The mobile stairclimber scalacombi S36 from Alber (Germany) has been awarded with the renowned German red dot award 2011 for sophisticated design quality. An international jury of 36 experts assessed during several weeks 4,433 applications and only the best have been taken into account.

“One might be surprised about the astringency of this year’s jury”, says Professor Zec who is the founder of the red dot design award. “We know that each of the applicators only fielded their best products. However there is a good reason why our award is considered as one of the most important design awards worldwide. For us the credibility and independence of the jury that reviewed each application conscientiously, has highest priority.”

Especially the developers’ team at Alber was delighted about such good news. Not least because they attached a high value on ergonomic and pleasant design while conceiving the new generation of the mobile stair climber with integrated seat.

In doing so the engineers at Alber have revised the approach of the forerunner model. “In order to break the mould it was of high importance to also incorporate fresh ideas from persons outside the company. That’s why we asked the University of Stuttgart to support us.” explains Thomas Birmanns, head of R&D.

The team finally came up with a revolutionary MMI (man machine interface) which is especially characterised by unprecented ergonomics. The new ErgoBalance handles have been shaped in a way to adapt perfectly to the operator’s hand. Moreover the entire position of the handlebar was optimised in order to enclose the operator hence ensuring an unstraining operation.

Another innovation is the fact that the handles can not only be adjusted in height but also in width in order to adapt to the built of the operator or to the characteristics of the staircase where the device is being used.

Now the team is looking forward to the big award ceremony which will take place at the 4th of July 2011 in Essen, Germany. Afterwards the scalacombi S36 will be exposed for several weeks in the red dot design museum.