Excellence in Engineering

The bigger, the better? That's not necessarily true. But when it comes to construction machines for industry, the trend toward larger designs is evident. However, that's not the only sign of excellence. Thanks to technological advances such as artificial intelligence and automation, industrial tools and vehicles are being equipped with powerful new functions and capabilities.

The design and colors of large equipment often reflect their function in different industries: Bright red designs signal use in the fire department or construction. Green is often used in agriculture. However, they all have a modern and futuristic look, thanks to their sleek design that focuses on the essentials.

In the construction industry, sustainability plays an important role. Forward-thinking designers are paying attention to the current debate and are focusing more and more on eco-friendly creations. Be it in the development of emission-free vehicles or in the use of better materials for the environment and, above all, durable – especially in tough outdoor use in all weathers.

Among this year's groundbreaking iF award-winning products are many in the Industry / Tools category that focus on creating the greatest of the greatest machines in contemporary product design. Often dubbed "the world's first" or "first of its kind", the designs reflect the pioneering spirit in the field of construction machinery. Product designers constantly face challenges that are not present in smaller consumer items. The ultimate goal is to have both the design awareness and the technical understanding of what is needed in the construction industry to produce the best possible product.

A good example is the iF gold award-winning concept for the "CONCEPT-X" excavator: this futuristic construction machine works unmanned and instead takes on tasks that would be dangerous for humans on a construction site in cooperation with drones. "Valtra G135" is another impressive machine that is not only called "the best municipal tractor in the world", but is now also the first tractor in the world powered by 100% renewable energy. The "ZIEGLER / ALPAS Superstructure" is, as the name suggests, a forward-looking design of a fire truck, with less weight but more volume for maximum modularity thanks to the latest generation of ALPAS.

When we take a closer look at specific work processes and functions, many of the iF awarded designs present exciting solutions with cutting-edge technology which put routine, safety and production rates on an advanced level. Take, for example, the modular soldering system "PINK VADU series" in which features can be integrated easily allowing tailor-made solutions for customers. And the iF gold award-winning milling machine "Axia" represents a pure box-in-box concept combining an innovative ram droop mechanical system with a unique ram guiding system.

All this shows that the designers do not stop striving for higher. On the contrary, they are designing better machines with more and more diverse functions, making them perfectly ready for the future.

Short interview with
Maike Budde

CEO of Budde Industrie Design GmbH in Münster (Germany),
designer and iF Juror