How to Choose an Industrial Panel PC: 7 Factors for Manufacturing Teams

1. Screen Size

Choose screen size based on how far your operator stands and how much data needs to be visible at once. Common sizes: 10.1" (close-range single operator), 15" (standard workstation), 21.5" (supervisor station or SCADA display).

2. IP Rating (Ingress Protection)

IP65 is the minimum for most factory floors. Pharma and food & beverage environments require IP66 or IP67 for wash-down resistance. Outdoor installations may need IP69K.

3. Processor & RAM

For HMI runtime: Intel Atom or Celeron (4GB RAM) is sufficient. For SCADA/MES with multiple data sources: Intel Core i5/i7 (8–16GB RAM) recommended.

4. Operating Temperature Range

Standard industrial PCs operate at 0°C to 50°C. If your environment goes below 0°C (cold storage) or above 50°C (near furnaces or boilers), specify an extended temperature model (-20°C to 70°C).

5. Connectivity Ports

Count your required ports before you buy: COM ports for PLCs, USB for peripherals, LAN ports for SCADA, DIO for I/O signals, HDMI for secondary display.

6. Fanless vs Fan-Cooled

Short version: fanless for dusty/vibrating environments, fan-cooled only where ambient temperature exceeds 55°C consistently.

7. After-Sales Support in India

Ensure your supplier has local India support — firmware updates, RMA handling, and on-site troubleshooting. TSL Automation provides full after-sales support for all Avalue and Cermate products supplied through us.

Contact TSL Automation Solutions to discuss your application requirements and get a recommendation for the right Panel PC model.