Winner of the ICONIC AWARD 2024: Interior Products

This innovative HMI panel concept impressively proves that the monotonous design of white goods is finally a thing of the past. In the future, washing machines, dryers, and the like will move into living spaces as lifestyle products. An extremely esthetic example of this trend is the award-winning panel in a high-quality wood look, whose functionality is only visible when you approach or touch it thanks to the shy tech design. Integrated sensor technology allows you to control backlit function keys and sliders via touch. Meanwhile, the surface of the panel impresses with a unique texture reminiscent of wood structures. The intuitive operation is complemented by a haptic push-turn control with a round display integrated into the switch surface - a sophisticated style element that immediately catches the eye. When the device is switched off, the backlit controls disappear and the elegant wooden look of the panel comes back into focus.

Three partners pooled their expertise for this revolutionary and smart panel concept: LEONHARD KURZ, the expert for highly functional and decorative surfaces, the mechatronics specialist Marquardt, and the KURZ subsidiary PolyIC, a specialist in touch sensors and printed electronics.

The decoration process used is the efficient In-Mold Dekoration (IMD) process. It enables cost-effective and CO₂-efficient implementation of the control panels, as injection molding of the panels, decoration of the front, and integration of the sensors can be carried out in a single step. IMD also opens up completely new design and customization options for product designers. Tactile designs, deceptively real looks, a variety of colors, and unique haptic surface effects make household appliances a multi-sensory experience.