Insight And Sensus Named Finalists For Industrial Design Excellence Award
Raleigh, NC — Insight, a product design and innovation firm, and Sensus, a global leader in water, gas, and electric utility infrastructure systems, were named finalists in the Industrial Design Society of America's (IDSA) annual Industrial Design Excellence Award (IDEA). The two Raleigh-based companies were selected out of hundreds of submissions for the Sensus iPERL™, a sustainable and intelligent water management system that delivers unprecedented efficiency through low flow accuracy, high flow durability and advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) connectivity.
"Working with Sensus on this project was a great experience, and it is wonderful to cap it off with the finalist distinction from the IDEA," said Anthony Annibale, partner at Insight. "We believe the design provides real market differentiation and provides new opportunities that drive business growth. Together, with Sensus, we feel like we have designed a product that is meaningful and will truly have a positive impact on the environment."
Sensus challenged Insight to develop a design for the iPERL that would showcase flow meter technology in a user-friendly manner while also reflecting the product's environmental benefits. Insight worked around constraints such as product dimensions, installation methods and internal component configurations along with regulatory marking information. It was critical that the outer housing be durable in harsh environments and that the design have a distinct look to differentiate it from legacy meter technology.
"We are proud that the iPERL was recognized by the IDSA," said Michael Tracy, vice president of North American Water for Sensus. "Working in collaboration with Insight, we have designed the external components for the iPERL water management system that reflect the internal metrology technology that will revolutionize the way we conserve water and the way people think about their water usage."
The iPERL is composed of a lead-free composite alloy and has undergone comprehensive design validation testing which proved that the iPERL significantly surpassed the pressure tolerance levels of conventional bronze alloy meters. The iPERL exceeds AWWA standards in accuracy and sets an industry standard with a 20-year assurance warranty for new meter accuracy, more than doubling the guaranteed accuracy of other products in the market. Due to reduced head loss and a design that dramatically lessens the chance of blockage, the iPERL can also help a utility save on costs through a reduction in energy usage.
IDEA is the premier international competition honoring design excellence in products, ecodesign, interaction design, packaging, strategy, research and concepts. Insight has won this award more than a dozen times.
SOURCE: Sensus