Armagard's Penc 700

Unsure what to do, Brembo, who amongst other things provide brakes for MOTOGP, the world GP motorbike championship, thought they would need to continuously replace their PCs, knowing they would soon fail due to the high level of carbon dust, or start using industrial computers, compromising on performance and costing far more than standard equipment.

Not wanting to compromise on their production IT, the brake specialists turned to Armagard and their PENC and SENC 700 computer enclosures.

Designed to accommodate standard PCs and monitors, Armagard’s PENC 700 computer enclosure is IP 54 rated, providing dustproof protection. While the stainless steel SENC 700 provides waterproof protection too, enabling washdown.

With a their computers housed in the Armagard enclosure, dust and other airborne particles are unable to penetrate, providing the optimum dust-free environment for their shop floor computers.

Director of ICT at Brembo in Bergamo, Italy, said: “After introducing the solution offered by Armagard, we have solved our problems and dramatically reduced the frequency of failures. Armagard have provided a product that fully satisfies our needs. “

Armagard – Breakdowns in Brake Production is a post from: Armagard

LCD and plasma screens are also now a common feature in industrial, factory and warehouse locations. Used for displaying current work, stock levels, process information or a whole host of other data, screens can increase efficiency, improve production and reduce waste by ensuring workers are communicated with efficiently.

While these locations are not like using a screen outside, where the wind, rain and excessive temperatures can disable a screen, there are other hazardous elements that could be disabling in these sorts of locations.

Dust, swarf, grease and other small particulates are very common in these sorts of locations and they can have all sorts of effects on a screen being used in such an environment.

These sorts of small particles and dust can constitute almost any material from metals to human detritus, depending on the environment and processes that are going on.

If dust contains conductive elements such as metals then it can be particularly damaging to a screen if it gets inside as it can lead to short circuiting. Even non conductive materials can also lead to screen failure as they can cover a screen, blocking vents and lead to overheating.

Keeping a screen free from dust is therefore essential if you are to operate one in a dusty environment, but doing so can be tricky as screens need access to fresh air to be able to operate efficiently.

Protective dust covers are occasionally used in these sorts of areas but they are only a temporary solution and more often than not can’t cope with the demands of an industrial environment.

Without access to airflow, a modern screen will soon overheat as the backlight produces quite a large amount of heat, which needs to be carried away.

LCD enclosures are designed and manufactured to cope with such environments with their IP54, IP65 or NEMA 4 ratings they can accommodate a standard screen and keep dust and other small particulates out.

Furthermore, LCD enclosures are rugged and can withstand severe impacts making them ideal for the rough and tough world of industrial digital signage.

Keeping a Screen Free from Dust is a post from: Armagard

Protecting devices, whether it is a computer, touch screen, printer or LCD TV requires creating a total environment where the optimum conditions that the device can operate in.

These protective environments often come in the guise of protective enclosures. LCD enclosures, industrial computer enclosures and enclosures for printers and touch screens house conventional, off-the-shelf devices that fit snugly into the enclosures.

These computer, printer or LCD enclosures are usually manufactured from mild or stainless steel. Stainless steel is more-often-than-not used in food manufacturing or washdown areas as it is none corrosive and can withstand repeated hose down or cleaning.

Inside every enclosure, whether it’s a computer enclosure or a display or printer enclosure, should contain air flow systems. Cool air is required by nearly every electronic device to help prevent overheating and transport heat away. Normally airflow of a computer of LCD comes via an air vent which allows air from the outside to run through the device.

However, with devices operating in wet or outdoor locations then it is not feasible to have an open vent to the outside as water can seep through. Specially designed plenum chambers that allow air and not water through are often used to counter this problem.

Heating elements are also used inside enclosures as are air condition systems for use in extremely hot environments.

Other hazards such as direct sunlight damaging an LCD screen can be countered too using anti-glass or even an air curtain (cool hair blown across the screen to prevent hotspots).]

Enclosures are built to current guidance advice such as those issued by the EU or the National Electrical Manufacturers Association so IP65 and NEMA 4 enclosures are not hard to find.

But perhaps the biggest advantage of using enclosures rather than specific outdoor or weatherproof devices is they house standard equipment and more often than not this means that the combined cost of say a display device plus the outdoor LCD enclosure is often a lot less than a specific outdoor TV. The same can also be said for industrial computers versus computer enclosures and also printer enclosures.

The Manufacturing of Protective Environments…Part 2 is a post from: Armagard

Computers are now an essential in almost every industry and business. They are used to maximise efficiency, reduce waste, ensure processes are running smoothly and in many cases controlling machinery and systems.

Because of our reliance on computer systems, PC, monitors, printers and display devices are to be found in a variety of locations but unfortunately not all of them are congenial to the safe working of sensitive electronics.

Dust, water, extreme temperatures, vibrations and heavy impacts are just some of the extreme hazards that face computers and electronic equipment in industrial, factory and outdoor locations.

Keeping this equipment protected and ensuring it continues to function regardless of the environment is often achieved by using industrial computer enclosure, printer enclosures or display and LCD enclosures.

The protective enclosures are designed to keep out any foreign particles and liquids, not to mention protecting against temperatures, vibrations and heavy impact.

Often they are designed to European and North American standards to ensure their use in certain environments. In Europe this is referred to as the IP rating (Ingress Protection) where the standards IP65, IP 54 and IP 66 are the most commonly used for computer, printer and display enclosures.

In the US, NEMA (National Electrical Manufacturers Association) govern the standards for electronic enclosures with the NEMA 4 rating offering similar protection to the European IP65.

The advantage of using industrial computer enclosures, printer enclosures and display/LCD enclosures are that they house standard computer, print and display equipment. Not only does that make the technology that enclosed cost effective but also it allows the user to select the type of hardware that is required. The alternative to industrial computer enclosures is to use intrinsic industrial computer systems that are often far more expensive and less flexible and advnanced as standard equipment.

Protecting Computer Hardware in the Harshest of Conditions is a post from: Armagard

Fortunately, very few of us still use the bulky CRT monitor (Cathode Ray Tube) as they have all but been replaced by the flatter, lighter and more flexible LCD screens (Liquid Crystal Display).

However, there is one sector where the many old bulky monitor are still being used and that is in the industrial and shop floor computer system.

Many of these old CRT monitors are enclosed in industrial monitor enclosures which have protected the screens from the dust and liquid of the factory floor for years. However, many companies that require a replacement struggle to find a replacement that will fit in the monitor enclosure that the CRT has been housed in.

Firstly, modern LCD screens are a lot flatter than their CRT predecessors and so take up a lot less space, and secondly most LCD screens are built to modern wide screen aspect ratios whilst CRT’s where mainly the traditional square shape.

Whilst LCD TV screens are far more flexible and adaptive than the older CRT monitors they still need to be protected from harmful elements if they are to be used in industrial or factory shop floor settings.

Dust, water, heavy impacts and excessive temperatures are all problems that monitor in a shop floor environment needs to be protected against and the LCD enclosure is the perfect solution.

Like a CRT monitor enclosure, the LCD enclosure offers waterproof and dustproof protection whilst also ensuring the LCD is running at the optimum temperature. However, LCD enclosures are far more flexible than a traditional monitor enclosure as they can be mounted almost anywhere as their flat panel design means they can even be erected flush against a wall.

LCD TVs the Next Generation of Computer Monitor is a post from: Armagard

Ensuring a computer will continue to function could even be mission critical so it is vital that any of the hazards located in the areas where the computer will be working are identified so that they can be countered. Her are some of the elements contained in industrial areas and how they are bets protected against:

Dust

In many production and manufacturing facilities, there is often quite large amounts of dust. Dust is often created from manufacturing processes but it will also contain a wide variety of other materials including metals and other conductive elements. Dust can penetrate electrical systems and cause short circuits and it can also block up filters and cause over-insulation, a primary cause of failure in computer systems.

Protecting against dust can be quite complicated as most computer systems need fresh air to help dispel heat, sealing off the dust can be problematic. One solution that many industrial computer enclosures employ is to ensure there is positive pressure inside the enclosure keeping the dust outside and allowing airflow within the enclosure.

Liquids

Liquids, particularly water, are commonplace in some factory areas, especially in food production where water is liberally used to hose down areas for hygiene reasons. Water is also problematic to defend against for similar reasons to dust.

Water can have an even more damaging effect on equipment if it penetrates an enclosure which is why printer and computer enclosures that are used in washdown areas use plenum chambers which are air vents that don’t allow water access.

How to Create the Perfect Environment for Protecting Equipment in Industrial Areas is a post from: Armagard

Computers, printers, monitors and LCD screens are as useful a tool for the shopfloor environment as they are in offices and the home. IT systems can save a fortune when production lines are automated and can increase efficiency and cut down dramatically on waste.

Using computer technology on shopfloor environments does come with its problems, mainly due to the fact that most PC’s, printers and monitors are designed to operate in home or office environments and not the dusty, greasy and wet confines of a factory or shopfloor.

Industrial standard computers and industrial PCs are available for these types of areas but there are downsides to industrial computers. Firstly, industrial computer systems are quite expensive. They are often designed to be solid state (no moving parts) which causes certain problems, primarily with upgrade and repair in that the units can only be refurbished by trained engineers. They quite often use outdated components too this is because they need to be as stable and reliable as possible so only proven hardware makes its way into an industrial computer.

Unfortunately with the fast moving pace of computers that often means that the industrial computer will have to run outdated software too and this could impinge on the efficiency of the system.

However, there is both a cost effective and practical alternative to using industrial computers and that is to use standard off-the shelf computer equipment, containing the specification and software you require and then protect the device with an industrial computer enclosure.

Industrial computer enclosures are not just protective cabinets they are entire micro-environments that ensure the enclosed PC is not just protected from the harmful elements of a shop floor environment but they are also heated and cooled using thermostatic controls to ensure the optimum temperature inside the enclosure.

Industrial PC enclosures can allow the safe use of standard computers in not just industrial areas but also areas of hose down (even jet washing) and locations with extreme heat or cold such as chillers and ovens.

Protecting Shopfloor Computers is a post from: Armagard

There is much more to protecting computers, printer, TV and touch screens in hazardous and harmful environments than just enclosing the device in a metal box. Industrial areas, outside locations and unmanned locales provide different hazards and potential problems for any electrical equipment.

In industrial areas the amount of airborne particles and liquids can be extremely high. Not only are industrial locations extremely dusty in many manufacturing and processing facilities, water and liquids are used constantly to clean and wash down surfaces.

So whether it’s a computer, a printer, an LCD screen or a touchscreen and it is to be used in an industrial area it has o be protected from a wide variety of hazards. Whatever device is used, the enclosure that protects it must be dustproof to stop airborne particles getting inside the electronics and causing havoc.

Furthermore, if water is used, even in small quantities the computer enclosure (or printer/ LCD enclosure) needs to be waterproof too. Indeed, some industries, particularly food processing, water is used very liberally so any computer enclosure of LCD enclosure needs to be completely water tight.

When it comes to outdoor use, there are other considerations to be taken into account. Of course, waterproofing is vital for any device that is to be kept in the open air, but also the device needs to be protected from the unwanted attention of vandals or thieves, especially in unmanned areas. For this purpose they need to be solidly built and be strong enough to withstand a heavy impact.

Creating a Protective Environment for Computers, Printers and LCD Screens is a post from: Armagard

With more and more businesses realising the potential for this new media the future for the digital signage industry is far more stable than in most industrial sectors. Whilst the market is growing new trends in the industry are starting to emerge. Here are some of the main trends that are emerging:

Increase use in outdoor digital signage.

More and more digital signage systems are being placed outdoors and a growing trend ofdigital outdoor signage is emerging. All-weather LCD screens and rugged LCD enclosures are being used to protect digital signage systems from the elements.

More Interaction

Interactivity is another emerging trend in digital signage. Currently many digital signage systems employ touch screen as an interactive method but more other methods such as cell phone interaction are now staring to develop enhancing the digital signage experience for consumers.

Rise of LCD and the fall of plasma

Having only really been in the market for the last six years, LCD has already seen of CRT and looks set to make plasma obsolete in the near future too. Much of this has to do with the falling cost and even after six years in the market the price of LCD’s is set to fall even further.

The futures bright in digital signage is a post from: Armagard

The industrial computer has been around since the early eighties when it was recognised that computing could be as advantageous for the factory floor as it was for offices. Industrial computers are mostly based around the same technology as standard desktop computers but are built to be more rugged and durable.

The industrial computer comes in several forms such as rack-mountable industrial computers that can slot in server racks, panel PC’s that integrate a PC and screen together to solid state industrial computers that contain few or no moving parts.

Industrial PC’s are designed fro the factory floor and all different types of industrial computer share a similar philosophy of providing a controlled environment for the installed electronics to survive the rigors of the plant floor.

There are many advantages of running industrial PCs on the factory floor, they are reliable and can withstand excessive water and dust. However, industrial PC’s do pay a price for this durability in that they are not very flexible.

Most industrial PC’s are built with reliability as a prerequisite, for this reason they need to use tried and tested components, while this makes them extremely reliable it does mean that often industrial computers lack the processing and memory capabilities of standard desktop PC’s.

Another disadvantage of industrial computers is that most are virtually impossible to upgrade. If additional processing or memory is required then a new industrial PC will have to be purchased. They can also prove problematic when they fail and need repairing, particularly solid state machines, the only option is to call a service engineer but if the machine is operationally critical then this could mean vital production time lost.

An alternative solution to the industrial is to use a standard desktop machine and protect it in a waterproof and dustproof computer enclosure. Industrial computer enclosures offer all the protection of a standard industrial PC but with the added bonus of flexibility. With an industrial PC enclosure you can:

*Choose what specification of PC to use in your industrial environment

*Upgrade the PC at will

*PC can be repaired by your standard IT support worker or the entire computer replaced within minutes

*Can be budgetary cost effective when compared to an industrial PC

*Computer enclosures can be reused with different machines

*Industrial computer enclosure will lengthen the life of you IT

Industrial Computers – Pros and Cons is a post from: Armagard