All-weather outdoor digital menu boards are the perfect means to engage customers and make ordering ‘fast food’ quicker and easier.

As Quick Service Restaurants (QSRs) continue to implement vibrant and easy-to-read outdoor digital menu boards at stores across the country, many significant details must be considered before making the final decision to “go digital.” When researching a partner, QSRs should always inquire about three very important aspects, which may be called upon in the unlikely event of an outage: the warranty, the support system, and the Service Level Agreement (SLA).

Before deploying outdoor digital menu boards in a drive-thru, one should first ask themselves, “If the boards fail for any reason, what is the backup plan?”

 More and more Quick Service Restaurants (QSRs) are turning to digital menu boards inside and out. However, in the unlikely event of failure of one of the components of a digital board, how can a QSR continue to service their customers in the drive thru? The goal of an outdoor digital menu system is to increase sales, easily update day part menus and pricing, save money on costly printing of large format menus, show that the restaurant is modern, and promote Limited Time Offers (LTOs). From media players to eye-catching/high bright LCDs to IT networks to enclosure systems, there are a number of moving electronic elements that make up the complete digital signage solution. Even the most reliable enclosure and electronics can experience unpredicted failures. Creating a backup plan for these events is extremely smart and important, because the store never wants to lose revenue (both at the drive-thru and inside).

Expensive equipment can overheat inside of a sealed pc enclosure, thus causing electronics to cease working or, at the very least, drastically slow down. Some type of cooling or heating (in frigid, cooler environments) is necessary to maintain a consistent, medium temperature during operating and non-operating hours. By keeping electronics operating at optimal temperatures, a company will save money and a lot of precious time!

Digital signage solutions are a natural fit for healthcare related industries that wish to improve communications within their communities or professional offices.

Digital signage can engage, communicate, direct, and, above all, educate patients. With new technological and innovative advances like all-in-one systems and integrated touch-screen displays, digital signage can be easily and securely added and supported throughout a care-facility. However, the overall protection of patients, visitors and employees is extremely vital. Many institutions source LCD enclosures for wayfinding, advertising, lobbies, hospital hallways, cafeterias, and waiting rooms. Dirty, germ-filled magazines in waiting rooms can be a thing of the past!

Organizing and securing server and network equipment is a must for IT departments and industrial companies of all sizes.

Finding the perfect enclosure is not always an easy task. Safely securing equipment is just one factor that is applicable. Before buying enclosures for a factory or floor use, there are a number of questions that a company should carefully answer. 

A number of challenges present themselves when deploying sensitive electronics in a manufacturing setting.

Computer enclosures make for a safe, reliable way for system integrators to protect equipment. However, before agreeing upon a computer enclosure for a harsh, industrial environment, a number of significant issues should be considered. For example, what kind of material should the enclosure be made of or how many peripherals will be stored inside of the enclosure? The following 6 items should play a key role in the enclosure selection process.

When a Quick Service Restaurant (QSR) is interested in deploying outdoor digital menu boards, ease of use, reliability, and scalability of the hardware and software solution is essential.

QSR’s are constantly coming up with the next big product, delicious value meals, or the wittiest of branding messages. Digital menus makes it possible to ‘change it up’ on a weekly, daily, or even hourly basis. Although it might seem costly in the beginning, digital menu boards can pay for themselves in the long run. Digital menu boards can reduce costs on exorbitant advertising materials/signage, are designed to be more energy efficient, and will save time/money with swift updates!

In most manufacturing settings, electrical and electronic equipment is housed in an industrial computer enclosure that is specifically designed to protect against the exterior environment (which is often harsh or hazardous). However, even in a sealed NEMA rated enclosure, moisture and water can enter the enclosure under a variety of circumstances. The designated person in charge of quality control should note issues that may occur and stop them before they have a chance to destroy equipment that is vital for the company.

In most cases, electronics overheating will ruin chances for their survival and effectiveness.

In order to work properly, most commercial grade LCDs need to reside in an environment that is between 40° F – 104° F. Conversely, there are also LCDs available - in the ever-increasing marketplace - that are referred to as “In Plane Switching” (IPS) panels. IPS displays boast a much higher heat tolerance on the front of the screen, which allows for a less complex cooling scheme. However, when deploying LCDs outdoors, one must also take into consideration the other electronics that will be installed inside of the enclosure. What heat will they give off? In addition to the LCD, thermal management must be adequate enough for the media player, because it is the heart and soul of the entire electronic arrangement.

Food and beverage settings require the utmost cleanliness!

When using electronics in production areas, it is important to keep them dry and still maintain a sanitary environment. The collective, protective requirement regulations for electronic equipment, deployed in industrial environments, have given rise to safety classifications developed by a number of manufacturing organizations, notably the National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA). Enclosure classifications of specific relevance to wash-down environments is referred to as NEMA 4X. The operative descriptors for NEMA 4X (indoor or outdoor) enclosures are airtight protection against hose‐directed water and resistance to corrosion and harsh chemicals, which normally dictates stainless steel construction. Proper wash-down cleaning can remove the possibility of contamination or costly recalls caused by unsanitary conditions.