Digital automation system hardware wins award.

iF International Forum Design, based in Hanover, (D), has recognised Emerson’s DeltaV™ digital automation system S-series hardware for outstanding product design. The iF product design award has served as an internationally recognised trademark for outstanding design for 56 years. The award was presented in Hanover, as part of CeBIT, the world's largest digital IT and telecommunications solutions trade fair.

The evaluation criteria for the iF product design award includes design quality, workmanship, choice of materials, degree of innovation, environmental friendliness, functionality, ergonomics, visualisation of use, safety, brand value, branding and universal design.

“We evaluated how automation engineers interacted with automation system hardware across many industries and global locations and found many ways current practices could be significantly improved,” said Peter Zornio, chief strategic officer at Emerson. “We worked with M3 Design to tap their considerable experience and expertise in human-focused product development to overcome the issues with the current generation of automation hardware. Together we have significantly improved our DeltaV hardware design to eliminate steps and reduce project complexity, and make it easier to install, use, and maintain.”

“We worked with the Emerson team to take a human centred design approach, focused on usability,” said Paul Noble-Campbell, Director of Industrial Design at Austin, Texas-based M3 Design. “It is great to see our contribution to the S-series recognised as being truly innovative by the iF International Forum Design group.” The M3 Design effort included packaging for the new CHARMS (Characterisation Modules) that make up the electronic marshalling technology in the new S-series hardware, the CHARM I/O card, and the I/O card carrier. The innovative packaging included a design to efficiently remove heat from the electronics and at the same time exclude unwanted items such as termination screws.

The text of the award reads, “Several innovative features create dramatic savings to installation costs, such as characterisation modules that reduce cable complexity by a factor of several times. These systems ensure the safe and efficient operation of production processes; creating large savings in the consumption of energy and other precious resources. All touch points and status indicators were designed to ensure that the products are intuitive and easy to service. The new design language showcases the functional improvements in communicating the attributes of reliability, simplicity and ease of use; and positions Emerson as a market leader.”

See also our article CHARMS gets THUMS up in Rijswijk on the introduction of this product in Europe!