GF Piping Systems receives international design awards

GF Piping Systems has received two international design awards for its redesigned ball valve, the Ball Valve 546 Pro.

The iF Design Award and the Red Dot Design Award are among the oldest independent seals of quality for design. Established in 1953 (iF Design Award) and 1955 (Red Dot Design Award), the internationally renowned awards recognise outstanding product designs in various categories.

"We're especially pleased to receive awards for four of our product designs at this year's prestigious iF Design and Red Dot awards," said Thomas Küssner, Head of Product Management – Valves. "Throughout the design thinking process, our customers have been central to the development of the new Ball Valve 546 Pro, and these awards reaffirm GF Piping Systems customer-centric approach to product and system design."

Developed to make the replacement and retrofitting of valves in piping systems more cost-effective and efficient, the new platform of the Ball Valve 546 Pro enables retrofitting during ongoing operations without costly production interruptions.

The company says modular platform design allows operators of piping systems to simply and cost-effectively match the ball valve to their current needs. Accessory parts and actuators can be retrofitted during ongoing operations without having to adjust the lengths of the piping system or commission time-consuming and expensive installation services. Also, the retrofit electrical position feedback allows piping system operators to seamlessly integrate the component in the upstream process control system. Given the increasing digitisation of processes, this opens up many opportunities for efficiency increase and life cycle optimisation.

The resistance capacity of the 546 Pro equals that of its predecessor — the component withstands extreme conditions including high resistance to aggressive chemicals. The valve can therefore be used in a wide range of industries with high demands on quality and reliability, ranging from chemical processing, industrial production, surface treatment and the semiconductor industry to municipal water treatment, drinking water treatment and energy technology.

The international jury members considered the ergonomic lever of the ball valve to be the standout feature for granting the awards. The lever is user-friendly, ensuring effortless and precise handling while also meeting the highest safety standards. Küssner explained the two-stage safety precautions: "With the lever of the Ball Valve 546 Pro we have doubled the safety features compared to its predecessor. By pressing down the locking ring, the valve is protected against unintentional actuation. Additionally, a padlock can easily be fitted as standard."

Alongside the Ball Valve 546 Pro with its ergonomic position lever, three additional product designs from GF Piping Systems were also given design awards.