The Red Dot jury has made its decision: As part of a multi-day evaluation process, the jury awarded the SMART Safety Sensor SRF the "Red Dot" award. The panel of experts awards the internationally recognised seal of quality only to products that win them over with their high design quality. In 2018, designers and manufacturers from 59 countries submitted more than 6,300 objects to the competition. BERNSTEIN AG from Porta Westfalica was able to defend its competitors with its non-contact safety sensor SRF.
Developed for use in Industry 4.0, the SRF (Safety RFID) monitors moveable separating protective equipment such as flaps or doors of movable guards.
This, especially compact sensor, protects employees from injury by shutting down or prevent the start of the machine when the separating safety device is not properly closed. In developing this new product, BERNSTEIN has paid particular attention to the diagnostic system DCD. The system provides a large amount of data, making it available centrally and flexibly as an aid to intelligent production. Diagnostic data is fed into the machine control system via I/O Link or alternatively displayed on a smart phone by way of NFC technology. Data collected in this manner can be used for cost-effective predictive maintenance based on early fault detection.
Evaluation platform for good design
The Red Dot Award: Product Design has roots dating back as far as 1955 and determines the best products created each year. True to the motto “In search of good design and innovation”, a jury comprising roughly 40 members assessed the products individually. The strict judging criteria, which include level of innovation, functionality, formal quality, ergonomics and durability, provide a frame of reference which the jurors then complement with their own expertise.
“I want to congratulate the award winners sincerely on their wonderful success in the Red Dot Award: Product Design 2018. Success in the competition is proof of the good design quality of the products and once again shows that companies are on the right path. When I speak about good design, I am referring to more than just an attractive product. All of the products are characterised by outstanding functionality. This demonstrates that the designers have understood their clients and their needs”, said Professor Dr. Peter Zec, founder and CEO of the Red Dot Award.
Celebration to honour the laureates
The winners will be celebrated at the Red Dot Gala on 9 July 2018. The Red Dot: Best of the Best laureates will receive their well-deserved trophies on stage at Essen’s opera house, the Aalto-Theatre, during the award ceremony. At the subsequent Designers’ Night in the Red Dot Design Museum Essen, the Red Dot laureates receive their certificates and can all celebrate their success together in the midst of the award-winning products, as the after-show party is simultaneously the exhibition launch: For a four-week period, the special exhibition “Design on Stage – Winners Red Dot Award: Product Design 2018” will feature the award-winning innovations as part of the world’s largest exhibition of contemporary design.
