Toyota Industries Wins German Design Award Special Mention

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GENEO

Toyota Industries Corporation (President: Akira Onishi) received a German Design Award 2015 Special Mention for its new GENEO(8 Series/Tonero in some markets outside Japan) internal combustion lift truck with capacities from 3.5 tons to 8.0 tons, which was launched in July 2014 in Japan. The GENEO is the first lift truck to receive this award.

The German Design Award is an international premium prize. Only products that are recommended by members of the screening committee or that previously won an international design award are eligible for nomination. Since winners are selected from among this group, being nominated itself is an honor. This year, the GENEO was selected for the Special Mention from among 2,250 nominated products from around the world.

The award-winning GENEO internal combustion lift truck achieves the world's top-level fuel efficiency and performance in emissions by adopting a new electronically controlled clean engine. Diesel vehicles do not use DPFs* and comply with emission standards in each country.
Ergonomic designs that take into consideration worker health, safety, comfort, and fatigue reduction are deeply ingrained in Europe, the birthplace of ergonomics, and there is strong demand for ergonomic designs in industrial vehicles as well. It is likely that the GENEO won the Special Mention award based in part on positive assessment of the design, which reduces operator stress and enhances safety and operability through improvements adopted from an ergonomic perspective.

Product features and an outline of the German Design Award are provided below.
* Diesel particulate filter

1.Product features

1) The world's top-level fuel efficiency and performance in emissions achieved by adopting a new electronically controlled clean engine.
2) Diesel vehicles comply with the latest emissions standards of each country without using DPFs.
3) Vehicles create an easy to use and low-fatigue work environment for operators by establishing ample legroom and adopting low steps, a small-diameter steering wheel, and other innovations based on ergonomic designs.
4) Based on the design concept “Stable but Powerful,” an energetic and functional design with the power and efficiency of a large vehicle was created.
5) Fuel efficiency* of 1.5 ton to compact 3.5 ton capacity diesel vehicles was improved by up to 25% compared to earlier models.
6) Fuel efficiency* of 3.5 ton to 8.0 ton capacity diesel vehicles was improved by up to 30% compared to earlier models.
7) Fuel efficiency* of 3.5 ton to 5.0 ton capacity LPG/gasoline vehicles was improved by up to 20% compared to earlier models.

* Fuel consumption volume (liter/hour), VDI 60 second measurement (results may vary depending on customer operating conditions)

Design sketch
Concept visualization

2.Outline of the German Design Award (supplemental information)

Only products recommended by members of the screening committee or that previously won an international design award are eligible. There are 20 categories including architecture, interior design, transport equipment, printed materials, and digital media. Overall product value including ergonomics, safety, and consideration for the environment is assessed. Toyota Industries Corporation previously won an award in 2013 for its AGV container transport system. This is the first time it has won a special mention award.

Reference: Official site of the German Design Award
http://www.german-design-council.de/nc/en/design-awards/german-design-award.html