Modernization of the Control Room at the Waßmannsdorf Wastewater Treatment Plant

The Customer and the Result

Berliner Wasserbetriebe operates one of Germany’s largest wastewater treatment plants at the Waßmannsdorf facility. The site handles wastewater treatment for Berlin and the surrounding southern region. In the control room, plant processes are continuously monitored and controlled, thereby ensuring safe and reliable plant operation.

As part of the modernization effort, a future-proof control room solution was developed in collaboration with Knürr that not only meets the ergonomic requirements of daily operations but is also prepared for the planned building renovation and future changes to the spatial layout. The modular system solution combines ergonomic workstation design, structured integration of technical systems, and long-term flexibility into a holistic control room concept.

The Initial Situation and Challenge

The existing main workstations in the control room were to be replaced with a modern and ergonomically optimized control room solution. At the same time, the new equipment had to be designed to meet current operational requirements while also being prepared for the planned structural renovation of the facility and future changes to the layout.

Particular emphasis was placed on:

• Ergonomically optimized workstations for the demanding control room environment

• A functionally structured layout of a total of 15 workstations, tailored to the various operational and monitoring tasks.

• Integration of existing security and locking systems

• Optimized acoustic and glare protection

• Modular design for future disassembly and reassembly

• Preparation of the control room solution for future adjustments to the spatial layout as part of the planned building renovation

Technical Highlights of Our Solution

Knürr implemented a customized control room solution for the Waßmannsdorf wastewater treatment plant that is tailored to the functional and ergonomic requirements of continuous plant operation.

Products and Services Provided:

• 10 Knürr® Ergocon control room workstations with electrically height-adjustable work surfaces and height-/depth-adjustable monitor shelves

• 5 height-adjustable Knürr® Elicon VC-E system desks with integrated equipment cabinets and structured cable management

• Electrically height-adjustable acoustic and glare-reduction panels

• KVM-ready equipment bases for protected, organized, and maintenance-friendly integration of technical components

• Planning, project management, documentation, dismantling, installation, and commissioning

Additional technical highlights:

• Integration of the existing emergency stop console into the new workstation structure

• Consistent integration of power, data, and cable routing for a clear and maintenance-friendly workstation layout

• Lockable equipment areas and preparation for integration of the customer’s RFID locking system

• Dismantling and proper disposal of the existing control room workstations

• Modular design for easy dismantling and reassembly of the consoles as part of the planned building renovation

The Results and Benefits

The modernization of the control room created an ergonomically optimized and technically structured work environment for the continuous operation of the wastewater treatment plant. The combination of height-adjustable workstations, flexible monitor levels, integrated technology, and acoustic and glare protection supports a comfortable and focused work environment.

Ergonomics and Work Comfort

The electrically height-adjustable work surfaces and individually adjustable monitor levels allow for optimal adaptation to each operator. Electrically height-adjustable acoustic and glare-reduction panels further improve lighting and acoustic conditions at the workstation.

Structured Technology Integration & Operational Safety

The technology integration, tailored to the 15 workstations, creates a clear and maintenance-friendly infrastructure with KVM-ready technical substructures, defined power and data transfer points, and concealed cable routing. The seamless integration of the existing emergency stop console and the customer’s RFID locking system complements this technical integration with existing control and safety functions, thereby ensuring reliably organized control room operations.

Flexibility and Future-Proofing

The modular design of the consoles allows for later disassembly and reassembly. This means that the control room equipment can continue to be used flexibly even during the planned structural renovation of the facility and can be adapted to future changes in the room layout.

Quality and Long-Term Value

This robust, high-quality system solution is designed for long-term use in demanding control room environments. Its modular design ensures sustainable use even as structural conditions change in the future.