Metcase’s VP of marketing, Robert Cox, details a new generation of enclosures designed to house advanced HMI touch screens and displays.
Developments in automation and control are boosting demand for a new breed of standard enclosures designed specifically to protect and showcase advanced HMI touch screens and displays. These new aluminum enclosures are in some ways a contradiction. They must handle HMI duties in applications as diverse as automation, control, monitoring, logistics, healthcare and point of sale. Yet they must also be specialized enough to accommodate individual display models by manufacturers such as Siemens, Turck Banner, Beijer, Beckhoff and B&R.
These enclosures occupy an interesting market segment. They are manufactured to fine tolerances—such as those found in plastic enclosures—and being aluminum can withstand the rigors of light industrial settings. Conversely, they do not require the higher ingress protection ratings (IP 66, 67, 68 and 69K) of their diecast aluminum counterparts.
The pre-eminent position of HMI touch screens at the center of a network gives these enclosures a commanding role, yet spares them the punishment meted out to diecast housings at the heart of the action. This offers buyers an opportunity to save money on enclosure specifications without necessarily being seen to do so. In short, the enclosures perform well and look the part at a sensible price point.
Metcase’s Technomet-Control exemplifies these enclosures. Their design, based on internal extrusions, makes them readily customizable and more cost-effective to manufacture than their smart, cohesive design initially suggests.
Flush-fit bezels, concealed fixings and a slim profile visually enhance the sophisticated technology they house. A standard VESA MIS-D 100 mounting for a suspension arm, wall kit or pole mount bracket enables swift installation in virtually any indoor location.
It is simple to manufacture these enclosures in custom sizes because the front and rear bezels have been designed to enable bespoke heights, widths and depths. These multi-part bezels provide attractive, modern styling and recessed front/rear panels, while eliminating the sizing restrictions imposed by traditional bezels.
Other design features include a removable underside base panel for cable entry and an M4 earthing pillar on each panel as standard.
Although these enclosures are aimed at self-contained HMI displays, some can be specified for other electronics applications. Thus, useful component mounting options include M3 PCB pillars/holes and guide rails for internal plates.
Metcase’s VP marketing, Robert Cox, said: “There’s a growing demand for aluminum HMI enclosures that don’t feature ingress protection but still offer cutting-edge ergonomics and esthetics.
“These enclosures are often specified for a wide range of niche applications so they must be easy to customize. This ensures that they remain viable for low-volume orders.”
Virtually all standard HMI enclosures will require some form of customization such as apertures (for displays and interfaces) and printing of legends, logos and graphics. However, unlike other enclosures, they probably won’t need internal modifications, simply because the display is essentially an independent unit with few, if any, ancillary components.
Customization options typically include CNC machining, photo-quality digital printing, custom colors (powder coating/wet painting), custom front panels, fixings and inserts. Partnering with an enclosures manufacturer capable of carrying out all this work in-house ensures quality and accountability. It also saves time, money and administration.