EPN Industrial Automation Blog

Automation abroad

In many environments where automation would be very beneficial, e.g. for worker’s health, conditions are thoroughly adverse for machinery and sensitive embedded computers. Moreover, systems must be usable with protective gloves.

Japan: News from Distributors

European and international distributors offer online information about the delivery and supply situation regarding their Japanese linecards.

More Panel-PCs for the UK

After a rather long dry spell, the British industry is receiving interest again from foreign suppliers and producers. Germany-based input specialist Hoffmann+Krippner expands its UK operations with a new company in order to deliver customizable Panel-PCs.

embedded world 2011: The industrial touch

Ruggedized touch panel computers can serve as control front ends for industrial networking systems. However, the usually delicate touch screens have to withstand all kinds of mistreatment.

Good things come to those who wait

The close and long-lived cooperation between DSM Computer and Able Design is ending up in a merger: With the integration of display provider Able Design the manufacturer of embedded systems and industrial PCs DSM Computer plans to improve its competence within the market of “Industrial Public Display Systems” providing complete solutions for industrial process visualisation and professional digital signage systems.

Glass with an edge

Astonishingly, many of the requirements for embedded computers in extremely dirty and rough industrial environments are quite similar to those in ultra-hygienic applications. With this in mind it's manifest to serve those different markets with only one design.

Sunshine on my display

You may have experienced the disappointingly poor quality of the visual experience on your mobile devices — particularly when it comes to watching a movie, mobile TV or still pictures. While this is just an inconvenience, it can become a safety-critical issue on handheld terminals for field operation in industrial applications. Even with the advancements being made in mobile display technology, they still fall short in terms of adequate contrast ratio for viewing high quality multimedia content. Reflecting sunshine can make this experience even worse. The fundamental problem can be summarized in two four-letter-words. In order to avoid heart attacks while trying to read the information on a floodlit display, QuickLogic has signed an agreement with German, Munich-based, Data Display to bring VEE to industrial and digital signage applications.

embedded world 2010 Exhibition&Conference: Innovation drives Optimism

For the experts of embedding computing the upcoming trade show embedded world 2010 may be a special highlight: The venue not only sets standards and records every year. Despite the difficult economic conditions, the industry’s international get-together continues to grow with innovation that reflects the dynamic of this market.

Intelligence and looks

The “UMR 5” series of displays by Anders Electronics has a new member: The “Anders 5.7” display platform” with a size of (obviously) 5.7 inches and VGA resolution (640 x 480 pixels). Target applications are industrial and medical devices; the manufacturer guarantees long term availability and promises easy integration of colour, touch and embedded functionality.

One-hand motion

The T20, newest member of Keba’s KeTop product family of operating terminals is supposed to ensure maximum freedom of movement by means of one-hand operation. The device can be fitted with a variety of operating elements such as key switches, push buttons, hand wheels, potentiometers, or axis selection switches and can thus be adapted to every application. Target applications are control, teaching and visualization.