Dreiklanghorn for ZÖLLNER wins Design Award
On behalf of the Kiel-based ZÖLLNER Signal GmbH, we have realized a special project together with our team member and industrial designer Volker Breust: the company’s first triad horn – developed for use on superyachts up to 200 meters in length and currently unique worldwide in terms of design and choice of materials.
With the “Diamond Triple YM125“, not only has an acoustically powerful horn been created, but also a formally and technically pioneering product that has now been awarded the Red Not Design Award: Product Design 2025.
Design and function – integrated thinking
Together with ZÖLLNER, we planned a signal horn with three sound bodies – connected by a modern, minimalist bracket. This should not only be visually appealing, but also designed to be seaworthy, durable and easy to install.
A chrome coating was deliberately omitted – not because it is fundamentally unsuitable, but because a particularly durable premium solution was sought for this model. The aim was to design materials and surfaces that are durable and easy to polish – without a galvanic coating.
The bracket itself is a free-form body made of GRP (glass fiber reinforced plastic), which can be painted in yacht colors. The uniform coloring creates a design reference to the ship.
The three sound-emitting stainless steel housings are each securely fastened to the GRP component with just one screw – and can still be removed quickly. This solution not only allows for low-maintenance use, but also results in a contemporary, lightweight appearance.
CAD, Class A surfacing and laminate production
In order to implement the complex design, the CAD model was developed using Class A Surfaces. The fine contours of the sound-guiding enclosures, the absence of circumferential screw connections and the reduction in wall thicknesses resulted in a design that appears visibly lighter – and physically is.
Prototyping
The collaboration involved more than just design and technical layout. The MakerCube team also created and delivered the first laminates from aluminum tools for the first prototypes. The parts were successfully tested mechanically in a vibration test.
These components were also used as pre-series models to present the product at trade fairs – with the highest standards of surface quality and finish.
In contrast to many standard signal horns on the market, which often use chrome coatings or painted metal components, the “Diamond Triple YM125” relies on an alternative material and surface solution with particularly high seawater resistance.
The result is a signaling device that has been specifically designed to meet the requirements of everyday maritime life in terms of function, design and construction – durable, easy to clean and with a unique design approach.
We congratulate our colleague Volker Breust and ZÖLLNER on winning the Red Dot Design Award and are delighted to have contributed to the realization of this special product as part of the MakerCube initiative. We will also be happy to be involved in future projects.
On behalf of the Kiel-based ZÖLLNER Signal GmbH, we have realized a special project together with our team member and industrial designer Volker Breust: the company’s first triad horn – developed for use on superyachts up to 200 meters in length and currently unique worldwide in terms of design and choice of materials.
With the “Diamond Triple YM125“, not only has an acoustically powerful horn been created, but also a formally and technically pioneering product that has now been awarded the Red Dot Design Award: Product Design 2025.
Design and function – integrated thinking
Together with ZÖLLNER, we planned a signal horn with three sound bodies – connected by a modern, minimalist bracket. This should not only be visually appealing, but also designed to be seaworthy, durable and easy to install.
A chrome coating was deliberately omitted – not because it is fundamentally unsuitable, but because a particularly durable premium solution was sought for this model. The aim was to design materials and surfaces that are durable and easy to polish – without a galvanic coating.
The bracket itself is a free-form body made of GRP (glass fiber reinforced plastic), which can be painted in yacht color. The uniform coloring creates a design reference to the ship.
The three sound-emitting stainless steel housings are each securely fastened to the GRP component with just one screw – and can still be removed quickly. This solution not only allows for low-maintenance use, but also results in a contemporary, lightweight appearance.
CAD, Class A surfacing and laminate production
In order to implement the complex design, the CAD model was developed using Class A Surfaces. The fine contours of the sound-guiding enclosures, the absence of circumferential screw connections and the reduction in wall thicknesses resulted in a design that appears visibly lighter – and physically is.
Prototyping
The collaboration involved more than just design and technical layout. The MakerCube team also created and delivered the first laminates from aluminum tools for the first prototypes. The parts were successfully tested mechanically in a vibration test.
These components were also used as pre-series models to present the product at trade fairs – with the highest standards of surface quality and finish.
In contrast to many standard signal horns on the market, which often use chrome coatings or painted metal components, the “Diamond Triple YM125” relies on an alternative material and surface solution with particularly high seawater resistance.
The result is a signaling device that has been specifically designed to meet the requirements of everyday maritime life in terms of function, design and construction – durable, easy to clean and with a unique design approach.
We congratulate our colleague Volker Breust and ZÖLLNER on winning the Red Dot Design Award and are delighted to have contributed to the realization of this special product as part of the MakerCube initiative. We will also be happy to be involved in future projects.
