Month: September 2016

Industrial LCD Displays for Factory Automation System

Posted on: September 27, 2016

When choosing a display for a factory automation system, go with industrial rugged LCD displays, which offer the most benefits.

Factory automation systems have numerous industrial advantages, allowing business owners to automate work and minimize expenses. Manufacturing and other industrial processes can be made more efficient with the use of these automated systems.

However, automated systems can also introduce challenges to industrial environments. One of the chief challenges is finding equipment that can handle use in an industrial environment. Industrial LCD monitors are built to provide consistent, reliable, and high-performance use in factories, warehouses, and other industrial settings.

Why Industrial Rugged Displays in Factories?

Industrial environments can be harsh on equipment. Consumer-grade technology is prone to breaking down or malfunctioning, creating inefficiencies and safety risks. In factory settings, exposure to chemicals, temperature extremes (heat or cold), contaminants (dust, debris), and moisture and humidity can damage equipment.

Rugged displays for factory environments are designed to provide consistent and durable use in even the harshest applications. Unlike consumer-grade technology, industrial LCD monitors can last for years or even decades in harsh applications. They feature capabilities and functions that provide greater usability with factory automation systems, and their durability protects them from damage.

How to Choose the Right Industrial Displays for Factory Automation Systems

When choosing industrial LCD monitors for use with factory automation systems, there are some key features and functionalities that should be looked out for.

Shockproof Enclosure

The prime feature of rugged displays is a shockproof, durable chassis that can withstand damage from vibrations and physical force. Factories can be a rough environment and equipment needs to be able to withstand a higher level of physical use. A shockproof enclosure ensures that your display is protected.

Size of Display

With any display used in an industrial application, size can be an important consideration. When it comes to factory automation systems, the size of displays can differ from system to system. It’s important to look for rugged monitors that come in a variety of sizes, ensuring that they can be integrated with your system. As well, look for display manufacturers that offer custom models that can be built to your required specifications.

Temperature Resistant

Industrial displays and monitors should feature extended operational temperature ranges, allowing the technology to be used in extreme heat or cold. Factories can be rough environments when it comes to temperatures. Temperature extremes can cause regular technology to shut down or malfunction. For safety and consistency, it’s important to use equipment that is temperature resistant.

Multiple Inputs for Better Connectivity

Factory system displays and monitors should feature multiple inputs, ensuring that they can be used in any application. To ensure compatibility with factory automation systems, look for displays that have multiple inputs (DVI, VGA, composite, and S-video). Industrial monitors should have greater versatility than consumer-grade technology.

Various Mounting Options

Look for displays with versatile mounting options, ensuring that they can be used in any application or setting. Displays may need to be used in areas with little available space, or there may be safety/usability considerations that affect their placement. Look for displays that can be mounted through panel, wall, or VESA arm mounting. A panel mount LCD display can save space, while a rack mount LCD display is easily integrated into factory automation systems.

Customized Display

Some industrial display manufacturers offer customized displays to meet their clients’ specific needs, requirements, and considerations. A customized display can be built for specific factory settings or applications. These custom models ensure that a display can be used in any industrial environment, no matter the application.

Why Our Industrial LCD Monitors?

Nauticomp Inc. is a leading manufacturer and provider of rugged LCD displays for industrial, marine, and military applications. Our industrial LCD monitors have enhanced durability and can provide consistent use in the harshest factory settings. We offer models with enhanced temperature ranges, rugged shockproof enclosures, versatile mounting options, and features for increased usability (touchscreen, multiple inputs, dim-to-red capability). We also offer custom models built to our clients’ specific industry requirements. Contact us at 1-705-328-2992 for Canadian service and at 1-800-267-9491 for U.S. service.

How to Choose Marine Displays for Ship Navigation

Posted on: September 20, 2016

When choosing a marine display for ship navigation, there are a number of considerations that need to be taken into account.

Marine navigation displays must be able to perform at a much higher level than consumer-grade displays. Marine computers must be able to withstand use in harsh conditions, provide consistent reliability, and offer proper functionality for ship navigation.

Marine environments can be harsh, with exposure to moisture, water, temperature extremes, sunlight, and wild weather conditions. As well, durability and reliability are key for any equipment used in a marine environment, for both safety reasons and economic considerations.
Here are some of the features, capabilities, and functionalities that all marine multifunctional displays should offer.

Versatile Mounting and Installation

Marine displays should offer versatile mounting options so they can be safely secured to a variety of surfaces. Marine cabins can have limited space and safety/usability considerations that impact the placement of a monitor. Versatile mounting options ensure that a monitor can be placed in a range of positions and environments. Look for displays that can be supported through panel, wall, or VESA (Video Electronics Standards Association) arm mounting, allowing placement at any height or angle.

Compatibility with the Existing System

Displays must be compatible with the existing marine system being used. Choose monitors that have multiple inputs (DVI, VGA, composite, and S-video) and that can support Windows and Linux operating systems. Marine-grade displays should have a wide range of compatibility with the types of hardware and software used in the marine industry.

Waterproof Touchscreen

Equipment used in marine environments needs to be waterproof and able to withstand wet conditions. Rugged waterproof displays that are IP67/68 sealed can provide consistent use in marine environments, resisting damage from water or moisture. Waterproof touchscreens offer more usability, allowing easier navigation and greater precision.

Sunlight Readability

Marine displays are typically exposed to daylight and extremely bright lighting conditions. Regular consumer-grade displays are rendered unusable in these conditions, as extreme light can wash out screens and make them unreadable. Marine displays can use sunlight-readable technology to ensure that they can be used at anytime of day, both indoors and outdoors. Sunlight-readable marine monitors use optically bonded glass, LED backlighting, and other features to ensure visibility and clarity at all times.

Temperature Resistance

Marine equipment can be exposed to a wide range of temperatures. Consumer-grade displays can overheat or shut down when exposed to temperature extremes, which is a major safety concern. For any marine display, it’s important that it has an extended operational temperature range that allows for use in both hot and cold temperatures. Determine what temperatures your equipment may be exposed to and find monitors that can work safely within that range.

Nauticomp’s Marine Displays for Ship Navigation

Nauticomp Inc. is a display manufacturer with decades of experience designing and engineering rugged monitors for marine environments. Our marine displays are built to last, offering rugged chassis, extended operational temperature ranges, sunlight readability, and versatile mounting options. Our displays for marine applications are also waterproof and IP67/68 sealed, ensuring that they can provide years of use in harsh environments. We also offer custom designs, working with clients to create the marine displays that can meet their navigational needs.

Are you looking for a commercial display? Nauticomp Inc. is an established display manufacturer with worldwide brand recognition as an innovative industry leader. We are dedicated to providing high-performance displays that are at the forefront of leading-edge display technology. Contact us at 1-705-328-2992 for Canadian service and at 1-800-267-9491 for U.S. service.

Rugged Touchscreen for Kiosks

Posted on: September 13, 2016

rugged touchscreenWhen it comes to business kiosks, rugged touchscreens offer distinct advantages over older technology. With advances in technology, kiosks are becoming more common in a variety of industries. Before, displays and monitors were primarily used in purely industrial fields, where they were necessary for high-level tasks.

However, kiosks are becoming integrated into many types of businesses. Shopping malls, fast-food restaurants, banks, airports, retail outlets, and other public-facing businesses are now making use of digital kiosks, using these displays to provide greater service, accessibility, and experience to their customers.

Kiosks can be used to display information, allow customers to find answers to their questions, and replace front-line staff for a variety of functions. A digital kiosk can allow customers to place orders, make a purchase, or sign up for a contest or service. There are many advantages to using digital kiosks, and employing a rugged touchscreen monitor for a kiosk carries many additional benefits.

Importance of Rugged Touchscreen for Kiosks

There are reasons why it’s important to use rugged technology for digital kiosks. Kiosks need to be rugged. Often, touchscreen kiosks need to endure heavy usage per day, being used by tens, hundreds, or even thousands of people. Furthermore, business kiosks often need to provide consistent use over a wide span of time. For instance, an airport kiosk may need to be operational 24/7. In addition to that, certain kiosks that are used outdoors or in proximity to the outdoors (such as those used drive-thrus or front-of-store displays) can be exposed to weather conditions, including sunlight, rain, or fluctuating temperatures.

For all of these reasons, digital kiosks need to be able to withstand harsh usage and conditions that would damage consumer-grade technology. Traditional touchscreen displays can easily break, malfunction, or become damaged due to the harsh use. Rugged technology is designed to provide consistent use in extreme or unfavorable conditions. When used for kiosks, rugged touchscreens can ensure long-lasting benefits, greater durability, and increased cost-savings in the long term.

How to Select a Rugged Touchscreen for a Kiosk

When it comes to choosing rugged touchscreens for kiosks, there are some specific features and functionalities that business owners should keep in mind.

Waterproof Touchscreen

If a kiosk is going to be used outdoors (such as in a drive-thru) or could potentially be exposed to liquids (such as in a restaurant or cafe), it’s important to use a waterproof monitor. IP67/68-sealed monitors are designed for use in marine environments and are designed to withstand wet weather conditions. While regular monitors can become easily damaged when exposed to liquids, waterproof displays can be used effectively outdoors or in other harsh environments.

Sunlight Readability

If a kiosk is going to be exposed to sunlight, whether outside or in close proximity to windows, then sunlight readability is essential to ensuring the touchscreen can be used. Sunlight can easily wash out monitors, preventing visibility and readability. A sunlight-readable monitor employs optically bonded glass, LED backlighting, or other technology to keep the display readable in the brightest lighting conditions.

Temperature Resistant

In large commercial environments, it can be difficult to control temperature as effectively as in a smaller space. Fluctuations in temperature, as well as temperature extremes, can render a touchscreen kiosk inoperable. Rugged touchscreens have extended temperature ranges, allowing for consistent use in indoor and outdoor environments.

Various Mounting Options

Businesses often have special considerations when installing kiosks. For instance, displays may need to be at certain heights or angles, or placed in specific environments (such as outdoors for a drive-thru, or extending from ground level in a large airport terminal). Rugged touchscreens can be built to allow for versatile mounting options, giving business owners more usability.

Custom Dimensions

Rugged touchscreen manufacturers can build kiosk displays to business owners’ specifications, offering custom designs that meet their needs. Businesses often have special considerations that need to be taken into account. Rugged display manufacturers can engineer and design custom displays, with the features, size, and capabilities that are needed.

Nauticomp’s Rugged Touchscreen Solution for Kiosks

Nauticomp Inc. offers a range of rugged touchscreens suitable for use in commercial, industrial, marine, and military applications. Our rugged touchscreen models offer the highest standard of functionality for digital kiosks and are able to withstand extreme physical use and perform consistently in both indoor and outdoor environments. An industrial touchscreen monitor for a kiosk can save business owners money in the long term, providing years or decades of use with no need for replacement. We offer custom designs, working with clients to engineer the touchscreen monitor that will meet their specific needs.

Are you looking for a commercial display? Nauticomp Inc. is an established display manufacturer with worldwide brand recognition as an innovative industry leader. We are dedicated to providing high performance displays that are at the forefront of leading-edge display technology. Contact us at 1-705-328-2992 for Canadian service and at 1-800-267-9491 for U.S. service.