Shimadzu's 150th founding anniversary project honored with Red Dot Design Award 2026

The Craftech Project: A Fusion of Kyoto Craftsmanship and Advanced Science & Technology, a project marking the 150th anniversary of the establishment of Shimadzu Corporation, was honoured with an award in the Brands & Communication Design category of the Red Dot Design Award 2026, one of the world’s most prestigious design competitions. Organised by the Design Zentrum Nordrhein Westfalen in Germany, the award recognises excellence in branding, advertising and digital communication. The award ceremony is scheduled to take place at the Konzerthaus Berlin on Friday, 6 November 2026. This marks Shimadzu’s second recognition in this category, following the award received by the angiography system ‘Trinias series with SCORE Opera’ in 2024.

Shimadzu celebrated its 150th anniversary in March 2025. To commemorate the event, Shimadzu launched The Craftech Project: A Fusion of Kyoto Craftsmanship and Advanced Science & Technology. The intent was to share with the world our manufacturing philosophy, which has been passed down through generations. Based on a comprehensive collaborative agreement with Kyoto Prefecture, Shimadzu cooperated with ten workshops specialising in traditional crafts. Four concept models incorporating traditional designs into Shimadzu products were manufactured. Nishijin-ori weaving, kyo-yuzen (dyeing), kyo-shikki (lacquerware) and kintsugi (the art of repairing with gold) have been applied to the Nexera series liquid chromatograph, the Brevis GC-2050 gas chromatograph, the MobileDaRt Evolution MX8 Version mobile X-ray system and the BresTome (PositView) head and breast TOF-PET system. These decorative treatments were offered as optional exterior parts, special stickers and bed covers, and more than 100 units were delivered during the limited period ending in December 2025. It was also praised for complying with the EU RoHS Directive that limits hazardous substances in electronic devices, and for being marketed and sold as functional products rather than merely as design concepts.

Established in 1955, the Red Dot Design Award is one of the world’s leading international design competitions. The awards are presented in three categories: Product Design, Brands & Communication Design and Design Concept. Interest in the award in Japan has grown further following a cooperation agreement concluded with the Japan Industrial Design Association (JIDA) in 2025. Shimadzu also received Red Dot Design Award 2026 recognition in the Product Design category for its Autograph AGSV Precision Universal Testing Machine and HyperVision HPV-X3 High-Speed Video Camera.