Amo Te Taunga Ringa mō te Waka Hiki Uta by Zhenghai Shang and Jing Zhao

Amo Te Taunga Ringa mō te Waka Hiki Uta by Zhenghai Shang and Jing Zhao is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2026 A' Design Award Hiriwa in Hoahoa Wāhanga Waka, Āparetanga Motokā me ngā Hua Tiaki Competition Category.

HiriwaĀparetanga Waka· 2026

Amo Te Taunga Ringa mō te Waka Hiki Uta

by Zhenghai Shang and Jing Zhao

Client: Heli Forschungs- und Entwicklungszentrum Europe GmbH

A' Design Award Hiriwa Winner in Āparetanga Waka Category

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Verified Award Winner
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View at A' Design Award Press Release Award Badge

Colors

The Design

About Amo Te Taunga Ringa mō te Waka Hiki Uta

Ko Amo he taunga ringa mahi-maha i hoahoatia mō ngā tūru taraiwa o te waka hiki uta. Ka whakakao te taunga ringa i ngā pātene whakahaere ki roto i tētahi rohe kūiti, kia āhei ai te kaiwhakahaere ki te mahi i ngā mahi auau mā ngā nekehanga iti o ngā matimati me te kawititanga ringa, kaua mā ngā nekehanga nui o te ringa katoa. Ka tautoko te mata kōpiko i te ringa tuke, ā, ka whai i te āhua o te ringa. Ka taea te whakawhiti tere i tētahi kōwae whakahaere o mua e taea ana te whakakapi, kia hāngai ai ki ngā ritenga rerekē o ia taraiwa, mā reira ka whakaitihia te maha o ngā momo taunga ringa e hiahiatia ana. Ka hangaia a Amo mai i ngā wāhanga kōwae i whakarewaina ā-panoni, me ngā atanga kua whakaritea ā-paerewa.

The Recognition

About the A' Design Award Hiriwa

Ko Amo Te Taunga Ringa mō te Waka Hiki Uta te toa o te A' Design Award Hiriwa, he whakaaetanga tino whai mana e hoatu ana ki ngā hoahoa taumata teitei rawa, ātaahua me te whakamīharo. Ko ngā toa Hiriwa he mahi tino kanapa, tino auaha e whakaatu ana i te mātanga, te pūmanawa me te mōhio hōhonu o ā rātou kaihoahoa. E tūmanakohia ana ko Amo Te Taunga Ringa mō te Waka Hiki Uta he mahi whakamīharo, he tauira, he tino ngaio, he auaha hōhonu. Ko tēnei hoahoa i toa i te Hiriwa he hanganga rongonui, whakamīharotia e whai wāhi ana ki te whakawhānui i ngā rohe o te toi, te pūtaiao, te hoahoa me te hangarau. Ko Amo Te Taunga Ringa mō te Waka Hiki Uta he mahi e hae ana te tini, e whakaara ana i ngā hiahia, e kawe mai ana i ngā kare-ā-roto pai, ā, e whakaoho ana i te mīharo.

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