The Importance of Using Industrial PCs & Monitors to Ensure Safety and Compliance in Food Processing

The food industry operates under strict regulations to ensure food products are processed in a sanitised environment. The consequences for consumers and for businesses due to a violation of food safety regulations can be hefty. Any infringement of regulations can incur heavy penalties, and with good reason too, given the damaging consequences of food contamination on consumer health. From a business perspective, an incident will not only damage the brand’s reputation but also the company’s profitability.

Machinery and equipment used in food manufacturing environments are built specifically to withstand the harsh and often wet processes. Advances in technology have led to increased adoption of computerisation and automation in modern food factories, so as to achieve greater efficiencies and precision in production. However, the hostile environment in food processing plants can present challenges when operating standard PCs, which cannot withstand wash downs and temperature extremes.

Maintaining a smooth computerised operation in a food processing environment, that is both financially viable and efficient, while strictly adhering to the food safety regulations governing the food industry is a balancing act that requires careful consideration.

Why standard PCs aren’t up to standards

When a standard personal computer is used in a food processing environment it will come up short in performance, durability and lifespan due to the harsh processing environments. Computers and monitors in food processing environments will often come into contact with a range of substances; therefore they need to be regularly cleaned and sanitised.

When standard PCs or monitors are exposed to water, soiling and temperature extremes, it can lead to corrosion, creating a contamination risk in the highly sanitised food processing environment. Therefore, a standard PC or monitor would not only malfunction quite quickly under such circumstances, it could also easily contaminate the food that is being processed.

Using specialised industrial computers and monitors a must, not a choice

Food processing environments need specialised computers and monitors that help the plant improve the efficiency and productivity of the processing equipment, while remaining unaffected by the harsh conditions. Specialised industrial computers and monitors in the food industry not only streamline data access and improve product traceability, but also increase accuracy in product assembly and distribution through computerised management of the processes.

Using industrial computers and monitors can also help to reduce the long-term expenses of a business, as specialised industrial equipment will normally last a lot longer in rigorous environments, compared to standard PCs. Most importantly, specialised industrial computers and monitors can deliver all of these benefits without presenting any risk of contamination to the food manufacturing process.

Interworld Electronics provides the solution

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Industrial computers and monitors built with stainless steel have numerous advantages and are strong enough to withstand harsh environments and requirements. Due to its hygienic properties, anti-corrosion, germ-resistance, anti-oxidation and easy-to-clean features, stainless steel products are able to reach the high sanitation standard that is being applied in the food and beverage industry.

Interworld Electronics offers a broad range of stainless steel industrial panel computers and monitors designed to perform reliably in food processing applications. The company’s purpose-built computers and monitors not only deliver the benefits of technology to food production, but with their rugged stainless steel enclosures can also withstand the rigorous conditions of food manufacturing environments and meet regulatory requirements, negating concerns about food contamination or breaching Australian food standards.

Designed to perform at the coalface of food production to maximise operational benefits, the range of stainless steel computers and displays also feature IP66/IP69K dustproof/waterproof ratings. This prevents any dust or water entering the system, and also allows the computer or monitor to continue to operate even with extensive wash downs using high pressure and/or high temperature water.

A variety of options to meet a variety of needs

Interworld Electronics has a wide range of stainless steel computers and monitors, including the ViTAM series and FABS series.

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The ViTAM series of panel PCs comes in a range of screen sizes from 10–24″, as well as a range of different computing performance levels, including Celeron N2930, and Gen 6 and 8 Core i3 or i5 processors. The panel PCs are fully sealed on all six sides, providing IP66/69K dustproof/waterproof protection from all angles. The series also has a range of features including: SUS304/316 (optional) stainless steel enclosure, optional high brightness 1000 nits sunlight readable screen, RFID reader, VESA or Yoke mountable, and optional resistive or projected capacitive touch screens.

The ViTAM series of monitors also comes in a range of screen sizes from 10–24″, and are fully sealed on all six sides, providing IP66/69K dustproof/waterproof protection. The series monitors also come with a range of features including: SUS304/316 (optional) stainless steel enclosure, optional high brightness 1000 nits sunlight readable screen, VESA or Yoke mountable, and optional resistive or projected capacitive touch screens.

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The FABS series of HMI controllers comes in a range of screen sizes from 7–21.5″, as well as a range of different computing performance levels, including Celeron N2930, and Gen 6 Core i3 or i5 processors. With its stainless steel front bezel IP66/69K dustproof/waterproof protection, the series is an ideal panel mounted solution. The series also has a range of key features including: the optional high brightness 1000 nits sunlight readable screen, and optional resistive or projected capacitive touch screens.

The FABS series of monitors come in a range of screen sizes from 7–21″, and also have the stainless steel front bezel which provides IP66/69K protection to the front panel. The series of monitors also have a range of key features including: the optional high brightness 1000 nits sunlight readable screen, and optional resistive or projected capacitive touch screens.

The rugged, long-lasting design of the company range of stainless steel industrial computers and monitors makes them ideal for the food processing industry. They are able to withstand the harsh environments of food processing, due to the waterproof, dustproof, wide operating temperature range and corrosion resistance that the stainless steel construction and waterproof design provides.

Learn more about Interworld Electronics and our range of products here.