Industrial Displays for Factory Automation, Process Control & HMI application

Industrial LCD Displays for Factory Automation and Process Control

In the early days of factory automation and process control, plant and machinery operators had to rely on analogue instruments, like temperature and pressure gauges, for monitoring and controlling the production process, as well as for initiating the next step. Operator error and imprecision led to high rejection rates and huge variances in product quality.

As time has passed, more and more processes have been automated for the following reasons:

>> To largely eliminate operator error.
>> To reduce operator stress levels.
>> To reduce wastage and improve product quality.
>> To reduce material and labor costs.
>> To increase production throughput.
>> To improve efficiency and productivity.
>> To provide accurate data about the entire production process.

Today, instead of relying on gauges, operators in automated industries work with a Human Machine Interface (HMI) displayed on Industrial LCD Monitors. These displays provide a graphic digital representation of what is happening in the production process. They allow the operator to monitor the process and they provide a “safety net” for the operator to override the process in the event of deviation or malfunction.

Features of Industrial LCD Displays

Consumer grade LCD screens can’t be used in most industrial applications. Reliability is key to maintaining production flow and displays must be designed to industrial specifications that ensure they are built to last, particularly in extreme environments filled with dust or oil and where the risk of damage is high. Industrial LCD displays must include these features and characteristics:

>> Resistance to shock, vibration and Electro-Magnetic Interference (EMI).
>> Consistent and reliable performance in a range of ambient temperature conditions.
>> Sealed I/O ports and screens to avoid ingress by water, oil and other liquids, dust and airborne contaminants.
>> Rugged vibration-resistant enclosures.
>> Stainless steel or aluminium casing for rust resistance.
>> Low power consumption.
>> High contrast and brightness for easy readability.
>> Crisp, clear imaging with deep blacks and rich colors to enhance visibility.

Upgrading a Workplace with Industrial LCDs

Replacing old-fashioned cathode ray tube monitors (CRTs) with well designed industrial LCD monitors and video walls is an investment in the productivity and efficiency of a company that will save money and reduce problems for years to come.

One industry that is benefiting greatly from this technology is the machine tool market, whether it be for injection molding or Computer Numerical Control (CNC) milling and turning. Industrial Grade Displays are built to withstand the harsh environment of a production floor.

When properly integrated into the computer controlled systems and software, an industrial LCD monitor can display a huge variety of data and provide a detailed view of every process and condition in an operation. It is vital that it integrate with all sensors in the system in order to feed correct data back into the display. Any process problem can be pinpointed in the displayed data, which saves time in searching for a problem and reduces downtime for a plant. Production line stoppages are a huge money and time waster.

Consult our engineering expert to see exactly what technology is available and how new LCDs can vastly improve a company’s efficiency and productivity.

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Permission is granted to repost this article in its entirety with credit to Highness Microelectronics Pvt. Ltd.