Press releases
published 19.09.2007 15:58
Planmeca’s new dental unit and X-ray unit awarded for their design
The Finnish dental equipment manufacturer Planmeca received two design awards in the iF design competition in China this autumn. Planmeca Sovereign dental care unit won a TOP Selection award and was among the top ten entries within the competition. The fully digital Planmeca ProOne X-ray unit received a honourable mention, the iF seal. Both products were launched in March 2007.
The iF design award china, now presented for the fifth time, is dedicated to support industrial design within the fast-growing Asian-Pacific region. This year a total of 401 products from ten different nations were submitted for the competition, of which 147 products received the iF seal of design excellence. Out of these, the jury of independent design experts from Europe and China also chose the top ten products to receive a TOP Selection award.
The top ten selected Planmeca Sovereign dental unit was commended for its revolutionary design concept. The concept is unique in that the unit, chair, and cuspidor come with motorised and computer-controlled swivel movements, adapting the unit to all possible working environments and user and patient needs. All unit functions are symmetrical, which allows a motorised conversion from right-handed to left-handed use. The design includes a wireless foot control and an intelligent graphical user interface with customised settings and parameters.
Another Planmeca novelty, the fully digital, all-round dental X-ray unit Planmeca ProOne was awarded the iF seal. Designed with simplicity in mind, the Planmeca ProOne provides absolute ease of use with state-of-the-art technology and extensive diagnostic capabilities. The small-sized Planmeca ProOne brings the benefits of digital imaging within the reach of every dentist.
The competing products were judged in ten different product categories, of which the Communication & Entertainment, Leisure & Lifestyle, and Household & Living received the most entries. Only fully functional products were judged, and the evaluation consisted of criteria such as design quality, workmanship, degree of innovation, environmental friendliness, and ergonomics.
The competition is organised by the German organisation iF International Forum Design, which is best known for the annual iF product design award. Presented since 1954, the award is regarded as one of the world’s most important design competitions, and it attracted over 2,200 entries from 35 different nations last year. The iF design award china aims at promoting awareness of the significance of design in Asian markets. This year’s award ceremony took place on September 14, and all award winners are displayed in a month-long exhibition at the centre of Shanghai.
For further information, please contact
Mrs Heidi Spännäri, Corporate Communications Manager
Tel. +358 20 7795 580
heidi.spannari@planmeca.com
Planmeca Oy
Planmeca Oy, established in 1971, designs and manufactures a full line of high technology dental equipment, including dental care units, panoramic and intraoral X-ray units, and digital imaging products. Planmeca Oy, the parent company of the Finnish Planmeca Group, is strongly committed to R&D. Planmeca is the largest privately held company in the field and the third largest dental equipment manufacturer in Europe.
98% of Planmeca’s production is exported to over 100 countries. The company is well established on the US market and has considerable market shares in many European countries. The market share in Asia is also growing favourably. The Group estimated turnover for the year 2007 is approximately EUR 520 million with over 2,000 employees.
www.planmeca.com
iF International Forum Design GmbH
www.ifdesign.de
