Pushing the envelope in design is not enough if you always push it the same way – you must create something radically different. Which is precisely what OKW has done with its award-winning new SYNERGY enclosures – its fifth range to win the coveted iF Product Design Award (its second iF Award in two years).
SYNERGY is a range of 36 superbly finished enclosures aimed at high value desktop, handheld and wall mounted electronics. Applications include medical and therapeutic systems, measurement and control technology, home automation, peripherals and building services electronics.
OKW has combined two important innovations to create SYNERGY.
Innovation number one is to build the enclosures from ASA+PC-FR plastic (for high flame resistance and very good UV protection) and aluminium. But not just any aluminium – we're talking AIMgSi 0.5 aluminium that has been blasted with glass beads and anodised in silver (or black on request) to create an ultra-high quality finish.
All the anodising is done by a specialist company which works for German manufacturers of high end TV and home entertainment systems.
Innovation number two is SYNERGY's connector-based construction system – a smart system that conceals all the fixings.
Each SYNERGY enclosure uses four fibreglass-reinforced polyamide connectors. They snap into the recessed top plastic panel, locate the aluminium assembly extrusion and are fixed to the bottom part with four stainless steel Torx T10 anti-tamper screws. Aside from the aesthetic and security benefits, the system also enables several pillars to be snapped together to create custom heights in 5 mm increments (on request).
Combining these two innovations would have been enough for some manufacturers – but not OKW.
Instead of launching SYNERGY in one format, OKW unveiled its newest enclosures in four formats: Round, Square, Oval and Edge (rectangular).
Round and Square models are offered in three plan sizes: 100 mm x 100 mm; 120 mm x 120 mm; 140 mm x 140 mm, all in heights of 40, 70 or 100 mm.
Oval and Edge models are also available in three plan sizes: 160 mm x 80 mm; 180 mm x 90 mm; 200 mm x 100 mm, all in 40, 70 or 100 mm heights.
Options and accessories include battery compartments for two, three or four 1.5V AA cells, an extender kit for the PCB pillars, and a wall suspension kit (SYNERGY can be wall mounted with only one screw).
Customisation services include CNC milling and drilling, digital printing or engraving of legends and logos, EMC shielding for the plastic parts, keypads and assembly.
