Always well served with Integral IMAP
The continuous development of products, services and processes is necessary in order to adapt them to new circumstances and requirements. When improvements are made that make processes more efficient and easier, this can certainly be described as innovation. Schrack Seconet has achieved just that with the new Integral IMAP control panel. Building on the proven operating logic of successful predecessor models, an optimised interface for fire alarm control panels and remote control panels with new features provides a clearer overview and easier handling.
Integral IMAP has been available on the Austrian market since October 2025. It will also be launched internationally in 2025 and will be available in over 25 languages. Schrack Seconet product managers Andreas Haumer and Stefan Führer reveal why the new control panel can be seen as a revolution in usability and how users will benefit from its redesigned form and functionality.
In a nutshell: What are the three aspects that make the new Integral IMAP so attractive?
Haumer: The list of improvements is really long – but essentially, you could say that the range of possible applications has been significantly expanded, overall handling is easier, and users are now guided through processes even more securely.
That sounds like a big change – does it make switching to the new control panel complicated?
Führer: No, despite the new features, upgrading to Integral IMAP is very easy. The operating logic itself has remained essentially the same, so the new functions do not require much getting used to. Instead, users benefit from even more intuitive operation and a more flexible system that saves them time every day.
Haumer: We have worked intensively on the design to achieve even greater clarity. However, the biggest advance lies in the features that have been added to the control panel. These are 100 % geared to the needs of users, feature self-explanatory navigation and make operation more user-friendly than ever before.
How did you approach the development of the new Integral IMAP?
Führer: The approach was actually very unusual because we took a step back in our analysis. This meant that we worked with the Munich-based agency N+P to critically examine all of our existing assumptions and then boldly ventured into testing new approaches and designs. We allowed change – which led, for example, to us abandoning the previous symmetrical structure. However, the most important factor for success was undoubtedly that we focused on the needs of users at every stage of development and strove for genuine improvement in all areas.
Haumer: That's precisely why we're delighted that the newly developed Integral IMAP has impressed not only users but also two established design competitions: the new control panel has won both the Red Dot Award and the German Design Award.
What specific improvements have been made – can you give us a few examples?
Führer: The heart of the new control panel is the significantly larger display, which now shows all the important information and keeps it clearly visible.
A completely new feature is that freely selectable QR codes can be stored on the display panel as quick links to contacts, instructions, video tutorials and much more. The ten LEDs on the right-hand side of the display and the shortcut button can also be individually programmed. These functions demonstrate how flexible and user-friendly Integral IMAP is.
Haumer: The context-based lighting is also very practical. It guides users safely through all the steps, for example in the event of an alarm. The buttons have a light ring that indicates which buttons need to be pressed. This makes operation easier, especially in critical moments when every second counts.
In general, many functions that previously required an additional control and display device can now be performed via a single control panel. This impressively demonstrates that the operating process could hardly be more efficient than with Integral IMAP.