This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful.
apn® Always up to date
Interview with Dirk Schulz
Today we would like to introduce you to Dirk Schulz in more detail. In this interview, you can find out more about his vision, why he chose us and what inspires him.
Can you briefly introduce yourself?
“Hi, I’m Dirk – a sales person, acoustics enthusiast and fan of smart solutions.
My goal? My focus is not just to sell acoustic solutions, but to actively help shape them – always with an eye on aesthetics, functionality and the people in the room. I want to create rooms that not only look good, but also sound good. Because “the eye also hears” – and I make sure that both fit.”
Why did you want to work for us?
“Because apn® makes acoustics tangible. It’s not just about absorbers, but about real solutions for tangible quality of life and work. apn® is more than just an employer for me – there is a real passion for room acoustics here. I wanted to be part of a team that emphasizes innovation and quality and works on an equal footing with companies and people. And that’s exactly what I want to bring to the outside world!”
What aspects of your work are you most looking forward to?
“Three things: inspiring people, developing solutions and putting apn® further on the map. Acoustics is not just technology, it’s emotion. Acoustics is not everything, but without the right acoustics, everything is nothing! And that’s exactly what I want to establish in the market.”
What do you like to do in your free time?
“I love discovering new perspectives and meeting new people – be it through sports, traveling or eating good food (sushi is my personal power source food!). I’m also interested in financial knowledge, the stock market, my personal financial freedom fund, new technologies and being inspired wherever I am.
Because ultimately it’s always about: From function to feeling – places that inspire. POWER-SOURCE space & acoustics.”
We look forward to continuing our collaboration with Dirk. You can contact him directly here.
Our crew is growing!
Dirk Schulz has been your apn® contact for the greater Hamburg to Berlin area since September last year. Two weeks ago, we welcomed Arne Thomas to our crew as a sales representative for western Germany.
With their extensive experience and commitment, they will be a valuable asset to our crew.
We are looking forward to working together and are excited about the successes we will achieve together. Welcome on board!
You can view our sales territories here.
Our journey – interesting facts about apn®
In the midst of the economic crisis in 2009, our captain embarked on the journey of apn®. Despite these difficult times, he had a clear vision: to focus entirely on room acoustics. What passed casually through many hands back then – from engineers and architects to carpenters and drywallers – has become our core business.
We recognized the urgent need for a contact person who could cover the entire value chain of a project:
– from planning and engineering
– to in-house production of the acoustic elements
– right through to installation.
This holistic approach was revolutionary at the time.
The idea of focusing on room acoustics has had a lasting impact on the market. In the past, acoustics were often just a secondary aspect of several trades. Today, there are independent acoustics tenders and the importance of room acoustics is perceived and managed very differently by companies.
We are proud to have helped shape this change. The journey full of challenges, insights, successes and innovations is our incentive to continue developing innovative room acoustics solutions in the future – tailored to your needs. With a clear mission for the future, we want to continue to set standards and reform the industry.
It’s about you, your rooms and your companies!
Room acoustics – invisible, but indispensable
Room acoustics are like invisible ocean currents – we can’t smell, taste, see or touch them. Nevertheless, it has enormous power, as it has a considerable influence on our well-being.
But what is the secret of good room acoustics?
It is crucial to know when which product should be used in which combination and position for the respective room type and usage characteristics. When this knowledge is paired with experience, the result is an unexpected treasure trove of expertise.
Simple basics that you can still remember:
Absorbers, such as our apn® Vinta ceiling panels, reduce reverberation and echoes. They absorb the sound energy that is carried into the room by a sound source. Physically, they convert this sound energy into heat so that the sound intensity decreases and the sound is attenuated.
In contrast, diffusers scatter the sound waves in different directions instead of absorbing them. This leads to a diffuse transmission of sound in the room and prevents flutter echoes. With our acoustic baffles from the apn Lamella® series, we combine both advantages. They act both as absorbers and diffusers, as they break up the sound in the speech-relevant area like wave breakers.
Let’s work together to improve the room acoustics in your environment. Contact us and make an appointment for a non-binding introductory meeting.
Room & acoustics
Understanding the entirety of the room
A room is much more than just a physical space defined by walls, floors and ceilings. It is a living interplay that influences our perception and behavior. The way a space is designed can shape our mood, our productivity and even our social interactions. Every space serves as an outer shell, a framework for the events that take place there. It should therefore be considered in a differentiated way based on its geometry, materials and usage characteristics.
The complexity of events taking place in rooms
The complexity of the events that take place in rooms results from a variety of factors that influence behavior and interactions within a room. We would like to break down some aspects for you below:
- Physical properties of the room: The size, shape and materials used in a room have a significant influence on the propagation of sound, light and temperature. These physical properties have a direct impact on the behavior of people in the room.
- Use and function: Different spaces fulfill different purposes, be it living, working or leisure. The specific use of a space determines which activities take place there and how people perceive and use the space.
- Social interactions: Spaces serve as places for social interactions. The design of the space can significantly influence the way people interact with each other. For example, open spaces encourage communication and collaboration, while enclosed spaces offer privacy.
- Cultural and psychological factors: The perception and use of spaces is strongly influenced by cultural and individual psychological factors. Different cultures have different ideas about how spaces should be used and designed.
- Technological influences: Modern technologies such as smart home systems and digital means of communication are fundamentally changing the way rooms are used. These technologies can improve the functionality and efficiency of rooms, but they also bring new challenges.
- Dynamic changes: Rooms are not static structures; they change over time. Changes in use, renovations, revitalizations and adaptations to new requirements all contribute to complexity.
The company shapes the space
Even if the events that take place in rooms are complex: Your company shapes the space – not the space shapes your company! Think holistically!
The trend towards agile workplaces requires a comprehensive restructuring of both the company organization and the working environment. Given that the average useful life of office space is only three years, continuous restructuring and innovative design approaches are essential.
Careful planning is crucial here. Aspects such as space planning, functionality, digitalization, interior design and room acoustics must be harmonized. Every room has specific acoustic requirements that call for flexible and customized measures. We at apn® accept this challenge and are committed to revolutionizing room acoustics.
Understanding room acoustics
As a sub-aspect of acoustic science, room acoustics examines the effects of the structural conditions of a room on the sound events that take place there. This includes conversations between teams and colleagues, telephone calls, keyboard noises, technical devices and many other sources of noise.
At apn®, this term is also linked to people’s personal interaction with the room. As people move through a room and therefore also the sound sources, it is crucial to take these diverse and dynamic sound sources into account. Just as rooms are viewed in three dimensions, sound propagates in three dimensions. It can also bend around obstacles and penetrate through materials.
The focus here is on speech intelligibility and limiting the reverberation time. To achieve this, the right balance must be found between room attenuation (absorption) and diffusivity (dispersion) of the sound.
Synergies for optimum room acoustics
The new, flexible workplaces place high demands on acoustic design. A well-founded analysis of acoustic requirements is essential in order to create future-proof working environments. Cooperation between manufacturers, planning offices and acoustic engineers is of crucial importance here. Only through close cooperation can innovative solutions be developed that meet the specific requirements of each room.
Well-designed and flexible room acoustics play a central role in modern working environments and are far more than just a “nice-to-have”. Only when all the details come together does the room find its sound and become a lively place for collaboration.
Feel free to contact ourcrew and let’s redesign your sound together!
Happy holidays
At a time when the waves of political and economic uncertainty are rising, we would like to pause and wish you a peaceful and reflective holiday season. May the wind always be at your back, the compass maneuver you safely through the stormy waters of challenges and the anchor rest in confidence, strength and community.
We wish you happy holidays and a successful journey into 2025.
Your crew from apn®
P.S.: We are on vacation from 23.12.24 to 31.12.24 and can therefore only be reached sporadically. From 02.01.25 we will be there for you again as usual.