IFOY Trophy
An interdisciplinary creation
The Fraunhofer Institute for Material Flow and Logistics (IML) in Dortmund is considered one of the top addresses in logistics research. When it comes to design, you wouldn’t necessarily think of the Dortmund scientists straight away. And yet the logistics researchers are jointly responsible for the IFOY trophy. x
An interdisciplinary team of logistics researchers, engineers, creative professionals, and media experts took on the challenge of designing a trophy that reflects the prestige of the IFOY AWARD. The prototype was created in IML’s own workshop, where components for robotic grippers and warehouse vehicles are typically manufactured. It is a place where innovations are not only conceived but also brought to life.
Visual communication designer Georgios Katsimitsoulias, technician and object designer Clemens Müller and IFOY Jury Chairwoman Anita Würmser worked closely together under the direction of the Institute Director at the time, Prof. Dr. Dr. h. c. Michael ten Hompel. The result was to be more than just an award: solid yet light, transparent yet compact, technically sophisticated yet aesthetically pleasing.
The trophy embodies the values of the IFOY AWARD—strength, innovation, and connectivity—and symbolizes the outstanding achievements it honors. It is an award that does justice to the best of the best, and its design powerfully illustrates the fusion of art and technology in logistics.
The symbolism of the IFOY Trophy
The design of the trophy takes up the IFOY Logo in its structure and meaning – a symbol that stands for the core of the award. In the background, a three-centimetre-thick aluminum plate forms the base, cut out exactly in the mesh pattern of the IFOY Logo. It stands for coordinated strength and stability, the foundation of every logistical peak performance – an identical aluminum plate just three millimeters thick in the foreground is a symbol of innovation and the ability to flexibly meet the challenges of the future.
A copper-colored glass plate slides between these two elements, reflecting the filigree mesh structures in countless shades depending on the incidence of light. It symbolizes creativity, customer orientation and networking – central values that are essential for the development of innovations.
The interplay of materials and forms thus reflects the multifaceted nature of the IFOY AWARD: the combination of strength and innovation, networking, and a clear focus on customer value. The trophy thus becomes a symbol of the endless possibilities offered by innovations in logistics.
The trophy’s production technology is particularly impressive. It is made using a state-of-the-art water cutting system that cuts the aluminum with millimeter precision at a pressure of 2500 to 3000 bar. Special abrasive sand is added to the high-pressure water jet to enable the precise cutting effect. Production, laser engraving, anodizing and assembly are carefully carried out in a complex process lasting a total of six weeks.
Dimensions: 31.5 x 18.5 x 5.6 cm (including base)
Weight: 2,530 grams
Materials: Aluminium, anodized
Production technology: Water cutting system
Labeling: Laser engraving
Questions about the IFOY AWARD
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IFOY AWARD
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E-mail: info@ifoy.org
Discover more
Award ceremony
The highlight of the IFOY AWARD is the announcement of the winners and the award ceremony at a festive gala. Neither the finalists nor the award winners will be informed in advance. Winners will receive a trophy and a communication package.
IFOY Audit
Finalists undergo the three-stage IFOY Audit as part of the IFOY Audit, which takes place during the TEST CAMP INTRALOGISTICS. This consists of the scientific IFOY Innovation Check, the IFOY Test and the jury test.
IFOY MGZN
The IFOY AWARD media portal
News and opinions for logistics and intralogistics, tips for an application and all current finalists at a glance.