hardware platform. And, as many of these systems are based on tried-and-tested core hardware, they retain the reliability, performance and compatibility of the underlying platform. For example, the standard 3.5-inch motherboard that Beckhoff supplies will not need to be customised, but the peripheral board and other elements like housing concept or interfaces can be.
espite companies like Beckhoff offering a wide range of off-the-shelf automation hardware, sometimes a
standard product might not meet application requirements. The company has therefore been manufacturing custom control panels for over 20 years and, with the process relatively straightforward, it is even possible to produce a custom solution for a one-off machine.
In many applications, the layout and appearance of the control panel are as important as the electronics inside. For example, a control panel in a state-of-the-art manufacturing facility or a public-facing location may need to match the branding and visual identity of the wider system to which it belongs. Furthermore, a panel may need to be an unconventional size or shape to make space for extra switches or a portrait screen orientation, or housed in a way that protects against dust or extremes of temperature. Some machines may need specialist inputs,
such as selector RFID modules or emergency stops, so will benefit from a panel tailor-made to the requirements. The ability to customise a solution will allow engineers to define the physical and functional layout from the start,
which is especially useful when themachine is part of a wider product line or production system, where branding and systemintegrationmatter. Custom control panels today can include
reconfigured wiring, modified enclosures, unusual connectors and fully bespoke housings. In fact some manufacturers offer a ‘pick and mix’ approach, where engineers can choose from a library of proven modules, such as buttons, ports, touchscreens and housings, and arrange them into something unique without starting from scratch.
By offering single-unit builds and no minimum order quantities, Beckhoff is making the barrier to entry for custom panels much lower than you might expect. This opens the door to engineers working on low-volume, high-specification machines to design panels that truly meet the application, without compromising on aesthetics or integration. So when it comes to developing a
custom solution, collaboration is key: The customer outlines the requirements, and the supplier works through how best to realise them using their existing
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Although there will be a cost increase for a custom control panel, it’s worth considering whether the benefits in flexibility and functionality make it the right solution for your application. At Beckhoff, we are well-known for having an extensive standard product portfolio, which gives customers a huge amount of flexibility. However, we also know that sometimes the standard option only takes you 95% of the way there, and that the last 5% really matters for usability, safety and long-term performance.
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