Great Human-Machine Interfaces Start with Solid Specs
When you're sourcing or developing a human machine interface (HMI) for industrial applications, good specs from the outset are more than a suggestion—they're a necessity. Not every project starts with “perfect” specs, but well-defined requirements give you the foundation to evolve into a high-performance, factory-ready solution.
Whether you're outfitting production lines, industrial refrigeration, or mobile kiosk systems, getting specific upfront ensures your HMI panel performs reliably on the factory floor and beyond.
The context of an industrial process—from temperature swings and vibration to water spray, dust, and direct sunlight—directly impacts your HMI display selection.
For example, touchscreen displays in outdoor HMI systems require high-brightness (1000–2000 nits), optically bonded glass, and chemically hardened glass to ensure real-time visibility and durability.
ITG Engineering builds rugged displays with 1.8 mm hardened lenses and sunlight-readable specs to survive the harshest field environments.
IMPACT: Failing to specify environmental factors can result in HMI screens that fall short of IP65/IP67 or fail under thermal load.
Choosing between resistive and projected capacitive (PCAP) touch depends on more than personal preference. Will gloves or wet fingers be involved? Are you in a food-grade facility or dusty machinery shed?
ITG supports both types, with customizable coatings and tuning for the environment and user behavior.
IMPACT: Precision input is key for graphical user interfaces used at the machine level, especially when programmable logic controllers (PLCs) are involved.
Your panel PC must align with your supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) software needs. Define your CPU, RAM, I/O ports, and storage clearly—early.
ITG standard offerings range from low-power ARM and Android® boards to Intel® i7 platforms with 32 GB RAM, 512 GB SSDs, and advanced connectivity options like RS-232/485, USB, Wi-Fi, HDMI, and LAN.
IMPACT: If your advanced HMI will handle complex data visualization, remote mobile devices, or real-time monitoring, make that part of the spec.
Material choices—stainless steel vs. powder-coated aluminum—may also hinge on factory floor exposure, chemical resistance, or gov website compliance standards for healthcare or cleanroom use.
IMPACT: From VESA to flush panel or yoke-style mounting, mechanical fit impacts both installation time and maintenance.
Your HMI screen must be visible under the exact conditions it will be used. That means factoring in:
- Brightness range
- Contrast ratio
- Viewing angle
- Anti-glare coatings
- Optical bonding for impact resistance and clarity
Think beyond launch. Your HMI solution should support:
Modular, field-serviceable components
Easy firmware updates and version control
Regulatory compliance: FDA, CE/FCC, cleanroom ratings, etc.
IMPACT: In various industries, from pharma to transport, long-term serviceability and uptime are just as important as day-one performance.
