In late April, a small part of the ROMYNOX team traveled to Berlin for the iF Design exhibition and came home with incredible news. We are thrilled to announce that our ROMYNOX Iris Valve has won a 2025 iF DESIGN AWARD in the Product discipline (Medicine/Health category). This honor places our product alongside innovations from design leaders like Apple and Ferrari, and we couldn't be prouder of our team’s achievement.
The iF DESIGN AWARD is a prestigious international design competition, recognized worldwide as a hallmark of excellence since 1954. In 2025 alone, the award attracted 10,651 submissions from 66 countries, a testament to the global reach and high level of competition. Winning in our category means the Iris Valve truly stood out among thousands of entries. Our team attending the award exhibition in Berlin got to see first-hand just how big this event is, with innovative designs on display from all over the world. It was both humbling and inspiring to find our own product shining among them.
During the final jury rounds, the Iris Valve earned an impressive final score of 320 out of 500, well above the 270-point threshold required to win. The international jury, over a hundred design experts, evaluates each entry on five criteria: Idea, Form, Function, Differentiation, and Sustainability. Our valve performed especially well in several areas, and the judges had glowing feedback. The product was specifically praised for:
- Differentiation: an innovative solution for biopharma cleanrooms, unlike anything currently on the market.
- Function: intuitive use and a user-friendly design that makes cleanroom operations easier.
- Idea: a creative concept that directly addresses a key industry need with precision
(The jury also noted the valve’s smart sustainability and long-term value.) Hearing such positive remarks from expert judges was incredibly validating for our team.
Compact & Hygienic Design
One big reason the Iris Valve rose to the top is its unique cleanroom-friendly design. It acts as a flexible, airtight pass-through for hoses and cables between sterile rooms, maintaining containment without the bulk of traditional equipment. The valve’s lightweight, compact form allows multiple units to be mounted side by side even in tight spaces, and its materials are fully compliant with biopharmaceutical hygiene standards. An EPDM diaphragm sleeve creates an airtight seal around whatever tube or hose passes through, preventing leaks while still being easy to open or close. That sleeve is the only wear part and can be swapped out quickly, making maintenance a breeze. In short, the Iris Valve delivers a revolutionary improvement over old stainless-steel transfer ports. It does the same job more efficiently with far less hassle. It’s a solution developed in collaboration with our partners at ManGo Product Design, and we’re excited to see it making a positive impact in the industry.
This behind-the-scenes journey to an international award has been amazing for us at ROMYNOX. We want to thank everyone who helped bring the Iris Valve from an idea to a reality, including the design team at ManGo and our colleagues who championed it from day one. If you’re curious to learn more about the award-winning Iris Valve or how it can benefit your cleanroom operations, please get in touch with our team! We’d love to tell you more, answer your questions, or even arrange a demo. We’re always here to help, and who knows, maybe we’ll see you at our next big celebration!
