OMRON Wins Eight iF Product Design, Universal Design Awards

Omron Healthcare Co., Ltd., a subsidiary of OMRON Corporation (TOKYO:6645; ADR:OMRNY), received five iF Product Design Awards and three Universal Design Awards in this year’s competitions. In addition, the SpotArm i-Q132 automatic blood pressure monitor (model HEM-1010-E), which won an iF Product Design Award in 2007, was recognized with a Universal Design Consumer Favorite Award. The awards were presented at CeBIT 2008 in Hannover, Germany on March 4, 2008. iF Product Design Awards The iF Product Design Award, presented by Hannover-based International Forum Design GmbH, is one of the world’s most prestigious design awards. This year’s competition drew 2771 entries from 35 countries, of which 821 products received awards. Submissions were grouped into 14 categories, including medicine/healthcare, industry and transportation, and judged on design quality, processing, material selection, degree of innovation, environmental compatibility, functionality, ergonomics, intuitive ease of use, safety, brand value/branding and universal design aspects. The five Omron Healthcare products that received iF Product Design Awards are as follows:   iF Product Design Award-winning Products   Model No. Automatic blood pressure monitor HEM-7080IT-E (M10-IT) Solar-powered blood pressure monitor HEM-SOLAR Body fat monitor with scale HBF-201 Pedometer Walking Style One HJ-152-E Vital signs monitor HBP-T105 Omron Healthcare was recognized for the accuracy, functionality and usability of its products, which were developed under the company’s "Shaped for people” design concept. This year’s awards represent the second consecutive year of recognition for Omron Healthcare, which received iF Product Design Awards in 2007 for a digital thermometer (model MC-670-E; iF Gold Award) and the SpotArm i-Q132 automatic blood pressure monitor. Universal Design Awards The Universal Design Awards were held for the first time this year. Hosted by Universal Design Association, the awards evaluate the fairness, flexibility, safety, usability and cost of products. There are two award categories: the Universal Design Award, judged by four people including an internationally active designer, and the Universal Design Consumer Favorite Award. Consumer Favorite Award winners were selected by visitors to ADF 2008, a consumer expo held in Hannover from January 26 to February 3. Although the Universal Design Awards were only in their first year, the competition drew 131 entries from 18 countries, of which 36 products received awards. Seven of the winners, including Omron Healthcare’s SpotArm i-Q132 automatic blood pressure monitor, were further honored with Consumer Favorite Awards. The SpotArm i-Q132 received high marks for usability due to the position of the cuff, which encourages correct posture when taking blood pressure and thus ensures that readings are accurate. The three Omron Healthcare products that received Universal Design Awards are as follows:   Universal Design Award-winning Products   Model No. Automatic blood pressure monitor SpotArm i-Q132 (HEM-1010-E) Digital thermometer i -Temp (MC-670-E) Portable ECG monitor HCG-801-E Omron Healthcare is proud of its accomplishments in the area of design and will continue to prioritize design in the development of products in order to improve quality of life (QOL) of people around the world. Images of the award-winning products are available on OMRON’s website at www.omron.com. About OMRON Headquartered in Kyoto, Japan, OMRON Corporation is a global leader in the field of automation. Established in 1933 and headed by President and CEO Hisao Sakuta, OMRON has more than 33,000 employees in over 32 countries working to provide products and services to customers in a variety of fields, including industrial automation, electronic components, social systems (ticket gate machines, ticket vending machines and traffic control) and healthcare. For more information, visit OMRON’s website at www.omron.com. Attachment: Product Profiles iF Product Design Award-winning Products 2008 Automatic blood pressure monitor HEM-7080IT-E (M10-IT) This digital automatic blood pressure monitor automatically calculates and records the average of blood pressure readings taken in the morning and at night. Data can be managed on personal computers with software sold separately. European version of Japanese model HEM-7080IT Solar-powered blood pressure monitor HEM-SOLAR Powered by batteries that can be recharged using only sunlight, this environmentally friendly blood pressure monitor produces less waste material and CO2 than conventional models. Body fat monitor with scale HBF-201 With its simple design, this body fat monitor/scale can be placed anywhere. The monitor’s foot-to-foot sensing method allows for accurate measurement simply by stepping on the scale. This product received a Good Design Award (Japan) in 2007 Pedometer HJ-152-E This pedometer, which counts "aerobic steps,” features a large, easy-to-read liquid crystal display. European version of Japanese model HJ-151 This product received a Good Design Award (Japan) in 2007 Vital Signs Monitor HBP-T105 A vital signs monitor to measure hospital patients’ vital signs such as blood pressure, arterial oxygen saturation level and body temperature. An easy-to-see front panel tilted at a 40-degree angle reduces the burden on nurses who make rounds of patients’ rooms measuring vital signs. This product received a Good Design Award (Japan) in 2007 Universal Design Award-winning Products 2008 Digital Automatic BP Monitor HEM-1010-E(SpotArm i-Q132) This full automatic, arm-type BP monitor takes measurements by just gliding your arm through the cuff. The SpotArm snugly wraps your arm while leading you to the right posture. HEM-1010-E features a function to detect early-morning hypertension which is difficult to check at hospitals. European version of Japanese model HEM-1010 Digital thermometer MC-670-E(i-Temp) This digital thermometer made more accurate reading possible with a flat tip rests easily under the arm. The wide LC display enables easy reading. European version of Japanese model MC-670 This product received the iF Design Award China in 2007 and the Good Design Award (Japan) in 2004, and was selected for the JIDA Design Museum (Japan) in 2004 Portable ECG monitor HCG-801-E This ECG can complete readings and record data in 39 seconds, even when irregular conditions such as palpitations occur. The ECG displays detailed waveform information on its wide LC screen, helping doctors diagnose serious conditions. European version of Japanese model HCG-801 This product received a Good Design Award (Japan) in 2004