NZ Company Wins International Design Award

A New Plymouth-based medical bed manufacturer has won the Australian International Design Award of the Year.

Howard Wright's M8 Intensive Care was recognised for its outstanding design, attention to detail and innovation.

The M8 is designed to reduce patient handling and risk of injury by allowing for a wide range of medical procedures to be performed without the need to transfer the patient from the bed. Unique design features include the ability to convert the bed into a full cardiac chair and the inclusion of a fully radiolucent deck enabling X-ray imaging capability without moving the patient.

The award is one of the world's most renowned design assessment programmes, recognising product design and innovation excellence. The judges were impressed by the attention to detail with the bed - from the aesthetics, materials and functionality through to the safety and comfort for all users. "Investing in better product development as a result of participating in the New Zealand Government's Better by Design initiative in 2005 has helped to lift the company's performance," the programme director of the awards, Stephanie Pemberton, says.

Other New Zealand-designed products recognised in the 2010 Australian International Design Awards include: Optiline Sheep Drencher (designed by Simcro and Novartis Animal Health), Be task chair (designed by Formway Design) and Maia Shower and Vitamin C dechlorination canister (designed by Methven).