• • • ENCLOSURES • • • How to specify HMI enclosures
for today’s industrial electronics Elegance Is De Rigueur
I
ndustry 4.0 may be reducing the human headcount in factories and logistics centres as robots and cobots continue to proliferate. But
don’t write off humanity just yet, we’re still in charge of all this highly sophisticated technology, and we’re ruling the roost with some very refined systems at our disposal, complete with aesthetics that reflect the elegance of the electronics. No longer is it enough for modern factories and their production lines to be tough, reliable and efficient, they must also be beautiful, reflecting the pristine precision of automation systems in today’s modern age of IoT, digitalisation and cleanrooms. Central to this ethos are the human-machine
interfaces. Each must be smart, stylish and the epitome of ergonomics, especially when it comes to the enclosure. These housings are the first thing the operator sees and touches. And these days, HMI stations are increasingly likely to be panel enclosures with large touchscreens.
Customisation should
come as standard Every factory’s automation system is unique, so good HMI enclosure manufacturers must reflect that. When they supply standard enclosures, they must deliver customisation right at the very start of the specification process, instead of simply machining and finishing an otherwise complete housing.
Panel enclosures such as Rolec’s multiPANEL and profiPANEL can be manufactured in fully bespoke sizes, to within a millimetre, thanks to their profile-based construction. Both models enable the virtually borderless, flush-fit installation of a front plate or glass. And both are rated IP 65 so they’re very much at home in factories. If both are so customisable, and if they’re both designed for industrial environments, and if they both offer the same flush-fit design aesthetic, why have two different models? The answer is simple, multiPANEL is best suited to small-volume applications requiring advanced functionality and cutting-edge aesthetics, whereas versatile profiPANEL is for higher-volume applications, notably machine building.
Variations on a theme Odd as it may seem, being able to specify an HMI enclosure’s size to within a millimetre is not enough when it comes to customisation. There is also the matter of depth. And equally vital is the question of what happens at the rear of the enclosure. ROLEC’s multiPANEL covers these bases by being available in two depths, 70 mm or 85 mm, and in three versions with either a bolted flush rear wall, a hinged and bolted flush door, or a hinged and lockable rear door.
Meanwhile, cost-effective profiPANEL, which offers either a bolted rear wall or a hinged/lockable rear door as standard, outdoes multiPANEL when it comes to a choice of depths. By combining 60 mm and 90 mm wide profiles.
Accessorising your
HMI enclosures Touchscreens may be swift and easy to use but they do not always guarantee rapid text input meaning that many HMI stations will also require a keyboard. Therefore, it is worth ensuring that your chosen panel enclosure includes the option of keyboard and mouse trays. Robust profiPANEL takes it a stage further by offering not just flat metal trays but also an entire desk unit dedicated to housing and protecting a keyboard. It is manufactured using the same profile-based method as the main panel enclosure. And while many HMI enclosures are destined to be fitted to a suspension arm, it also pays to look at ranges that include simple wall brackets, these allow the unit to pivot about a vertical axis for easier viewing and operation. But they are significantly simpler, more cost-effective and easier to install than a support arm.
Think too about how your operatives will want to manoeuvre the enclosure. Look for ranges that feature grabs and handles as accessories. It’s hardly a dealbreaker if they don’t, but it can reduce the number of annoying fingerprints on the screen and gleaming case body.
ROLEC is represented in the UK by OKW Enclosures Ltd. OKW marketing director Robert Cox states: ‘This new generation of HMI panel enclosures is a prime example of how supposedly standard housings are becoming much less standard.’
‘Smart design and advanced manufacturing processes mean that customisation is delivered at the very start of the process. This makes modifications viable even for low volume orders,’ he adds.
38 ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING • JULY/AUGUST 2024
electricalengineeringmagazine.co.uk
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