An Award for a Station with an Innovative Design
The X-Smart automation module, created and patented by AMX Automatrix, won the prestigious Red Dot Award for the high quality of its design, specifically curated by Andrea Gallina and Alessandro Lolli. The machine, which is the result of a totally made-in-Italy project, is a highly customizable, ergonomic, modular semi-automatic assembly and testing station, equipped with a user-friendly software interface.
by Sergio Soriano
The Red Dot Award is an international award that dates back to 1955 and decides the best products created each year. In 2018, designers and producers from 59 countries presented more than 6,300 objects to the competition and a panel of about 40 members assessed the products individually. The rigorous evaluation criteria include level of innovation, functionality, formal quality, ergonomics and life span, and provide a frame of reference that the jurors complete with their own skills. The jury of the “Red Dot Award: Product Design”, one of the three disciplines in which the prize is divided, awarded the X-Smart automation module, designed by Andrea Gallina (industrial designer, Design Ag) and Alessandro Lolli (project creative director, software interface designer, Madvision) for the company AMX Automatrix from Gavardo (BS).
Semi-automatic station for assembly and testing
X-Smart is a patented modular station equipped with a measuring system used for quality control on the part dimensions. An adjustable tool allows the robot to dispense the glue on the part and handle the components. In general, X-Smart configurations are unlimited and customized to customer requests. The stand-alone modular station can be connected to other stations, in order to form an entire assembly line, or to an existing line, in order to increase or update the production process. X-Smart can be supplied in three different configurations: automatic; semi-automatic, which then allows an operator to access the various operations; or equipped with LwR technology.
From hardware to software user-friendly and intuitive design
After an accurate analysis, besides the formal aspect of the casing, the designers acted on ergonomic and anthropometric factors, making the machine “user friendly”. The operating area has been designed to be intuitive, safe and pleasant, in order to have a comfortable and productive work environment. The machine can have different configurations: this flexibility optimizes the production processes and makes it possible to have customized solutions, maximum safety conditions and a better connection between human, space and production. Aim of the aesthetic development was to create a recognizable design for the AMX brand.
X-Smart is equipped with the new software interface, installed on all AMX modules, designed with an innovative approach for the industrial sector. Usability, graphic design and colors are inspired by those that we find daily on our personal devices. The icons, typical of industrial software, have been redesigned with a modern and fresh style, while preserving their traditional recognizability. With this new interface, the operator can work in a more intuitive, familiar and therefore more comfortable operating environment, thus meeting the requirements of Industry 4.0.