Wacker Neuson Presented with Design Awards

Martin Anders, product development Radlader Kramer-Werke GmbH, Martin Eppinger, managing director Kramer-Werke GmbH and Gert Reichetseder, managing director Wacker Neuson Linz GmbH at the award ceremony Universal Design Awards 2013 on February 23 in Munich.

2013年04月15日，星期一
Two iF Product Design Awards 2013 and three Universal Design Awards 2013 go to Wacker Neuson compact equipment. Wacker Neuson is known for its unique production design. The manufacturer of construction machinery and compact equipment has already been awarded with two renowned design prizes in 2013. This affirms the performance of the Wacker Neuson design team.

“In order to attain a balance between functionality, customer demands and a particular design, we have to prioritize”, says Martin Lehner, Chief Technology Officer for Wacker Neuson SE. “Functionality is our focus and it’s supported by design.”

Successfully done, as the current awards show: The design of the Wacker Neuson compact excavator ET20 and the Kramer Allrad wheel loader have both been distinguished with an iF Product Design Award 2013 in the category Special Vehicles and a Universal Design Award. The crawler-mounted excavator DT12 received the Universal Design Award 2013.

“What makes a product beautiful? In my opinion, beauty is often achieved when the user finds everything intuitive and straightforward,” says product design Gerald Krenn, responsible for the design of compact equipment at Wacker Neuson since 2004. “We want to give the equipment a face and highlight its character, for instance its power or loading capacity.”

The Winner
The design of the compact wheel loader 650 is characterized by its distinctive alignment—the hood’s contour continues through the cab. The voluminous mudguards lend the wheel loader a robust appearance. This is also true of the machine’s prominent stern, which is dominated by a V-shaped radiator grill. Massive cast iron bumpers along the rear edge protect from damage. An example of the perfect combination of design and functionality: In order to achieve a maximum incline, the bumpers are set high on the corners without revealing the mounting screws.

The DT12 crawler-mounted dumper with rubber track travelling mechanism is a maneuverable, all-terrain transport helper, even when operating in cramped spaces. The dumper’s design looks very tidy and professional as a result of its full trim (otherwise non-standard in this category of machinery). When opened, the one-piece hood leaves the entire engine space free—even here design and function harmonize together.

The ET20 compact excavator is characterized by very compact overall dimensions with maximum cab comfort. A low, wide access and generous space in the interior both ease working with the machine. The ET20 presents itself with its very independent character: Cab frame and chassis form a kind of peppy exoskeleton that protect against damage and that show off well-structured surfaces and robustness. Even here the machine’s design supports its functionality: The hood opens wide and leaves a generous amount of space for maintenance purposes.

For 60 years the iF Product Design Award has been a recognized trademark for excellent design. The iF label has established itself internationally as a symbol for outstanding design performance. The Universal Design Award is an international competition that has been awarded once a year since 2008. All entries submitted are tested by an expert jury and a user jury that examine scope and flexibility of use, simple and intuitive service, safety and error tolerance, inter-culturality and cost-effectiveness.