Press Release
Ieo Electric Heavyduty Forklift by Jing Zhao and Zhenghai Shang Is Granted the Platinum A' Design Award in Heavy Machinery Design
Jing Zhao and Zhenghai Shang acknowledged for heavy machinery design by the international grand jury of the 2025 - 2026 A' Design Award & Competition
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
COMO, Italy, April 28, 2026 /DesignNewswire/ A' Design Award & Competition has confirmed the Platinum A' Design Award in the Heavy Machinery Design category for Ieo Electric Heavyduty Forklift by Jing Zhao and Zhenghai Shang, designed for Heli Forschungs- und Entwicklungszentrum Europe GmbH. The recognition forms part of the 2025 - 2026 A' Design Award & Competition and was reached through blind peer review by an international grand jury panel of established academics, design professionals and press members, who scored anonymized entries against predetermined criteria.
What the Platinum A' Design Award Means
The Platinum A' Design Award is recognized for honoring designs that stand at the forefront of creativity and innovation. It is the highest accolade bestowed by the A' Design Awards, acknowledging works that blend remarkable innovation with impactful societal contributions. These designs not only showcase exceptional artistic and technical proficiency but also highlight their creators' commitment to advancing the boundaries of art, science, design, and technology. Recipients of this award are celebrated for their role in shaping the aesthetics and trends of our time, contributing significantly to the enhancement of quality of life and promoting sustainable development.
About Ieo Electric Heavyduty Forklift
Ieo is an electric heavy duty forklift designed for ports and heavy logistics operations. The fast charging battery provides up to 10 hours of operation after one hour of charging, with 40 percent higher energy efficiency than comparable diesel systems. A 180 degree rotating seat, AR assisted 360 degree vision, and voice control support intuitive operation. Adaptive counterweights and modular forks improve safety, stability, and versatility. Recyclable materials and a modular lifecycle design extend service life and reduce emissions in heavy load handling.
Award Record
This recognition makes Jing Zhao and Zhenghai Shang a winner of 2 A' Design Awards. All of the awards belong to the 2025 - 2026 edition of the A' Design Award & Competition.
About the A' Heavy Machinery Design Award
The A' Heavy Machinery Design Award is an international competition recognizing good machinery designs by best machinery designers and brands worldwide. The competition is organized within the A' Design Award & Competition and is open to heavy machinery designers, industrial designers, heavy machinery brands and heavy machinery manufacturers from all countries. Entries typically include construction, agricultural, mining, earthmoving, production equipment and machinery and excavators. Awarded heavy machinery designs are published at https://dezigners.org/design-category/heavy-machinery
About A' Design Award & Competition
A' Design Award & Competition is an international, juried design accolade organized annually since 2008. The competition is open to entries from all countries. The A' Design Award has a philanthropic mission to advance society through good design by recognizing and promoting superior products, projects and services that benefit society, and by creating a global awareness and appreciation for good design practices and principles. Entries are peer reviewed and anonymously evaluated by an international grand jury panel of established academics, design professionals and press members against predetermined criteria such as functionality, ergonomics, engineering, presentation, innovation, usability, sustainability and technology, with score normalization applied to remove biases. Awards are conferred at Platinum, Gold, Silver, Bronze and Iron levels. The A' Design Prize granted to eligible laureates includes the award trophy, the certificate of design excellence, the hardcover yearbook, a lifetime license to use the A' Design Award winner logo, exhibition of awarded works, an invitation to the gala night and award ceremony in Italy, inclusion in the World Design Rankings and Designer Rankings, and public relations and publicity services. Registration, the upload of a work and the preliminary score are free of charge, and Professional and Digital Edition laureates are not contractually obliged to pay further fees to claim the A' Design Prize. Further information is available at https://competition.adesignaward.com
Press Resources
- Winner Page: https://dezigners.org/181040
- A' Design Award Page: https://competition.adesignaward.com/181040
- Media Showcase: https://www.designnewsroom.com/!181040
- Laureate Profile: https://dezigners.org/d/371539
Media Contact
Giulia Ferrari, Press Office
Designers.Org
Via Leone Leoni 32, 22100 Como, Italy
press@designers.org
+39 031 4491953
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Fact Sheet
The Work
- Project
- Ieo Electric Heavyduty Forklift
- Function
- Electric Heavyduty Forklift
- Category
- Heavy Machinery Design
- Discipline
- Industrial Design
- Industry
- Manufacturing
- Colors
- Gray, Dark Slate Gray, Light Slate Gray, Silver and Dark Gray
- Images
- 5
- Client
- Heli Forschungs- und Entwicklungszentrum Europe GmbH
The Recognition
- Laureate
- Jing Zhao and Zhenghai Shang
- Country
- Germany
- Recognition
- Platinum A' Design Award
- Edition
- 2025 - 2026
- Design ID
- #181040
Credits
- Team
- Jing Zhao, Zhenghai Shang, Yingchun Bai, Jie Wang, Lin Zhang, Yang Meng, Hongkai Zhang, Chao Hu, Fei Ye，Yue Yang
- Image Credits
- Heli Forschungs- und Entwicklungszentrum Europe GmbH
Design Details
- Unique Properties
- IEO redefines heavy logistics with zero-emission power and human-centered intelligence. Its fast-charging battery provides 10 hours of operation after one hour of charging-40% more efficient than diesel. A 180° rotating seat, AR-assisted 360° vision, and voice control enable intuitive operation. Adaptive counterweights and modular forks improve safety and versatility. Built with recyclable materials and a modular lifespan design, IEO evolves from machine to smart partner for a greener future.
- Inspiration
- I work in the cab 8 hours a day, I need comfort, efficiency, and safety, said a swedish forklift driver. High emissions, limited comfort, and inadequate safety systems are the top three pain points. IEO550-700 responds with zero-emission power and human-centered intelligence. Guided by gravity intelligence, it merges mechanical strength with technological lightness, elevating the operator from driver to system conductor through an immersive digital cockpit and adaptive control.
- Research
- Research Background: Heavy-duty forklifts face three critical challenges: high emissions, operator fatigue, and limited safety systems. As global ports move toward carbon neutrality, there is increasing demand for electrified, intelligent equipment that balances ultra-heavy load capacity with endurance, comfort, and sustainability. Methods: Field observations in port operations, in-depth operator interviews, ergonomic studies, and competitive benchmarking were conducted. Engineering feasibility studies and sustainability lifecycle assessments guided concept validation.
- Challenge
- The primary challenge was resolving the endurance–load paradox: delivering zero-emission electric power at a 55-ton capacity while maintaining structural integrity, stability, safety compliance, and operational efficiency in extreme port environments. A second challenge was balancing industrial robustness with automotive-level comfort and intelligent interaction. Introducing AI vision, AR navigation, and a car-like cockpit had to enhance usability without increasing system complexity or disrupting operator familiarity.
- Realization and Technology
- High-capacity zero-emission electric drivetrain engineered for ultra-heavy load applications. Fast-charging lithium-ion battery system: 1-hour rapid charge enabling up to 10 hours of continuous operation, delivering 40% higher energy efficiency than conventional diesel systems. 180° rotating ergonomic seat integrated with AR-assisted 360° surround vision and AI-driven predictive safety monitoring. Voice-activated digital cockpit featuring HUD interface and intelligent navigation architecture. Modular fork configuration with adaptive counterweight system for optimized load stability and operational flexibility.
- Operation and Interaction
- Smart evolution transforms operation into intelligent orchestration. AI-powered vision and AR navigation optimize workflow awareness, reduce blind spots, and increase operational safety by 60%. Real-time data visualization streamlines decision-making and minimizes process latency. Human–Machine synergy redefines interaction. A car-like cockpit layout, intuitive controls, and adaptive feedback systems reduce learning time by 50%, enabling seamless control logic, faster task execution, and a smoother transition from traditional operation to intelligent collaboration.
- Project Duration and Location
- The project started in May 2025 in Germany and will finish in May 2027.
- Specifications
- Width 12450mm x Depth 4180mm x Height 4720mm
- Keywords
- Heavy-duty forklift, electric forklift, AI-Assisted Vision, 180 rotatable seat, Truck, Sustainable Industrial Design, Ergonomic Design
