You are using Internet Explorer and will not be able to use our website properly. Please change to an up-to-date browser for ideal presentation of the website.
Special Mention for KUKA friction welding machine at German Design Award 2023
The international team of experts at the German Design Award has made its decision: The newly developed rotary friction welding machine KUKA Invictus 150 convinces with its shape and color design as well as sustainability.
7 February 2023
The KUKA Invictus 150 rotary friction welding machine received the Special Mention 2023 award at the German Design Award in the category "Excellent Product Design - Industry". The fact that the shape and color design of the Invictus 150 appears powerful and elegant at the same time convinced the international jury, as did its sustainability.
Happy about the German Design Award 2023 (from left to right): Otmar Fischer (KUKA), Till Maier (KUKA) and Michael Grewer (Grewer Industriedesign).
“Invictus combines the best of friction welding machines from the KUKA and Thompson product brands and stands as a new product family for dynamism, precision and long service life,” emphasized Till Maier, Portfolio Manager and Project Manager Advanced Welding Solutions at KUKA. He expressed delight that the newly developed Invictus 150 had received a Special Mention in the internationally renowned competition with around 4,500 entries. At the award ceremony in Frankfurt am Main, Maier also thanked Otmar Fischer, Project Manager Design Mechanics at KUKA, and Michael Grewer of Grewer Industriedesign for the well thought out, appealing design of the KUKA friction welding machine.
Elegant, practical, economical: The advantages of the Invictus 150
The KUKA Invictus 150 takes design features of existing product families and develops them further in an exciting way. Its shape and color design create a powerful yet elegant impression. Graphic, striking status lights further support this effect and emphasize the workspace. However, the Invictus 150 not only scores visually but is also extremely practical: due to its compact design the machine is easy to transport by truck and crane and can be put into operation quickly.
The ergonomic touch panel allows for an easy operation.
Proven performance
The sustainability and cost-effectiveness of the machine also impressed the 36 jury members from all over the world. The Invictus 150 contains particularly durable components and covers the performance range of up to six friction welding machine models. It is designed for a forge force from 77 to 1500 kN.
The first Invictus 150 could go into production at a major axle manufacturer in Germany as early as 2021, successfully demonstrating its performance capabilities.
What makes the German Design Award so popular
The German Design Award, which has been presented annually by the German Design Council since 2012, is one of the most prestigious design awards in the world and enjoys a high reputation far beyond expert circles.
The jury sets the highest standards in terms of selecting the winners: in a unique nomination process, many companies whose products and communication design services demonstrably exhibit design excellence are invited to participate. Gold, Winner and Special Mention awards are presented in various award categories. The Special Mention distinction pays tribute to consistent design conception and implementation – the award winners receive it as a mark of excellence for innovative design based on quality. The products, concepts and implementations honored at the German Design Award are presented each year in a special exhibition at the Museum Angewandte Kunst in Frankfurt am Main; the next one is running run from February 4 to 19, 2023.
