Ferromatik Milacron injection molding machines will take home iF product design award 2014

Out of an international field of 3,249 entries, distributed across 17 categories, the design of the F-Series and ELEKTRON injection molding machines won out in the industry/skilled trades category. The criteria for selecting the winner included innovation, environmental impact, functionality and brand-value.

Jury chairman Prof. Fritz Frenkler of f/p design GmbH said that he was impressed by the consistent high quality of the entries, the passion for innovation and the courage of some manufacturers to pursue their own design approaches, noting that "whoever has the courage to step outside of the box gains advantages and is rewarded with visibility." Product optimization and the courage to stand out with design are topics that will remain important in the near future, as well, according to the jury of the iF design awards.

Based in the German town of Malterdingen, Ferromatik developed the visual concept for its new machines three years ago in collaboration with defortec, a leading industrial design house in Germany. The new look is characterized by striking red fins on the clamping and injection units that communicate dynamics and performance, says Ferromatik, while a bold horizontal gray band underscores the engineering expertise of the company.

"The new design creates strong brand recognition for our products and has contributed to the renewal of our image and a new phase of growth for the company," said Thorsten Thümen, director of research and development.

Over the course of the past three years, tradeshow appearances and the company's corporate identity have been brought in line with the new machine design. "This brand refresh is having a positive impact on our bottom line: we're seeing a strong uptick in interest in our products," said managing director Gerold Schley.

The iF product design award ceremony will take place at the BMW Welt in Munich on February 28, 2014.