The SM Foodmag electromagnetic flow sensor from ifm wins the Red Dot Design Award 2025. The sensor for the food industry impresses with a reduced commissioning time and an easy-to-read graphic display. For ifm, it is the next success in a design competition within a few weeks.
The demands of the food and beverage industry are high: Strict hygiene standards and harsh operating conditions apply in the facilities to ensure product quality and consumer safety. The hygienic flow sensor SM Foodmag was specially developed for use in this industry and sets new standards there: Thanks to a self-explanatory design, the sensor can be put into operation in less than 20 minutes – a status LED and the large full graphic display form the basis for this. ifm has attached great importance to the fact that easy cleaning is possible due to the shape and surface finish. This complete package also convinced the jury of the Red Dot Design Award, SM Foodmag receives the renowned seal of quality this year.
SM Foodmag joins the ranks
The Red Dot Design Award is one of the most important prizes for industrial design. The "red dot" has been awarded since 1954, since 2001 with an English name due to increasing internationalization. ifm has already been successful several times in the past: In 2014, 2016, 2018, 2020, 2023 and 2024, products from the Essen-based automation company have already received awards, most recently the PQ Cube pressure sensor for pneumatic applications. Just recently, ifm was awarded the iF Design Award for the PQ Cube and the moneo Track & Trace software.
Convincing workmanship and user guidance
"The SM Foodmag convinces with excellent workmanship and a self-explanatory user interface, which significantly simplifies installation and process monitoring," says the Red Dot jury in its statement. This is no coincidence: At ifm, design is considered from the beginning of the development process. "The purist design and the focus on the transfer of information, via display and LEDs, are present and concise features," explains Martin Schmidt, Senior Industrial Designer Industrial Design & Innovation Strategy at ifm. The SM Foodmag joins other products such as the TCC transmitter or the SU ultrasonic sensor in terms of design.
At this year's Red Dot Design Award, the ifm team didn't have far to go. It took place on July 8 at the Aalto Theater in Essen. There, the award-winning companies were able to receive their Red Dot Trophy.