Launched just this year, DPA Product of the Year was created to highlight some of the most innovative technologies driving transformation across the manufacturing and industrial engineering landscape. With the sector experiencing rapid change – from AI-driven systems to smarter, more efficient hardware – the award shines a spotlight on the products that truly stand out from the crowd.
As part of the competition, 10 leading companies each submitted a three-minute video pitch, hosted on our YouTube channel (DPA TV). Over the space of four weeks, DPA’s readers and viewers decided the outcome by watching,
liking and sharing the content. The product with the most views would take home the title.
We can announce that the winner is Phoenix Contact, whose TRIO POWER for panel mounting impressed DPA’s audience with its compact design, robust performance and efficiency.
Built for the real-world challenges of machine builders, panel designers and integrators, TRIO POWER delivers reliable 24V or 48V power in tight spaces, offers over 93 percent efficiency, and provides flexible, direct mounting without the need for a DIN rail.
With energy costs climbing and space shrinking, TRIO POWER is “built for the moment”, reducing downtime,
cutting installation time, and ensuring long-term system stability.
“TRIO POWER for panel mounting isn't just a power supply, it's a smart foundation for resilient systems,” explained Daryl Sharp, Product Manager for Power Supplies at Phoenix Contact, during the winning pitch.
“This product delivers where it counts: engineering simplicity with zero compromise on performance.”
Phoenix Contact faced tough competition from a shortlist of nominees, including:
• Thomson Industries (a Regal Rexnord brand) – Movotrak Cobot Transfer Unit, extending robotic flexibility with a seventh axis
• Hammond – 1554 low-profile enclosures, simplifying enclosure selection with IP68-rated, UV-stable designs
• EUCHNER –
CKS2 safe key system, delivering safety and flexibility with RFID-enabled authorisation
• Schneider Electric – EcoStruxure Automation Expert, an open, interoperable automation platform
• Lenze – i650 motec frequency inverter, the decentralised drive solution for efficiency and clarity in machine design
• Kempston Controls – KCM AFDD, a new arc fault detection device boosting electrical safety
• Sprint Electric – Generis, next-generation AC drive technology with energy regeneration
• Omron – K6 and K7 series condition monitoring devices, reducing downtime with real-time visibility
• Zebra Technologies – NS42 fixed industrial scanner, combining AI-powered OCR with machine vision capability
Sophia Bell, Group Editor of DPA, commented: “Thank you to all of our wonderful nominees this year, who have demonstrated a truly inspiring range of innovative products and services.
“I’d like to extend my warmest congratulations to Phoenix Contact on its well-deserved win. It’s clear that TRIO POWER stood out not only for its technical merits, but also for how it speaks directly to the real-world pressures faced by today’s engineers.
“Through DPA Product of the Year, we’ve highlighted the ingenuity, expertise, and forward-thinking spirit that defines the engineering sector. The fantastic response from our readers shows that there’s a real appetite for products that make everyday operations more reliable and efficient.”
Watch Phoenix Contact's entry here.
Check out TRIO POWER here.