KONECRANES AWARDED IN RED DOT, ONE OF THE MOST INTERNATIONALLY ACCLAIMED DESIGN COMPETITIONS
Konecranes has been awarded the “red dot award: product design 2013”. The award was given for the design quality of Konecranes’ multibranded electric chain hoist series launched in 2012. The “red dot award” is an international design award created by Design Zentrum Nordrhein Westfalen in Germany. The prize, the “red dot” has established itself worldwide as one of the most sought-after quality marks for excellent design.
The branding and technology platform of the winning product series is based on Konecranes’ dual channel strategy where products are sold both directly to end-users and to independent crane-builders. The winning product series is also based on extensive design research and user experience.
“We are very honored and proud to have received this award for our latest innovative design. Design and innovation are Konecranes’ focus areas,” says Johannes Tarkiainen, Industrial Design Manager at Konecranes. “Research work for this product series started already in 2008 and has focused strongly on ergonomics and user interface. Therefore users have been involved during the whole design process.”
The red dot design award dates back to 1955. This year 4,662 entries in 19 different categories from 54 countries participated in the competition. Only the best designs were able to win the enthusiasm of the jury, which is how Konecranes’ chain hoist series received the red dot for its successful design creation.
Prof. Dr. Peter Zec, initiator and CEO of the red dot, has pointed out that strong design competence and economic success nowadays go hand in hand: “The winners of the ‘red dot award: product design 2013’ are the protagonists of a highly developed design culture and design industry. These days it is becoming more and more difficult to distinguish between well-designed products. It is often only in the details that the special qualities become apparent. However, those product creations that pass the test before the critical eyes of the international red dot jury will not disappear into the crowd and will be able to fend off global competition.”
The technology platform of Konecranes’ new chain hoist series is modular and scalable, according to market needs and business targets. The platform includes identities for the Konecranes brand and its power brands Verlinde, SWF, R&M, and STAHL CraneSystems.
The new chain hoist series is designed for a longer lifecycle in demanding industrial environment. The robust aluminum casing gives the product a rugged body and it can easily be opened for maintenance work. Furthermore, the new materials and colors of the product create a consistent appearance for the whole product range, brand by brand.
Further information:
Mikael Wegmüller, Vice President, Marketing and Communications
E-mail: mikael.wegmuller@konecranes.com or phone +358 20 427 2008
Johannes Tarkiainen, Industrial Design Manager
E-mail: Johannes.tarkiainen@konecranes.com or phone +358 20 427 2128
This press release with downloadable photo is available on our website www.konecranes.com.
Konecranes is a world-leading group of Lifting Businesses™, serving a broad range of customers, including manufacturing and process industries, shipyards, ports and terminals. Konecranes provides productivity-enhancing lifting solutions as well as services for lifting equipment and machine tools of all makes. In 2012, Group sales totaled EUR 2,170 million. The Group has 12,100 employees at 626 locations in 48 countries. Konecranes is listed on the NASDAQ OMX Helsinki (symbol: KCR1V).
