– EUROFOLD
BRIEF
With the reform of the German Heating Act in 2024 and the associated subsidy programmes for sustainable heating technologies, demand for heat pumps has increased significantly in recent years.
Like all heating systems, these units should undergo annual maintenance. In response to this market development, our client AFRISO EURO INDEX developed its own measuring device, the EUROFOLD® M4, for the maintenance and calibration of heat pumps.
DESIGN PROCESS
AFRISO EURO INDEX provided 3D models of the handle, the device, the transmitter, and all the different measure-units including the complete built-in technology.
The CAD data of the internal components and their arrangement as intended by the client served as the starting point for my design, along with two competitor products provided as reference samples for visual assessment and ergonomic studies. A detailed briefing on the product’s functionality and handling followed.
ANALYSIS
The analysis of the existing CAD data and the evaluation of competitor products revealed that the integration of the aluminium block located at the end of the device would be a key challenge for the future design. As the central measurement module for pressure and flow rate, it is relatively heavy and, due to its considerable size, challenging to integrate into a handheld measuring device.
IDEATION
The initially defined requirements, such as the purchase of a prefabricated aluminium block and the development of a design language that was differentiated from conventional products while retaining individual design elements, led to the development of a large number of different design concepts.
VARIATION
I explored a wide range of formal design approaches through sketching, either integrating the measurement module into the housing or deliberately emphasising it as a central element of the device.
ITERATION
Once a preferred concept had been selected, the design approach was further developed and presented to the client in the form of three alternative interpretations.
ELABORATION
TECHNICAL ISSUES
Contrary to the initial requirement, I was able to convince the client to opt for a customised measuring module. In addition, they agreed to adopt our own design for the control knobs, replacing the previously selected off-the-shelf components.
This made it possible to achieve a significantly more refined design that aligns more closely with the brand, with only a minimal increase in production costs.
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PRODUCT LANGUAGE
By carefully reviewing every detail, I aimed to design a product that fully aligns with the existing design DNA and establishes a strong visual relationship with the company’s existing devices.
FINALISATION
Finally, I supported the client in the manufacturing-oriented development of individual functional areas.
CONSTRUCTION
Together, we developed a clever and space-efficient solution of an interface for connecting electronic measurement tools into the lower housing of the product and integrated a rotatable hook to be able to attach the unit at any place of the indivdual heat pumps and air conditioner.
Further adjustments followed, so that I was finally able to hand over a fully developed CAD model to the customer.
FINAL PRODUCT
