The founding team of recalm comes from the Hamburg University of Applied Sciences, the Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel and the Hochschule Niederrhein. The company is based in the Startup Port on Harburger Schloßstraße. recalm has developed an active noise-canceling technology called ANCOR, which can be integrated into construction machinery, for example, and thus significantly reduces noise pollution. The start-up is now offering various wireless solutions as modular extensions.
recalm GmbH was founded in 2017 by Marc von Elling, Martin Günther, Lukas Henkel and Ralf Ressel. Marc came up with the idea of active noise reduction in his apartment in Hamburg-Altona at the beginning of 2016. Regularly exposed to the noise of the fish market and Reeperbahn, the vision was born there to block out noise at the touch of a button and without headphones in order to reduce stress and noticeably improve quality of life. Together, they developed an initial prototype and successfully went through a series of private and public funding programs (including EXIST). Since then, the recalm team has grown.
ANCOR prototype with features
The year 2019 was an important milestone for the young company, as the prototype of its own product ANCOR was presented at both BAUMA and AGRITECHNICA together with the companies elobau and Fritzmeier.
In addition to ANC (Active Noise Cancelling), the startup also initiated the development of additional audio features for its ANCOR product on June 6, 2020. These include, for example a dynamic hands-free function, entertainment via Bluetooth and DAB+. In addition, recalm develops RNC (Road Noise Cancelling) solutions for the automotive market.
Infotainment system now also offers wireless communication
The ANCOR infotainment system now offers all radio solutions as modular extensions for the ANCOR infotainment system. Previously, drivers could make calls with ANCOR conveniently via smartphone, but now it is also possible to communicate wirelessly in the driver’s cab using a freely placeable push-to-talk button.
“Machine operators now have more operating freedom. You no longer have to interrupt the ongoing work process and reach around to operate a radio device,” explains Alexander Banazsak, Head of Sales at recalm. “If a driver is listening to music or the radio via ANCOR and a radio message is received, the volume is also automatically adjusted.”
Compatible with all wireless solutions
The active noise suppression of the ANCOR also remains active during radio communication, so that machine noise in the low-frequency range is further reduced. This significantly improves the voice quality via radio. The wireless module from recalm can be combined with all wireless solutions. All common radio standards are supported, from CB and professional radio to 3M LiteCom and Protos BT-COM. “Machine operators can communicate freely with the control center, other drivers and colleagues,” explains Banaszak.
The new radio module has already been used during forestry work in the English Garden in Munich, where diseased ash trees were removed with a walking excavator. Communication between the walking excavator operator and the responsible employees of Bayerische Staatsforsten took place via recalm ANCOR on the one hand and via Protos helmets with the BT-COM radio module on the other.
