Industrial control panels play an important role in vehicles and machines in the agriculture, construction and medical fields. However, these interfaces are exposed to a wide range of environmental challenges that can impact their functionality, longevity and safety. Understanding these challenges is crucial when designing resilient and reliable control panels.
How to protect your HMIs against ultraviolet light?
Protection from UV light is a necessity when preventing issues like material damage and color fading, which can affect safety and efficiency.
Materials such as rubber are especially vulnerable to UV light and it is important to protect. Sensitive parts or choose durable materials like hard plastic, glass and metal. UV-resistant coatings and engravings are effective tools that extend the longevity of your HMIs. Find out more in our video!
How to protect your HMIs against regular cleaning with cleaning agents
Cleaning HMIs is essential in public or medical environments. However, frequent cleaning corrodes your control panels over time. Choice of materials and frequency of cleaning are key. It’s important to use HMIs made from chemical-resistant materials such as high-grade metals or special plastics that simplify cleaning and prevent bacteria growth. Innovative designs like capacitive or piezo-electric panels provide easy-to-clean and illuminated surfaces.
How to protect your HMIs against vandalism?
HMIs in public spaces can be used thousands of times without supervision. Vandalism is rare but can occur, so you need to be prepared and should consider options such as metal buttons and metal control panels. One design strategy to consider is to leave as few gaps as possible. Larger keycaps at the top, rather than at the bottom, do not fall out and features such as anti-graffiti paint and heat-resistant materials provide an extra layer of protection.
How to protect your HMIs against salt?
When working near the sea or using a salt truck during winter, exposure to salt can cause rust on HMIs if no precautions have been taken. The right design and material choices are vital for keeping HMI functionality intact. It is advisable to use high-grade stainless steel or aluminum for your HMIs to reduce salt damage. Designs with fewer gaps between keys and panels help prevent salt from getting inside.
How to protect your HMIs against daily cleaning with a pressure washer?
High-pressure water jets can dislodge keys and penetrate the electronics. To prevent this, an IP69K level sealing is required, with a one-piece rubber solution, gasket and rubber boot to further prevent water ingress. Larger keys that absorb the force of a water jet are also highly beneficial.
How to protect your HMIs in sterile environments?
Autoclave cleaning puts HMIs under heat and vapor pressure, demanding exceptionally resilient designs. Choosing materials that withstand chemicals and heat is crucial, along with effective sealing and smooth surfaces to prevent bacterial growth. In addition, light and seamless designs with special coatings are recommended.
How to protect your HMIs against sand and mud?
At construction sites and agricultural fields, your control panels are regularly affected by sand, mud, dirt and dust. These elements can severely impact an HMI’s functionality, leading to system failures and safety risks. Easy-to-clean interfaces, intuitive controls for gloved use, protective sealings and coatings are highly recommended. Moreover, materials like stainless steel and innovations like elastomeric keyboards enhance durability and ensure seamless operation.
APEM offers an extensive portfolio of industrial control panels and are known for providing robust, intuitive interfaces and durable materials suited for tough industrial environments. Moreover, we offer control panels that are tailored to meet specific industrial needs, ensuring easy integration and user-friendly operation. This blend of innovation, customization, and quality makes APEM a leader in industrial control solutions.
