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News • Helsinki • Finland • 2012-06-07

Mighty machines from Finland take over Cable Factory

HI Design 2012, 8 June - 2 September

HI Design 2012 exhibition is where design and technology meet. Merikaapelihalli facility, a former marine cable plant within the Cable Factory in Helsinki, is the venue for showcasing a unique range of Finnish products and stories, illustrating the personalities and philosophies behind each product. The exhibition pinpoints the role of design in Finland’s success and its impact in sometimes surprising contexts.

HI Design 2012 presents the tough core of Finnish design. Visitors are offered a close look at heavy-duty industrial machinery and equipment against the magnificent backdrop of the Merikaapelihalli facility. Visitors are able to try out a new tram, which will be taken into use in Helsinki in 2013, KONE machine-room-less and energy-efficient elevator, and a Konecranes crane cockpit that typically operates dozens of metres off the ground. The mezzanine level houses the People Made exhibition with a focus on Nokia design.

The exhibition is arranged by World Design Capital Helsinki 2012 and The Federation of Finnish Technology Industries, with Pentagon Design responsible for the design and coordination. HI Design 2012 is open to the public from 8 June to 2 September 2012, Thursdays to Sundays at 10 am – 6 pm. Entrance is free.

Is a truck a design product?

Design is often understood to apply to the realm of furniture, textiles and applied arts. Areas of industrial design of which the general public is perhaps less aware include various types of machinery, equipment and electronic products, created by experts and designers in cross-disciplinary collaboration.

The exhibition explores the significance of design for technology companies – how design is able to create durable, easy-to-use, attractive and efficiently manufactured products characterised by international success. Participants include prominent Finnish companies and manufacturers: ABB, BRP Finland, ED Design, Ensto, HKL, Kemppi, KONE, Konecranes, LINK Design, Nokia, Patria, Planmeca & Planmed, RAY and Rocla.

“Rocla solutions and design focus on people, the users of trucks – keeping their work and performance in mind ensures optimal support for our customers. As design is integrated into people’s everyday lives, it is significant that HI Design 2012 brings industrial design for everyone to see. Rocla’s award-winning high-end products, ATX automated truck and Rapid low level order picker, bring the concept of smooth logistics close to each visitor”, states Tapio Rummukainen, Rocla’s CEO.

What do an X-ray machine and mobile phone have in common?

HI Design 2012 presents products equipped with completely novel design and technology, such as Planmeca Group’s doughnut-shaped imaging equipment for limbs and an X-ray imaging system that simultaneously captures a facial 3D image and 3D X-ray image.

“The design of medical equipment is able to alleviate a patient’s fears and improve procedures and ergonomics for health care staff. Timeless design, excellent usability and countless integration solutions of Planmeca Group products have gained wide success in international design competitions”, according to Planmeca’s Marketing Director Maarit Vannas.

The People Made exhibition presenting Nokia design is included in the HI Design 2012 programme. The exhibition displays 20 years of Nokia products and manufacture, illustrating the way Nokia has changed the lives of millions of people all over the world.

“One of the goals of the World Design Capital Helsinki 2012 is to spark discussion on the way design can improve, alleviate and simplify people’s lives. This is also one of Nokia’s goals”, says Marko Ahtisaari, Executive Vice President of Design at Nokia.

The Museum of Technology has a pop-up museum at the Cable Factory, presenting to the whole family some of the museum’s stories and history of innovation as well as highlighting the significance of product development and design in people’s daily lives.

Cable Factory’s summer season has a diverse focus on design

Also other design exhibitions are arranged at Cable Factory during the summer. Fennia Prize exhibition, held in the Valssaamo facility from 8 June to 19 August, presents the winners of an international design competition targeted at companies. Fennia Prize – Good Design Grows Global supports the production of top products and services and promotes the competitiveness and internationalisation of the technology industry. The competition is organised by Design Forum Finland and Fennia.

Cable Factory’s Puristamo facility houses a graduate exhibition of Lahti University of Applied Sciences / Institute of Fine Arts from 1 to 24 June, followed by a design review by Institut Francais from 25 July to 19 August.

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