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Amo Armpúði fyrir lyftara by Zhenghai Shang and Jing Zhao

Amo Armpúði fyrir lyftara by Zhenghai Shang and Jing Zhao is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2026 A' Design Award í silfri in Hönnun ökutækjahluta, bílaukahluta og umhirðuvara Competition Category.


SilfurÖkutækjaaukahlutur· 2026

Amo Armpúði fyrir lyftara

by Zhenghai Shang and Jing Zhao

Client: Heli Forschungs- und Entwicklungszentrum Europe GmbH

A' Design Award í silfri Winner in Ökutækjaaukahlutur Category

Colors

The Design

About Amo Armpúði fyrir lyftara

Amo er fjölnota armpúði hannaður fyrir stýrishús lyftara. Armpúðinn safnar stjórnhnöppum saman á þjöppuðu svæði, þannig að stjórnandinn getur framkvæmt tíðar aðgerðir með litlum hreyfingum fingra og úlnliðs í stað stórra armhreyfinga. Bogadregna yfirborðið styður framhandlegginn og fylgir lögun handarinnar. Útskiptanleg stjórneining að framan getur verið skipt út á fljótlegan hátt til að passa við mismunandi venjur ökumanna, sem fækkar þeim gerðum armpúða sem þörf er á. Amo er framleiddur úr einingaskiptum sprautumótuðum hlutum með stöðluðum tengiflötum.

The Recognition

About the A' Design Award í silfri

Amo Armpúði fyrir lyftara vann A' Design Award í silfri, gífurlega virta viðurkenningu sem veitt er hönnunarverkum í fremstu röð, stórfallegum og áhrifamiklum. Sigurvegarar í silfri eru ákaflega snjöll og afar skapandi verk sem sýna framúrskarandi sérfræðiþekkingu, hæfileika og skarpskyggni hönnuða sinna. Þess er vænst að Amo Armpúði fyrir lyftara sé dásamlegt sýningarverk sem er einstaklega fagmannlegt og djúpt nýstárlegt. Þetta hönnunarverk sem vann A' Design Award í silfri er mjög athyglisverð, dáð uppfinning sem gagnast og færir mörk listar, vísinda, hönnunar og tækni fram á við. Amo Armpúði fyrir lyftara er mjög öfunduð sköpun sem vekur langanir, færir jákvæðar tilfinningar og kveikir undrun og aðdáun.

Behind the Design

Press Kit

Credits, team members and technical details provided by the designer.

Unique Properties
Heli Forklift cab intelligent control system redefines forklift operation by enhancing comfort and efficiency. Its replaceable front control module adapts easily to regional forklift driver’s habits, reducing development costs. The ergonomic curved form fits the hand naturally, improving long-term comfort. Integrated control buttons allow operators to perform multiple actions with minimal movement, boosting efficiency and safety through human-centered, modular design.
Dimensions & Packaging
Fingertip model: 545mmx178mmx175mm
Tags
folklift operation; armrest; modular; ergonomics
Production Technology
The armrest is produced using modular injection-molded components, achieving precise ergonomic contours and integrated button layouts. The replaceable front module uses durable, lightweight materials to adapt to different driver habits. Advanced assembly processes and standardized interfaces enable efficient mass production, reduce material waste, and ensure a high-quality, sustainable industrial design solution.
Design Challenge
The main challenge was balancing standardization with individual adaptability. Forklift operators have significantly different control habits, yet the design needed to reduce product variation and manufacturing complexity. Integrating diverse interaction preferences into a single ergonomic interface, while maintaining intuitive use, precision, and durability, required extensive iteration. Developing a modular system that allows flexible control configurations without compromising structural integrity or usability was the most critical and complex aspect of the project.
Research
This project is based on ergonomic studies, field observations, and user interviews with forklift operators. Motion analysis revealed excessive arm travel and repetitive strain in traditional lever systems, while user research highlighted diverse control preferences. Findings informed an integrated control layout and modular front-end system, reducing movement, improving comfort, and enabling adaptable interaction within a single platform.
Inspiration
Amo was inspired by fatigue caused by traditional forklift armrests in long working hours. Valve-lever controls require large repetitive arm movements, leading to physical strain. Meanwhile, diverse driver habits force manufacturers to produce multiple armrest types, wasting resources. Through an ergonomic form with integrated controls and a replaceable front module, AMO adapts to different users while improving comfort, efficiency, and sustainability.
Project Duration
The project started in April 2025 in Germany and will achieve mass production in May 2026 in China.
Operation Flow
The armrest enables an intuitive rest-to-control workflow. The driver places the forearm on the ergonomic surface, with all key functions accessible within a compact control zone. High-frequency operations are executed through minimal finger and wrist movements, reducing arm fatigue. Controls are logically arranged and tactically differentiated for fast, distraction-free use. A replaceable front module allows quick switching between control types to match user preferences. This unified platform improves comfort, efficiency, and adaptability while minimizing resource redundancy.
Patents
Heli Forschungs- und Entwicklungszentrum Europe GmbH
Team Members
Zhenghai Shang, Jing Zhao, Ping Wang, Yingchun Bai, Wei Li, Jie Wang, Yang Meng, Chao Hu, Jianxiong Jia, jiong Ye, Xuemin Zhang
Image Credits
Heli Forschungs- und Entwicklungszentrum Europe GmbH

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