In the presence of the Senator for Integration, Labour and Social Affairs, Dr. Heidi Knake-Werner, the State Commissioner for People with Disabling Conditions, Martin Marquard, and the Board Chairman of Wall AG, Daniel Wall, the public toilets of the company were today recognised by awarding the 'Barrier-free Berlin' label.

Wall AG is operating 167 City Toilets in Berlin. Now the capital by the Spree river is the only German city that has a complete network of public disabled toilets which are open at all times.

The fully automatic, self-cleaning toilets have toilet bowls that can be accessed from both sides as well as an acoustic and optical emergency call function. All services such as wash basin, soap dispenser and hand dryer are mounted at wheelchair user height. Three years ago the company launched a new product variant for highly frequented locations. This City Toilet named 2=1 consists of two separate cabins with a flexible separation wall. They can be combined to make one larger toilet cabin suitable for use by disabled persons. In Berlin the first 2=1 City Toilet was put into service in August 2007 in Potsdamer Platz square. The locking system is uniform across Europe. It allows people with disabling conditions free access to all toilet facilities and extends the usage time from 20 to 40 minutes.

By developing these toilet facilities Wall AG has set new standards for function, hygiene and aesthetics – for all people, with and without disabilities. That applies to the self-cleaning City Toilets as well as to the conventional toilets. The company has made significant investment in order to modernise and rehabilitate five public toilet facilities located in Alexanderplatz, Breitscheidplatz, Joachimstaler Platz, by the 'Red Town Hall' and in Spandau. Amongst other measures lifts were installed to allow barrier-free access to them for the first time.

'The top priority for all Wall products has always been usability by all people, general user-friendliness and service orientation. That is why we are the optimum partner for the German capital city, which is increasingly developing innovative solutions and winning the recognition of the broad public', said Daniel Wall, the Board Chairman of Wall AG, when the award was handed over.

The label 'Barrier-free Berlin' identifies facilities that can also be used by persons with various disabilities. The label is awarded when a list of criteria is met that has been jointly developed by representatives of business, tourism, retail, science and disabled organisations. The purpose of the highly visible label is not only to inform people with disabilities about barrier-free facilities. It is also meant to document the results achieved by Berlin on the road to the barrier-free capital. A total of 200 labels have been awarded do far.

Key-Facts for the Wall-Group:

• International street furniture and outdoor advertising company in six countries and more than 50 metropolises and big cities, i.a. in Berlin, Boston, Budapest, Düsseldorf, Istanbul and Sofia



• Innovative street furniture with top quality design,
  26 different design lines



• Tailor-made solutions
  created by our own research and development centre



• Premium quality level through own production, maintenance and cleaning service



• Intelligent outdoor advertising on 52,000 highly attractive poster locations and in 3,400 transport vehicles, such as trams, buses, underground trains and trucks



• High marketing competence through national and international sales teams in 10 sales offices



• National marketing portfolio in Germany: 26 major cities, AirportNet, ShoppingNet, Leipzig Central Station, Berlinale film festival, bluespot, RollAd on highways and transport media in Berlin incl. all underground stations



• Medium-sized company run by the family as majority owner, sales in 2007: € 152.4 mill., employees: 653

Wall AG
Beate Stoffers
Press Officer

phone: 030-33899-381
fax: 030-33899-168
mobile: 0170 781 53 06
e-mail: presse@wall.de