As technology progresses, it is more and more vital to have computers on the factory or plant floor.  However, if they are not properly protected in a computer enclosure, the shelf life of the computer could be very short. Dirt, dust, and even liquids can ruin a tower rather quickly and it will cost time and money to repair or completely replace.  

Some applications may not require an "all-in-one" industrial enclosure that has enough space for the PC, monitor, keyboard or printer.  If all you need is to keep the PC safe, a desktop or tower pc enclosure will be your most efficient and cost effective solution.

If you don't know where or what to look for, finding the right enclosure protection can be rather difficult.

Change is good.  It keeps life fresh and exciting.

Change is also good when it comes to changing your outdoor messaging in your drive-thru menu.  Has your company considered Quick Service Restaurant digital menu board enclosures with drive-thru lanes in mind?  Being able to quickly and efficiently change your menu’s options, pricing, specials, calorie information, and more is an easy change to make with digital.  Outdoor digital menu boards provide your company with the most attractive and functional solution for all of your outdoor messaging.  It also gives your customers an all-new drive-thru experience, which makes your restaurant more appealing and hip.

"I will provide the LCD for my outdoor digital signage project."

If you are in the manufacturing field, you have probably used a Zebra barcode label printer. 

When it comes to printing out multiple labels in various sizes, colors, and shapes, Zebra is top of the line, not to mention very innovative.  With just a few quick keystrokes, your company can have slick, branded labels for all of your shipping boxes and packaging.

Zebra printers are usually located on a plant floor, exposed to dirt, dust, soot, coffee, and various other harmful elements.  Although the printer is meant for industrial applications, it cannot withstand a dirty environment with extreme hot and cold temperatures.  Utilizing the correct zebra printer enclosure will be just the ticket to maximizing the lifetime of your printer and protecting against costly downtime.

Deploying a computer in a hazardous area - where do you start?

The need to install computer enclosures in hazardous, classified locations is very common.  Process control, measuring and recording equipment exists in virtually every manufacturing process.  The requirement for explosion proof enclosures is extremely critical.

Hazardous, classified locations are defined as areas in manufacturing facilities where the atmosphere may contain flammable concentrations of gas, vapors or ignitable concentrations of dust or fibers.  It is customary for system designers and IT managers to specify the use of a NEMA 4 or NEMA 4X industrial computer enclosure with a pressurized purge system for these environments.

A purge system installed on a hazardous area computer enclosure will prevent ambient particulate or gas from entering the enclosure and ensure the safety of operators and equipment.

How do I select the RIGHT LCD for a digital menu solution?

Choosing the correct LCD to use in an outdoor digital menu board is crucial to the success of the solution.  On average, 70% of a Quick Service Restaurant’s business comes from the drive-thru.  It is important to select the correct outdoor solution that will not only increase sales but will be visible 24/7 despite the environmental conditions that may exist. 

Many QSRs do not consider the importance of using a commercial-grade LCD outdoors.  However, using the incorrect LCD can cause display failures, downtime and a poor customer experience.  There are several factors to take into consideration when choosing an LCD for an outdoor digital menu board.

Should my Quick Service Restaurant employ a presell and full digital menu board in the drive-thru?

We cannot stress enough the importance of clearly defining your menu board content strategy. As a restaurant owner/operator, you should be able to determine what you want to accomplish with an outdoor digital menu board. Once you have determined your company’s goals and objectives, you can develop a effective strategy to implement digital menus in your drive-thru.

Why does a Quick Service Restaurant want to employ outdoor digital drive-thru menu boards?

Making the decision to switch from static to digital menu boards is a significant decision, especially in the drive-thru.  Before this decision is made, you must ask yourself “Why do you want digital menus?”  If your response is “Digital menu boards are cool” or “My competitor is doing it, so I should too”, you have a tough road ahead.  Defining your company’s goals and objectives will help you develop an effective and successful outdoor digital menu board strategy.

A number of challenges exist when deploying computer equipment in a manufacturing environment.

Extreme temperature fluctuations, dirt, grease and splashing fluids are problematic for electronics.  Prior to implementing on the plant floor, the system designer has the option of specifying an industrially hardened computer or an appropriately sealed industrial enclosure to be used with a general-purpose computer.  Either solution can perform admirably but over time the choice between the two will be an investment decision that will balance lifetime costs, operational stability and versatility.

In general, the higher initial purchase price of an industrial computer will offset the cost of a less expensive general-purpose computer and PC enclosure.  It is important to understand the differences between the two solutions after the system is deployed into production.

Select the RIGHT Outdoor LCD enclosure!

Digital signage is everywhere! Most outdoor applications require some type of enclosure to protect the LCD and media player from weather, temperature fluctuations and vandalism.  When chosen correctly, a LCD enclosure will ensure operation, up time and integrity to the overall solution.