A new design for T-Barmaster™
Our T-BarmasterTM tunnel furnace is the flagship of the Tera catalogue. The process which led us to revise its exterior was very natural and a direct consequence of our customers’ great passion for this product.
The search for new exterior solutions is the “LA” for a systematic refresh of the look of the entire fleet of machines that Tera proudly carries around the world. The novelties, apparently limited to the appearance of the machine, actually bring with them a wide range of technical and practical upgrades in terms of furnace use and maintenance.
T-BarmasterTM, the most innovative technology for ingot production
T-BarmasterTM is an induction tunnel furnace for ingot production which was designed to be on a human scale. And today it is even more so, with a view to an increasingly efficient, automated and high-quality production.
With this machinery, over the years, we have refined our technical skills and made a name for ourselves around the world. However, the evolution that distinguishes us has brought us face to face with a new need, in this case for a “change of clothes”.
Innovation also comes through design
Our desire is – and always has been – to stand out in the market for our ability to propose innovative machines also from the point of view of design. This led us to the successful collaboration with AMV Design, a leading product design studio, to whom we entrusted the care of the look of our T-BarmasterTM.
But what is meant by product design, and why is it an aspect to be taken care of even in a sector as technical as industrial machinery?
Industrial machines must meet the primary requirements of functionality and essentiality. Thinking of the design of these products as a mere aesthetic improvement is really reductive.
In this area, the role of design is not so much about aesthetics in itself, but rather the consistent representation of the quality of the content (the machine) through the quality of the container (the body).
A complete renovation process
Rethinking the design of induction furnaces for metals necessarily involves a re-engineering effort aimed at optimizing the product in a more modern aesthetic key.
Watchword: “Modularity”
T-BarmasterTM is a furnace declined in several versions, with different dimensions and production capacities, but, until now, it lacked a real modular structure which would allow standardization of assembly in its various models during production.
In the new design, the entire frame is composed of folded sheet metal, which has led to a decrease in the overall weight of the machine and a consequent facilitation of manual assembly (no more welding) without any loss in robustness.
In addition, upper hatches and bottom panels were reduced to a single format, thus optimizing the production process related to internal supply chain.
Simplicity as added value
The second concept that inspired the new design is one so dear to designers: the famous “less is more”, that is, how simplicity is preferable to complexity.
The previous T-BarmasterTM had bulky appendages, such as the dashboard or the warning light, which are now integrated into the bodywork.
The sheet of panels has been machined to obtain integrated ventilation grids, and even a small detail such as the door handles has been concealed in favor of a cleaner and more essential line that is even more functional.
Good design translates into efficiency on the consumer and company side. The consumer will be made easier to use the machine, whereas as a company – we at Tera Automation – have improved the quality of work during production and assembly. In short, a win-win for everyone!
How to bring beauty into the world of industrial production
The third concept, which we could not resist, is part of our cultural roots and has allowed us to distinguish ourselves as a nation throughout the world: beauty.
Although the context of use of our T-BarmasterTM is that of an industrial production line, we are absolutely convinced of the added value of a machine designed to be functional and also “beautiful”.
Beauty, in product design, comes from the creative management of the functionality and aesthetics of a project. While functionality is concerned with the pragmatic aspect, aesthetics touches the emotional sphere.
This means that there are products on the market whose form and functionality make them true style icons, pillars of everyday life that we immediately associate with a specific brand.
A distinctive feature of Tera’s products has always been the color orange, which has conveyed the brand in the world very effectively. Some of our most loyal customers like to say that their production area “must be all orange”.
In the new design, although the percentage of surface area occupied by orange is reduced, there is still an appeal that takes on meanings which are not only aesthetic, but also, and perhaps above all, evocative.
In our own small way, as Tera we immediately recognized ourselves in the design of the new T-BarmasterTM tunnel furnace, which immediately gave us a sense of innovation, reliability and solidity with that hint of orange color we are so fond of.
Needless to say, we are proud of the final result and look forward to choosing the new product for renovation.
