With the new Ball Valve 546 Pro, piping systems specialist GF Piping Systems 
has successfully relaunched a proven classic. The many months of development 
efforts have paid off – gaining the prestigious iF Design Award and Red Dot 
Design Award underlines the successful implementation of the highest design 
standards. The international jurors were particularly impressed by the 
ergonomically shaped lever. 

The iF Design Award and the Red Dot Design Award are among the oldest 
independent seals of quality for design. Established in 1953 (iF Design Award) 
and 1955 (Red Dot Design Award), the internationally renowned awards recognize 
outstanding product designs in various categories. 

This year was no exception – at the iF Design Award Days in Hamburg, Germany, 
78 independent international design experts selected the best designs among the 
7,300 submitted applications. Similarly, this year once again, 40 international 
experts gathered to grant the Red Dot Design Award to distinguished designs. 
The winners of the award may, from now on, feature the prestigious Red Dot 
winner label on their products. 

"We're especially pleased to receive awards for four of our product designs at 
this year's prestigious iF Design and Red Dot awards," said Thomas Kuessner, 
Head of Product Management – Valves. "Throughout the design thinking process, 
our customers have been central to the development of the new Ball Valve 546 
Pro, and these awards reaffirm GF Piping Systems customer-centric approach to 
product and system design." 

Ready for the digital future 

Developed to make the replacement and retrofitting of valves in piping systems 
even more cost-effective and efficient, the new platform of the Ball Valve 546 
Pro enables retrofitting during ongoing operations without costly production 
interruptions. 

The modular platform design allows operators of piping systems to simply and 
cost-effectively match the ball valve to their current needs. Accessory parts 
and actuators can be retrofitted during ongoing operations without having to 
adjust the lengths of the piping system or commission time-consuming and 
expensive installation services. Also, the retrofit electrical position 
feedback allows piping system operators to seamlessly integrate the component 
in the upstream process control system. Given the increasing digitization of 
processes, this opens up many opportunities for efficiency increase and life 
cycle optimization. 

The resistance capacity of the 546 Pro equals that of its predecessor – the 
component withstands extreme conditions including high resistance to aggressive 
chemicals. Therefore, the Ball Valve 546 Pro can be used in a wide range of 
industries with the highest demands on quality and reliability, ranging from 
chemical processing via industrial production, surface treatment, and the 
semiconductor industry, to municipal water treatment, drinking water treatment, 
and energy technology. 

Ergonomic and safe lever 

The international jury members considered the ergonomic lever of the ball valve 
to be the standout feature for granting the award. The lever is very 
user-friendly, ensuring effortless and precise handling, while also meeting the 
highest safety standards. Küssner explains the two-stage safety precautions: 
"With the lever of the Ball Valve 546 Pro we have doubled the safety features 
compared to its predecessor. By pressing down the locking ring, the valve is 
protected against unintentional actuation. Additionally, a padlock can easily 
be fitted as standard." 

Four awards in the product design category 

Alongside the Ball Valve 546 Pro with its ergonomic position lever, three 
additional product designs from GF Piping Systems were honored with the design 
awards. The international jury members also recognized the designs of the 
manual lever Ball Valve 542 series as well as the PPA FC/FO and PPA DA 
pneumatic actuators. 

Further information can be found on our website. 

About GF Piping Systems 

GF Piping Systems is the global expert for the safe and reliable transportation 
of water, chemicals and gases. The company specializes in plastic piping 
systems and system solutions plus services in all project phases. GF Piping 
Systems is active with its own sales companies in 34 countries and more than 30 
production locations around the world. In 2019, GF Piping Systems generated 
sales of CHF 1.802 billion and employed 6,892 people. GF Piping Systems is a 
division of Georg Fischer AG, which was founded in 1802, and is headquartered 
in Schaffhausen, Switzerland. 

www.gfps.com 

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Source:  Georg Fischer Piping Systems