Toyota’s Traigo80 electric forklift has been announced as the winner of the outstanding design quality award at German Design Awards.
Operator visibility was a driving force in the design of the premium, heavy-duty electric forklift, according to Toyota Material Handling’s industrial designer, Tomas Jankauskas.
“The truck’s clear-cut design is characterized by strength, durability and simplicity,” Jankauskas said. “The well laid-out dashboard is designed around the driver, allowing him/her to work intuitively while experiencing low vibrations and noise thanks to the full floating driver’s compartment.
“The entire forklift has been designed with visibility in mind, so that drivers can see the dimensions from every angle.
“I believe if the truck looks right, it will perform right too, and vice versa. It’s a bit like form evolution in nature: only the best survive.
“We also use this in our design process, by eliminating waste and leaving only the best-performing designs.”
First award
Decided by a panel of international design experts, the award is the first Toyota has received for a counterbalance forklift having previously failed at the final hurdle in 2015 with the engine-powered Tonero – although it was given a special mention by judges.
This time however, the Traigo80 beat the competition, with the jury stating that “this modern electric forklift makes a convincing impression with its ergonomically designed driver cab, which also provides very good all-round visibility”.
The award will be presented on February 8, 2019, at a ceremony in Frankfurt, Germany, where all winning designs will also be presented to the public in an exhibition.
