from ZEISS ensures that the two projectors are always in sync. For example, the digital portrait of the Orion Nebula always appears at the right location under the stars.

The ten ZEISS VELVET projectors are spread around the edge of the dome, with each projector generating a partial image. Using automated calibration from ZEISS, all of the partial images are merged so exactly on the dome that visitors see the entire image on the over 700 m2 dome surface. The ZEISS VELVET projectors guarantee the world’s highest contrast. While other projectors always generate a gray haze on the dome, ZEISS VELVET projectors deliver absolute black and therefore exceptionally brilliant colors. “With the ZEISS VELVET system we achieve pitch black, which means that the brilliance of the starlit sky is always reproduced in a hybrid planetarium. The ZEISS VELVET lenses generate such tiny and perfect pixels that visitors can enjoy extremely sharply defined dome images.

This interplay of star projector and digital projection will allow future visitors to the large ZEISS planetarium to leave the earth and embark on a virtual journey through the solar system, discovering space as they do. 3D software based on astronomical databases visualizes the entire observable universe. A flight on the orbit of the Cassini spacecraft shows an outsize Saturn with its characteristic rings passing by on the dome. When flying into intergalactic space, our home galaxy with 200 billion stars, the Milky Way, shrinks to a mere dot of light among billions of other stars. The dome-filling cosmic background radiation testifies to the evolution of the universe.

The large ZEISS planetarium with its impressive 30-meter external dome was opened in 1987 as one of the largest and state-of-the-art star theaters in all of Europe. It is located in Berlin’s Prenzlauer Berg district and, since July 2016, has been part of the newly formed Stiftung Planetarium Berlin (Berlin planetarium foundation) alongside the Archenhold Observatory and the Wilhelm Foerster Observatory and Planetarium on the city’s Insulaner hill. “With this merger, Berlin is making further efforts to become the no. 1 place for astronomical popular science in Germany. The star theaters are being transformed into modern theaters that present science in a comprehensible way,” says Sandra Scheeres, Senator for Education, Youth and Science for Berlin. Renovation and modernization work on the planetarium began in April 2014. Serving as an important testimony to the history of planetariums, the original ZEISS COSMORAMA star projector is being accorded pride of place in the foyer as part of the new exhibition.

ZEISS India inaugurated its fourth Tech Centre in New Delhi. The new Tech Centre is a one-shop-solution for all the Industrial Metrology customers.

The centre will showcase our latest and most sophisticated technology to all our customers. Products like high precision Bridge type CMM’s like CONTURA G2, SPECTRUM and SF & G products like RONDCOM and SURFCOM measuring machines are on display and available to our customers.

The organization hopes that the new Tech Centre will forge even closer relationships with existing customers and pave roads for new ones.

The IMT Tech Centre will function as:

• A Demo Centre for the IMT customers to provide a hands-on experience of the products
• A Measurement Centre for our Tier I, II and III customers who want to outsource their measuring needs
• A Training Centre for personnel who want to gain expertise in the field of Metrology

The German measuring machine and equipment manufacturer is all set to showcase its high-end measuring capabilities for die mould industry at up coming Die Mould India 2016. The company is gearing up to demonstrate its revolutionary multi-sensor measuring machine, O-inspect and digital measuring projector called “ O-SELECT ” from the stall C-17, Hall 2A. The event is scheduled from April 6-9, 2016 at Bangalore International Exhibition Centre, Bengaluru.

O-INSPECT, Multi sensor Measuring Machines

O-INSPECT multi-sensor measuring machines from ZEISS enable you to optimally measure each characteristic – optically or by contact. The O-INSPECT delivers reliable 3D accuracy compliant with ISO standards at a temperature range of 18-30°C. An added advantage of the system is that the CALYPSO software not only delivers results easily, but also simplifies the detection and identification of the causes of errors.

 Key Features: Telecentric zoomlens Discovery, Adaptive illumination system, Scanning sensor VAST XXT, Probing rack, Calibration sphere, etc.

O-SELECT, Digital Measuring Projector

In production environments, Optical and Contact Coordinate Measuring Machines are increasingly replacing manual equipment such as goniometers, gauges and profile projectors. However, the influence of the operator with these manual tools must not be disregarded. Thanks to fully automatic setting of both illumination and focus, measuring errors due to operator influence are eliminated and complex measurements can be completed quickly. O-SELECT makes the Optical Measurement of 2D parts easy and reliable. With the simple push of button, O-SELECT evaluates the characteristics and documents the results – in a professional manner.

Key Features: High-resolution camera, Drive for the autofocus, Telecentric ZEISS optics, Double ring light, each with eight segments, Optional coaxial light

How do you think the CMM technology has changed over the years? What kinds of technology breakthroughs we can observe in the near future?

It is now becoming more multi-sensoric. What is happening is that we are putting together in one system or one machine, different parts and technologies, for example, video optics and lasers. This is one of the most crucial trends in the CMM technology space, which is, having a multi-sensoric set-up in one system, which will revolutionise the whole scene in this space.

What are the latest developments in measuring technology?

As explained earlier, it is all about integration of various technologies in one single system. Integration of software into the system is a well observed trend. Increasing the ease-of-use is a definite necessity so that new users can handle and work on metrology equipments effectively and efficiently.

Carl Zeiss launches various products throughout the year. Can you please tell us about your R&D activities?

We are trying to integrate the software technologies and sensor technologies together. We also have a very established and experienced group of professionals here in India. We are developing our software systems globally. India is an important hub in our software development for the global set-up.

What percentage of your revenue goes towards the R&D activities?

It is about 10%. Out of all the revenues, 10% are injected into all of our R&D activities, which is a very important part for our company.

What sort of demands do you see in the metrology industry, particularly in India?

Demands in India increase with activity and quality. These are usual trends which you will face when you talk to any manufacturer.

Profitability, quality, capability and flexibility are the common demands. I definitely would say that India has a need to increase profitability; more and more Indian companies will start exporting as well.

People usually say that there is availability of cheap labor in India. But this will not be an important argument in the future. You will have to have qualified personnel along with good profitability, instead of quoting human resource availability.

You have excellent technologies in your basket. How is the response to such high-end technology in a cost-conscious market like India?

We always offer high-quality equipments rather than high-end products. Usually high-end is assumed with exorbitant prices. We have competent products in the middle- and entrance-class. In fact, our spectrum of products serve the whole middle-class.

Do you think SMEs in India are ready to adopt high-end CMM products?

I am sure they will adopt these products. The scenario with SMEs will change over time, and they will start looking at high-end CMM products. On the other hand, you also have private small and medium enterprises. If they want to survive, they will have to specialise and do quality work. They will look for ways to invest their money more rightly than otherwise.

I truly believe that we have small companies in India, who are investing in our equipments. They are price-conscious but in addition, they also look for quality investments. Unless they update themselves with new and high-end technologies and products, they cannot survive.

Has the rupee depreciation against major currencies affected your business? How are you tackling it?

We strengthen it by having a strong local organisation, and a good relationship with local suppliers and the local assembly, which we are currently doing.

Carl Zeiss caters to many industries. Which industries according to you are most promising from a business point-of-view?

The Automobile sector has remained a volatile market. However, Aerospace sector has outperformed the others as there are precision needs, documentation needs and process optimisation.

There is increase in the number of fleets, and passengers and the fuel usage, which leads to more emission and noise production, which is where our expertise comes in action in solving such problems. Thus, Aerospace has been a very promising sector.

Tell us about your future plans for the Indian market.

The CT space is an important space for us. We will be bringing new technologies and new products into India. We will strengthen our applications and capabilities because customers expect full support in terms of application.