Three Products Awarded Prestigious iF Design Award 2021

Shimadzu, one of the world leaders in analytical instrumentation, has been awarded an iF Design Award 2021 for three products. In the Product Design category, an iF Design Award 2021 was achieved by both MALDImini-1 digital ion trap mass spectrometer and the iMScope QT imaging mass microscope. In the Packaging Design category, Shimadzu’s column packaging box for gas chromatograph (GC) analytical instruments also won, having been redesigned to reduce environmental impact. In the 2019 competition, Shimadzu already achieved an iF Design Award for a Q-TOF mass spectrometer.

The iF Design Award is one of the most prestigious design prizes worldwide. It is held by the iF International Forum Design, the world’s longest-running design organisation based in Hannover, Germany, which selects and awards outstanding designs every year. 98 design experts reviewed almost 10,000 entries from 52 countries/regions, judging them on criteria such as brand image, social impact, product legitimacy, functional beauty and aesthetics.

The iF Design Award has become a symbol for excellent form and aesthetic quality, as well as for user-focused, ergonomic and efficient design by companies around the world. Particularly in B2B environments, efficient as well as ergonomic and user-friendly features are decisive for systems in daily use.

Ultra-compact size: the MALDImini-1 digital ion trap mass spectrometer

As well as confirming the mass of various molecules, the MALDImini-1 makes it possible to perform a wide range of analyses such as protein identification and structural analysis of glycans and glycopeptides with high sensitivity, even with small amounts of sample. In this context, the MALDImini-1 can be a great help for researchers working on COVID-19 disease topics. Combining Shimadzu’s unique digital ion trap technology with MALDI, the system has just an A3 paper size installation footprint, one of the smallest in the world for MALDI-MS. As long as a 100V power supply is available, measurement can be done on the spot after sample preparation.

Next generation technology: the iMScope QT imaging mass microscope

This mass spectrometer with a built-in optical microscope is the only instrument in the world that can obtain mass spectral data associated with morphological information. With its high speed, high sensitivity and high spatial resolution, it can be used in cutting-edge fields such as early cancer diagnosis and drug discovery. The solidness and precision that mark high-end products are expressed here in the use of bold forms and high-quality materials. Ergonomically designed accessible parts provide optimal operability.

Both the iMScope QT and the MALDImini-1 have also been awarded with a 2021 Red Dot Design Award.

Environmentally-friendly packaging box for consumables

Capillary columns are consumables required for gas chromatographs to separate the substances in the sample on its way to the detector. This award was given for the packaging boxes used to ship the columns to customers in the petrochemical market in China. The design protects the fragile product against impact and contamination during international transit and storage. The amount of material used was minimised to reduce environmental impact, and the unique method of fixing the column ensures safe transportation. The box is composed of a recyclable cardboard case and an inner ‘turntable’, which can be locked or unlocked to access the column.

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