Function, usability, aesthetic quality and durability have long been foundations for Atlas Copco Group’s successes in industrial design, but another crucial element is our products’ ergonomic excellence.
In fact, we introduced an ergonomics program for industrial power tools as early as 1958, to optimize health, safety, comfort and performance. This latest Red Dot award is further recognition of this focus plus the other design strengths.
“In my opinion, XB deserves this award because it combines simplicity, durability, ergonomics and connectivity in a simple and practical way,” says Niklas Gisselman, Project Manager for the XB Range.
“We focused on creating a tool that works well for operators while helping manufacturers improve quality and productivity.”
When developing the XB range, one focus was operator experience.
Enabling straightforward and efficient operations
So how did XB factor in particular customer needs?
“Early on we focused on understanding how operators use these tools throughout the day. Through early customer and user engagement we identified several key requirements, including the need for tools that are easy to set up and intuitive to operate,” explains Senior Ergonomics Specialist, Frida Graf.
“To address these needs, the tools were designed with a clear focus on usability, enabling straightforward and efficient operation. In addition, they feature versatile ergonomic solutions that accommodate a wide range of workstations, users, and applications.”
The award also reflects the broader role of Industrial Design in shaping the XB range, as Apurba Pawar, Lead Industrial Designer at R&D, explains.
“For us in industrial design, the opportunity was to turn a shared technical platform into a coherent product family,” Apurba says.
“This is where design adds value: connecting function, usability and identity in a way that feels considered and built to last.”
Quality is not defined by complexity
As always with a collaborative project such as XB, new insights and improvements can be shared.
“The most rewarding part was seeing how design helped bring user needs, technical requirements and business priorities together. It reinforced my belief that design is a strategic tool, not only for shaping products, but also for creating clarity, guiding decisions and bringing disciplines together around a shared purpose,” says Apurba.
Niklas adds, “One of the key things I learned was that quality is not defined by complexity.”
“Receiving the Red Dot Award was very rewarding because it showed that good design is not just about how a product looks, but how well it solves everyday challenges for the people who use it.”
