We serve all sectors of conference and media technology and are among the market leaders in simultaneous, interpreting and multilingual events.

We always try to satisfy the needs of our customers in the best possible way. Our fair and cooperative approach is the guarantee for your successful project and the strategic basis of our long-term success.

 

We do not bite. And we don't annoy – well, sometimes we do. Now and then. Rarely. Almost never.

 

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Interpreters

View of an interpreting studio, where female interpreters follow a speaker on a large monitor and translate him into various other languages in their soundproof booths

Interpreting: An Activity in Transition

Multilingual events and conferences were our starting point in 1995. The fascination has remained with us to this day and is anchored in our company vision: ?Our goal is to enable accessible, multilingual communication and networking at events and conferences.?

 

The work of interpreters is a world of its own, as is the work with simultaneous technology. Both are currently changing significantly and rapidly. We expect a boom and a new collaboration between humans and machines (AI). Live machine captioning will make it commonplace for humans to be able to converse multilingually at any time. The simultaneous interpreting human will be indispensable where AI needs to be checked or should not be allowed – or just where human exchange should be used positively.

 

We consult and work for freelance interpreters, for agencies and for the recognized associations. We always take our hats off to your achievements. What makes a person is now particularly important to cultivate.

Frequent topics

Picture at a brook in the forest, one sees children and an educator, who explains to them something, in addition the lettering "What look in the future conferences? We have suggestions!"

What will conferences look like in the future?

In an interdisciplinary team of technicians, futurologists, interpreters, and contributors to associations,...

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Man speaks into microphone, spectator listens with tour guide system during a tour. Rent, buy, lease personal tour systems at PCS.

Passenger guidance systems

Tour guide systems, guide systems, whispering systems or PFAs, headphones, microphones, charging units, transport cases, accessories

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Sustainable video conferencing and events

How sustainable is your conference?

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Air quality in working and learning spaces

We work and learn indoors. Good indoor air quality is therefore...

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The work of interpreters is a world of its own, as is the work with simultaneous technology. Both are currently changing significantly and rapidly. We expect a boom and a new collaboration between humans and machines (AI). Machine live subtitling will make it commonplace for humans to be able to converse multilingually at any time. The simultaneous interpreting human will be indispensable where AI must be checked or should not be allowed – or just where human exchange should be used positively.

Conferencing with Microsoft Teams

MS Teams now also multilingual and with the "simultaneous interpreting" function

› more
two presenters are standing on a stage and at the same time can be seen digitally on a PC monitor in a second part of the picture - as a symbol for hybrid events

Hybrid events

We connect people, spaces and places. Digital participants, presence participants, speakers and viewers...

› more
The work of interpreters is a world of its own, as is the work with simultaneous technology. Both are currently changing significantly and rapidly. We expect a boom and a new collaboration between humans and machines (AI). Machine live subtitling will make it commonplace for humans to be able to converse multilingually at any time. The simultaneous interpreting human will be indispensable where AI must be checked or should not be allowed – or just where human exchange should be used positively.

Interpreting systems and interpreting technology

Wireless interpreting systems with interpreting booths and discussion systems with interpreting booths

› more
View of an interpreting studio, where female interpreters follow a speaker on a large monitor and translate him into various other languages in their soundproof booths

Interpreting hubs and interpreting studios

Our professional hubs for remote interpreting, interpreting for videoconferencing, streaming, on-site meetings

› more

Further information and addresses for interpreters

Associations and clubs
Logo of the association "AIIC", the international association of conference interpreters

AIIC

International Association of Conference Interpreters

AIIC is the international association of conference interpreters. Over 3,000 interpreters are certified here – with currently almost 90 languages on offer. If you are looking for national and international interpreters, you are sure to find what you are looking for.

Logo of the association "VKD", the German Association of Conference Interpreters in the Federal Association of Interpreters and Translators

VKD / BDÜ

Association of Conference Interpreters in the Federal Association of Interpreters and Translators

This is the German association of conference interpreters with over 700 members. The VKD provides support in finding qualified interpreters, offers training and further education for its members, as well as the support of young conference interpreters with its young talent program.
Logo of the federation "FIT" (Federation of professional associations of interpreters, translators and terminologists )

FIT

Federation of professional associations of interpreters, translators and terminologists

The voice of associations of translators, interpreters and terminologists around the world

This is the worldwide umbrella organization that unites the associations of interpreters and translators.

Logo of "Gala", the Globalization and Localization Association

GALA

Globalization and Localization Association

GALA is a non-profit organization that supports the language services and technologies industry. This includes translation, interpreting, localization, internationalization and all technologies that support these activities.
GALA has a very strong presence in the USA in particular, but is also active worldwide.
Junior Programs

As a "newcomer", you will receive support from the AIIC interpreting association, among others. This makes it easier for you to start your professional life after graduation, be it with help for acquisition, order processing, networking among colleagues and much more.

In addition, there is a mentoring program for pre-candidates, junior staff meetings, regulars' tables and workshops.

The Association of Conference Interpreters VKD also offers a mentoring program. The mentees appreciate the contact with professionals, because the mentors' in-depth professional experience gives them a deep insight into freelance work as a conference interpreter.

Universities/Training

Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz in Germersheim

Department of Translation, Linguistics and Cultural Studies

They describe themselves as "one of the largest training centers for translation and interpreting with students, teachers and researchers from all over the world”.

We still know this university from the early 70's/80's, where it was clear: whoever graduated here must be a professional.

Cologne, Magdeburg... and several other universities of applied sciences

In the meantime, there are a number of other departments in Germany, such as in Cologne, Magdeburg and several more.
The Federal Association (BDÜ) maintains an up-to-date list of training centers here:

The profession of a state-certified interpreter

The employment agency summarizes this training occupation as follows:

  • Occupation type:
    Profession with state examination
  • Training type:
    State examination according to state law
  • Training period:
    I.d.R. 2-3 years
  • Learning Venues:
    Foreign language school, technical academy

 

In addition, interpreting is also offered at universities (see above).

Publications, blogs and podcast

THE trade magazine

The MDÜ journal is published 6 times a year especially for translators and interpreters – and of course for all other interested parties.

The journal is published by the German Federal Association of Interpreters and Translators (BDÜ).

Interpreting manual

Concentrated knowledge about interpreting – from the specialist publisher Bundesverband Dolmetscher und Übersetzer (BDÜ)

New ISO standard

In the Professional System magazine, we explain together with Klaus Ziegler (AIIC interpreter) what is new here – for the benefit of interpreters – since 2017 on the occasion of amended standards for interpreting booths.

Interpreters know everything

Exciting blog by Dr. Anja Rütten, conference interpreter. She gives us an up-close look behind the scenes here.

2,56 square meter

2.56 square meters" hides the floor space of an interpreting booth. In an inspiring interpreting podcast on Spotify, conference interpreter Michaela Haller chats from the sewing box and the everyday life of an interpreter.

Sleepless nights

"The podcast about things that keep interpreters up at night" – hosts Sarah Hickey, Jonathan Downie, Alexander Drechsel and Alexander Gansmeier prove in this podcast.

Multilingual Chaos?

There is probably no other place in the world where so many languages are interpreted simultaneously and constantly than at the European Commission!

The EU Interpreters give us exciting and revealing insights on their Facebook page about how they have this well in hand.

Support technology

Interpreting support technology

To support the interpreting service, there is a wide range of analog and digital technology – depending on the setting and the group of participants:

Interpreting equipment manufacturer

Televic

Televic is a renowned Belgian developer and producer of conference equipment, also with fast reaction times to changes in the market. Among other things, it was the first manufacturer in 2017 to offer, according to freshly published ISO 20109:2017 reacted immediately and brought out new interpreting consoles accordingly.

 

All components and different types of conference technology systems can be linked together without any problems, something that no other manufacturer is able to do.

And the fact that Televic took over the production of the UNITE guide system from Beyerdynamic in 2023 was already a minor sensation for the industry.
After all, this PFA is something like a small – egg-laying willow and also interesting for interpreters as a whispering unit.

Bosch

Here, a partnership and very personal cooperation has existed for over 20 years, Bosch has proven technology in its portfolio: every interpreter knows and has already worked on a BOSCH IDesk.

Audipack

You could almost say monopolist for the best interpreting booths in the world. A Dutch manufacturer that has been supplying standard-compliant interpreting booths for more than 30 years.

Sennheiser

The sound-setting professional for PFA (guide systems / whisper systems) with the best selection of hearing options as well: Receiver with chin strap, normal headphone, single earphone, of course also with hearing impaired loops.

Many interpreters curse about the small interpreting desks (OEM version from Williams AV, USA), these are also not (ISO) standard-compliant, also not cheap but cheap. This is not our world.

Mipro

The price winner among guidance systems, we do not use the systems at all in rental; however, our colleagues from installation and sales know that very many customers are very happy with them.

Audioropa

A German manufacturer of all sorts of hearing aids, including nifty PFAs.

Software platforms

In addition to hardware for interpreting technology, there are now video conferencing platforms that offer interpreting functions and language channels.

 

We address three professional ones here:

Zoom

Zoom is a professional video conferencing provider – was the first major player to offer language channels in its video conferences from 2020. This makes it possible as a participant to switch back and forth between the digitally fed interpreters and languages.

In the meantime, there are also virtual interpreting desks as well as servers operated in Germany that comply with data protection laws (such as on konferenztechnik.de).

Microsoft

Microsoft has followed suit in 2023 and now offers interpretation functions within its Teams environment.

WebEx

WebEx (Cisco) has also followed suit in 2023, also offering language channels and interpretation tools with its professional video conferencing.

In addition to these major players, which are common among most of our customers or are requested from us, there are a large number of smaller providers. Those that have their main focus in interpretation should also be mentioned here: Kudo, Interprefy, Interactio – and of course many more.

Encyclopedia of conference technology

Interpretation types

The lexicon is all about the terms interpreting and conference technology.

So we break down the different types of interpreting, i.e. liaison interpreting, consecutive interpreting, simultaneous interpreting, sign language interpreting – just to name a few.

Interpretation types

 

Interpreters make use of a special vocabulary when it comes to classifying languages – such as A-/B-C languages and active and passive languages. We clarify about that here:

The A to Z

 

Here it goes generally to the detailed A to Z in our encyclopedia:

History

Nuremberg Trials

The Nuremberg Trials were a major and important milestone in the development of conference interpreting, especially the new interpreting mode "simultaneous interpreting”.
Historical black and white photograph with interpreters at the Nuremberg Trials
Interpreters at the Nuremberg Trials - Photo credit: National Archives, College Park, MD, USA

A traveling exhibition gives a good impression of these early assignments of conference interpreters.

Or listen to the podcast in question about it. Here are the links:

Pioneering time of interpreting technology  

Even before the Nuremberg Trials described above, Siemens had developed the first technical principles for interpreting technology.

Then, in 1958, the German Helmut Brähler developed the first simultaneous interpretation system of his own and founded the then company "Brähler Konferenztechnik".

Among other things, he is credited with the development of single-cable technology for these simultaneous systems as well as the "red ring" on microphones of discussion systems. The latter very helpfully indicate via illuminant at which microphone is currently speaking.

Later, Philips in particular entered the development of discussion systems and inductive transmission systems. However, Philips later sold this division on to Bosch, who continue to run this division professionally to this day.
Sony was also involved at the beginning with conference technology such as induction transmission systems and interpreting consoles. Sennheiser joined in, and there was even a Philips-Sennheiser-Brähler cooperation in the manufacture of the first infrared systems. Then, around 2002, Beyerdynamic joined in with a first large radio transmission system for interpreting channels.

Today there is a wide market of manufacturers of interpreting equipment – both analog and digital.
Historical booklet from Sennheiser about infrared technology from 1980 - here: Book Cover
Historical booklet from Sennheiser about infrared technology from 1980 - here: Book Cover
Historical booklet from Sennheiser about infrared technology from 1980 - here: Snapshot inside
Historical booklet from Sennheiser about infrared technology from 1980 - here: Snapshot inside
One of the first Sennheiser infrared receivers for an audio transmission - here type HDI407
One of the first Sennheiser infrared receivers for an audio transmission - here type HDI407
Sennheiser EKI 1019 infrared receiver
Sennheiser EKI 1019 infrared receiver
Components of a Sony conference and interpreting system from 1982
Components of a Sony conference and interpreting system from 1982 with inductive transmission
Sennheiser chin strap receiver HDE 300-7 - for transmission of multiple interpreted languages
Sennheiser chin strap receiver HDE 300-7 for transmission of multiple interpreted languages
Older Brähler infrared receiver from the 70's/80's
Older Brähler infrared receiver from the 70's/80's
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Advice

christianbecker
lia-k
Sebastian Gegusch-Gautier, Division Manager South PCS
Call up

Central telephone number
+49 211 737798-13

Berlin
+49 30 6959690-0

Munich
+49 8924883002-0

Düsseldorf
+49 211 737798-0

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We ask you a few questions in 3 steps. Only answer what you already know. Even with just a few answers, we usually already have a good assessment. 

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If you see the chat button at the bottom right, someone from the consulting team is online. Some things can be clarified quickly and immediately here.

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christianbecker
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Advice

christianbecker
lia-k
Sebastian Gegusch-Gautier, Division Manager South PCS
Call up

Central telephone number
+49 211 737798-13

Berlin
+49 30 6959690-0

Munich
+49 8924883002-0

Düsseldorf
+49 211 737798-0

Arrange callback
Ask a Question
request a quote

We ask you a few questions in 3 steps. Only answer what you already know. Even with just a few answers, we usually already have a good assessment. 

To chat

If you see the chat button at the bottom right, someone from the consulting team is online. Some things can be clarified quickly and immediately here.

Icon with reference to our chat service on the website

Advice

christianbecker

Advice

christianbecker
lia-k
Sebastian Gegusch-Gautier, Division Manager South PCS
Call up

Central telephone number
+49 211 737798-13

Berlin
+49 30 6959690-0

Munich
+49 8924883002-0

Düsseldorf
+49 211 737798-0

Arrange callback
Ask a Question
request a quote

We ask you a few questions in 3 steps. Only answer what you already know. Even with just a few answers, we usually already have a good assessment. 

To chat

If you see the chat button at the bottom right, someone from the consulting team is online. Some things can be clarified quickly and immediately here.

Icon with reference to our chat service on the website

Advice

christianbecker
lia-k
Sebastian Gegusch-Gautier, Division Manager South PCS

Advice

christianbecker
lia-k
Sebastian Gegusch-Gautier, Division Manager South PCS
Call up

Central telephone number
+49 211 737798-13

Berlin
+49 30 6959690-0

Munich
+49 8924883002-0

Düsseldorf
+49 211 737798-0

Arrange callback
Ask a Question
request a quote

We ask you a few questions in 3 steps. Only answer what you already know. Even with just a few answers, we usually already have a good assessment. 

To chat

If you see the chat button at the bottom right, someone from the consulting team is online. Some things can be clarified quickly and immediately here.

Icon with reference to our chat service on the website

Advice

christianbecker
lia-k
Sebastian Gegusch-Gautier, Division Manager South PCS

Advice

christianbecker
lia-k
Sebastian Gegusch-Gautier, Division Manager South PCS
Call up

Central telephone number
+49 211 737798-13

Berlin
+49 30 6959690-0

Munich
+49 8924883002-0

Düsseldorf
+49 211 737798-0

Arrange callback
Ask a Question
request a quote

We ask you a few questions in 3 steps. Only answer what you already know. Even with just a few answers, we usually already have a good assessment. 

To chat

If you see the chat button at the bottom right, someone from the consulting team is online. Some things can be clarified quickly and immediately here.

Icon with reference to our chat service on the website
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We are looking forward to your application!

Just send us a short application by e-mail to: Gunnar Hermenau
hermenau@konferenztechnik.de

Please send us your application as a PDF file. It would be nice to have a short letter of motivation, a CV and – if available – relevant references.

If you have any questions, just contact Gunnar Hermenau at: 030 6959690 14 or by e-mail.