Re-Engineered Smart System™ Recognized For Design Excellence

Press

by Lochinvar Marketing Dept. | 04/27/2011

     The SMART SYSTEM™ operating control from Lochinvar, which was re-engineered in May 2010 to provide an even greater level of control than ever before, received a Bronze award in the Commercial Controls category in appliance DESIGN magazine’s 24th Annual Excellence in Design Awards Competition. 

     Lochinvar’s research and design team enhanced the SMART SYSTEM with several new advanced features to offer installers and facility managers easier access to all of the information they need to set-up, troubleshoot and monitor all equipment functions. The interface improvements include a larger display screen, color coding functionality, soft keys for easy adjustment of settings and an encoder knob for fast transitions from screen to screen. The updated SMART SYSTEM also offers selectable cascade functionality, providing the user with two unique options for fine-tuning the sequencing of multiple unit installations.

     In addition, SMART SYSTEM now controls up to three individual setpoint temperatures, offers Domestic Hot Water (DHW) Night Setback and features multiple 0-10V Analog Inputs and Outputs. As an added option, two-way communication is available through Modbus protocol to simplify the interface between the Building Management System (BMS) and the boiler or water heater.

     “The purpose of appliance DESIGN’s annual design competition is to honor those designers who have excelled in meeting the modern challenge of harmoniously melding technology and industrial design,” said Maggie McFadden Shein, appliance DESIGN editor. 

     An independent panel of three industrial design experts performed judging of the entries. Evaluation of the entries was based on four criteria: appearance, human factors, innovation and technical merits. Each year, the Excellence in Design awards attracts a very high-level group of competitors and each submission is carefully examined and judged by our independent panelist of judges. Past winners have included designs from companies such as Whirlpool, Caldera, Liebherr, Sharp, Mercury Appliances, Medtronic Xomed, Inc., Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications, iRobot, CFM Home Products, Black & Decker, Electrolux Home Products, Bosch Thermador, Pitney Bowes, LG-One, Dyson, LG Electronics and Miele. 

     The judges noted that the companies behind the honored entries demonstrated that they are serious about industrial design and showed that seriousness by attention to details and innovative approaches that sharply differentiated winning products from their competitors. Another common element found among the recognized products was the ability to make technology more accessible to the user.

     Photos and descriptions of winners will appear in the June 2011 issue of appliance DESIGN magazine, and in the digital and online versions at www.applianceDESIGN.com. appliance DESIGN is a publication of BNP Media, Troy, Mich.

     Lochinvar Corporation is a leading manufacturer of high-efficiency water heaters, boilers, pool heaters and storage tanks. Based in Lebanon, TN with facilities in Detroit, Orlando, Tampa, Phoenix, Pompano Beach and Dallas, Lochinvar stocks all products in all locations. For more information about Lochinvar, contact: Lochinvar Corp., 300 Maddox Simpson Parkway, Lebanon, TN 37090; Phone: (615) 889-8900; Fax: (615) 547-1000; www.Lochinvar.com.