Shopfloor Screens – Changing Face of Industry and Manufacturing

Industrial and manufacturing processes are continually changing. Modern technology such as the industrial computer has improved industry by making processes more efficient, reducing waste and automating production lines.

Communication is also another important aspect to improving efficiency on the shopfloor. Many manufacturing facilities are large areas with workers spread out over the shopfloor, so communicating with them all effectively can be a challenge.

Using digital displays—or modern LCD or plasma type screens—in a shopfloor environment can provide many advantages for communication. Placing screens in locations around a shopfloor environment ensures employees can be made aware of important information. Whether this is stock control levels, company information, quotas or emergency messages, digital signage displays have none of the disadvantages of other communication messages.

Being visible and able to display information immediacy makes digital signage displays ideal in industry; however there is one problem with using the average LCD type screen in industry—protection.

Protection for Shopfloor Screens

Industrial and manufacturing areas have many elements that can damage a modern TV screen. From dust, dirt grime and liquids to impacts and variable temperatures, the need for protection of a display screen is quite obvious.

Dust is one of the main problems in using an LCD in a shopfloor environment. Unlike home, office or retail locations, a digital signage display in a manufacturing area may have to encounter quite high levels of dust and airborne debris.

Dust can infiltrate a screen, causing overheating, short circuiting and can cover a display making it unreadable (although this can be wiped off fairly easily); however, failing to protect from dust can lead to a screen failing, often permanently.

The same can be said of water too, especially in areas where liquids are used liberally in cleaning such as in food production facilities. While in some locations, such as chillers or hot houses, temperature too can disable a screen.

LCD Enclosures

Often used for outdoor digital signage, LCD enclosures are also ideal for manufacturing and shopfloor use. The enclosures, house standard LCD (or plasma) screens and keep both dust and liquids out. LCD enclosures also contain temperature control modules maintaining the optimum conditions inside the enclosure for the screen to operate in. Furthermore, an LCD enclosure is tough and rugged and can withstand impacts and shocks that would normally disable a screen.