Evaluated by a jury of excellence composed of more than 50 international design experts
Red Dot Design Award, the world’s most prestigious design competition, organized by Design Zentrum Nordrhein Westfalen (Germany), distinguished Efacec with two awards in the Product Design 2021 category for its aesthetic richness, design impact, advanced digital functionalities and contribution to reducing the carbon footprint.
XBarrier100, the barrier mechanism for protecting level crossings, and the Modular Transformer (Modular Systems), the first to benefit from Efacec’s modular technology, were the products awarded in the Industrial Equipment, Machinery and Automation subcategory and reinforce the company’s commitment to excellence, placing Portugal on the route of the best design in the world.
The XBarrier100 solution represents an innovative approach in the field of critical railway safety systems, through a level crossing barrier mechanism that is simultaneously functional, safe and aesthetically stimulating. XBarrier100 has already been installed by Efacec in the Swedish railroads and is in use in the most demanding market in the world, by the Swedish Railway Infrastructure. The Modular Transformer (Modular Systems), presented to the market in 2020, allows the same equipment to receive new features at the pace of customer needs and combines technology with design, maintaining the same “look & feel” for the various applications, without compromising performance or overall architecture.
According to the jury’s evaluation, the Modular Transformer “convinces by its sophisticated and aesthetically appealing application of a complex concept” and the XBarrier100 is characterized “by its simple functionality and stands out above all for its reliability and contemporary appearance”.
For Ângelo Ramalho, Chairman and CEO of Efacec, “an achievement that leaves us very honored and certain that we are on the right track. These awards are the recognition of the talent of a vast team that worked hard on the two products, creating solutions that will mark the history of Efacec”.
For Sandra Pombo, Brand and Communication Director and Corporate Affairs Officer at Efacec, “These awards are the recognition of the company’s strategic bet on design combined with technological innovation through the launch of products that are born from the expertise and talent of the Efacec team. With over 70 years of history and permanent focus on innovation, this is the first time that Efacec applies for the Red Dot Design Award, winning two awards immediately. These demonstrate that the industry does not have to be gray and can (is) be very sexy. Efacec, through these two distinctions, proves that.”
“The winners of the Red Dot Design Award: Product Design 2021 were particularly impressive this year. The design of their products is excellent, both in terms of aesthetics and functionality. It is not easy to prevail in such a strong field of competitors and win over our jury. Consequently, I want to congratulate the winners most sincerely on their success,” said Professor Dr. Peter Zec, founder and CEO of the Red Dot Design Award.
The Red Dot Design Award: Product Design dates back to 1955 and recognizes the best products for a given year. The 50 or so jurors were once again true to the motto “In search of good design and innovation” in the 2021 competition. The international panel of experts is made up of specialists from a wide variety of sectors. They evaluated the products entered in the competition in a process spanning several days and were guided by evaluation criteria such as formal product quality, ergonomics and longevity.
XBarrier100 and the Modular Transformer (Modular Systems) are available in the online exhibition on the Red Dot Design Award website and are also included in the “Design on Stage” exhibition at the Red Dot Design Museum Essen, where all the award-winning products are displayed. Visitors to the museum can experience the quality of design in a space that features contemporary design solutions and historic industrial architecture. The Red Dot Design Yearbook 2021/2022 is published in August and provides a comprehensive overview of the state of the art and trends in product design.
X Barrier100: https://www.red-dot.org/project/xbarrier-100-51516
TRF Modular: https://www.red-dot.org/project/transformer-core-40-mva-51520
About Efacec
With presence in the Energy, Mobility and Environment value chain, Efacec operates as a supplier of solutions and integrated EPC (Engineering, Procurement and Construction) systems and O&M (Operations & Maintenance) services partner. Efacec is present in strategic markets such as Europe, the United States, Latin America, Asia, the Middle East, the Maghreb and Sub-Saharan Africa.
Website: https://www.efacec.pt
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/efacec
About the Red Dot Design Award
In order to assess diversity in the design field in a professional way, the Red Dot Design Award is divided into the three disciplines of the Red Dot Design Award: Product Design, Red Dot Award: Brands & Communication Design and Red Dot Award: Design Concept. With more than 18,000 entries, the Red Dot Award is one of the largest design competitions in the world. In 1955, a jury met for the first time to evaluate the best designs of the day. In the 1990s, Red Dot CEO Dr. Peter Zec developed the name and branding for the award. Since then, the coveted “Red Dot” distinction has been the revered international hallmark of outstanding design quality. Award winners are featured in yearbooks, museums, and online. More information is available at www.red-dot.de.
