In industrial manufacturing, touch screens have become a central component of many devices and machines, gradually replacing the traditional push-button operation as one of the key devices in modern industrial machines. Industrial machines with touch screens are not only very different from traditional machines in terms of operation, they are also more efficient, convenient and precise. The biggest difference from traditional industrial machines is the way they are operated. Instead of the traditional manual operation of the buttons, the various movements are selected and operated by touching the screen directly. Industrial machines with touch screens are therefore often referred to as direct-touch industrial control equipment.
Touch-screen applications in industrial environments have the following main advantages:
1. Controlling and monitoring production lines: In industrial production lines, it is vital to control and monitor equipment. Touchscreens can help operators control equipment and operational processes, monitor production line flow and review production data. Touchscreens also make control panels more flexible, allowing on-screen controls and operating menus to be easily updated if equipment or operating processes need to be changed or upgraded.
2. Help with troubleshooting: As production automation continues to evolve, it is becoming increasingly difficult to troubleshoot and fault-treat machines and equipment. Touch screens can help operators to check and diagnose problems with machines. They can provide gauges and charts to better monitor equipment performance, locate faults, and perform preventive maintenance work.
3. Simplify operation: For many complex industrial equipment, familiarity with and use of multiple controls and menus is required to achieve the desired operation. Touch screens help operators to do this easily. The buttons and menus on touchscreens can be customised to suit different equipment and operations, and feature a more intuitive interface for easier operation, greatly simplifying operations.
There are several other benefits of touchscreens. For example, operation is more intuitive and easy, making it more accessible to workers. In addition, touchscreens can help companies achieve better environmental results. This is because touchscreens neither require the consumption of large amounts of paper for controls and data displays, nor do they require a large number of other physical controllers to perform control functions. All of this reduces waste and saves businesses money. Touchscreens also have a much cleaner cable layout and are easier to install and commission.