Award-winning design and its makers: the portable 3D measurement system “MetraSCAN 3D/HandyPROBE/C-Track”
Once a year, the jury of the Red Dot Award: Product Design awards objects of high design quality. In 2016, only 1.5 percent of all entries received the highest distinction “Red Dot: Best of the Best”. It goes to the best products of a category, such as the portable 3D measurement system “MetraSCAN 3D/HandyPROBE/C-Track”. Red Dot talked to the designers François Lessard and Nicolas Lebrun from Creaform Inc (Ametek Inc).
Form for precision
In many industrial areas, consistency and replication in the digital process chain are key to high added value. The portable 3D measurement system, consisting of the optical CMM scanner “MetraSCAN 3D”, the coordinate measuring machine (CMM) “HandyPROBE” as well as the “C-Track” tracker, was designed for engineers and their need for measurement accuracy and comprehensive flexibility. The result is a concept with perfectly matched and balanced components that are ready for operation even at unsteady conditions.
The individual components are reliable and can interact with one another effectively. Optimised with FEA (Finite Element Analysis), its carbon structure is highly robust and provides a clear reduction in weight. In addition, they are marked by an ergonomic design and an intuitive approach towards handling. The “C-Track” optical tracker features high-performance dual-camera sensors. The device ensures high stability and is easy to transport thanks to an integrated handle. Another impressive innovation is the option to operate the “HandyPROBE” in two positions, allowing users to choose between a more stable “stylus pen style” and a more versatile “joystick style”. This measurement system for professional engineering offers high user comfort and functionality – it aestheticises everyday work with its well-proportioned design idiom.
Red Dot: Best of the Best for François Lessard and Nicolas Lebrun
The Red Dot jury stated: “Thanks to this portable 3D measurement system, highly complex data can be collected with absolute accuracy. It fascinates with a lightweight structure, easy-to-use functionality, perfect ergonomics and an economical material usage. The system’s components blend into a highly symbolic and emotionalising appearance. The device embodies an overall solution of high design quality with an exemplary character.” The jury awarded the Red Dot: Best of the Best for the outstanding design achievement of the portable measurement system. Red Dot talked to François Lessard and Nicolas Lebrun from Creaform Inc (Ametek Inc), who are responsible for it.
Red Dot: How do you define design quality?
François Lessard and Nicolas Lebrun: Design quality is a very important aspect. It means that the whole product is unanimous to all contributors. It means the design is accepted and well understood.
What are the challenges in your everyday work?
We have to fight against paradigms. We always try to reconsider everything. Push the limits. Try to be resilient.
What does winning the Red Dot: Best of the Best mean to you?
It really means a lot to us. The exclusivity and fame it brings make it almost unattainable, but when you are passionate about designing, it becomes a great accomplishment after all. At the end of the day, we guess it means we got the job done.
