When starting an industrial automation or HMI project, one key question often comes up early: Should you choose a stainless steel panel PC or a standard industrial panel PC? While both are widely used, the right choice depends on where and how the system will operate.
Panel PC enclosure design directly affects durability, maintenance, and uptime. Factors such as exposure to water, cleaning requirements, hygiene standards, and long-term reliability play a critical role—and choosing the wrong industrial panel PC can lead to corrosion, downtime, and higher operating costs over time.
Understanding Industrial Panel PCs
A panel PC integrates a touchscreen display and an industrial computer into a single, compact system. These systems are commonly used for operator interfaces, machine control, production monitoring, and real-time data visualization.
Beyond CPU performance and screen size, the enclosure design and environmental protection level are critical considerations. Exposure to moisture, washdowns, cleaning chemicals, and physical stress all influence whether a stainless steel or standard industrial panel PC is the better choice for a project.
Stainless Steel Panel PCs: When They’re the Right Choice
Stainless steel panel PCs are designed for harsh industrial environments where water, cleaning chemicals, and hygiene requirements are part of daily operations. They are commonly used in food and beverage production, pharmaceutical manufacturing, and chemical processing facilities.
In these environments, systems are often mounted directly on production lines and exposed to frequent high-pressure washdowns. Stainless steel enclosures provide excellent resistance to corrosion, are easy to clean, and support long-term reliability in demanding conditions.
Water Resistance Panel PCs: Why Stainless Steel Matters
For washdown and hygienic applications, a water resistance panel PC plays a critical role in maintaining system uptime and meeting sanitation requirements. Stainless steel panel PCs are purpose-built to withstand high-pressure, high-temperature washdowns, repeated cleaning cycles, and exposure to harsh chemicals commonly found in food, beverage, pharmaceutical, and cleanroom environments. With sealed, fanless architectures and IP66 / IP69K protection, these systems help prevent water ingress, minimize contamination risk, and reduce unplanned maintenance—making them ideal for operations where reliability during daily cleaning is essential.
Washdown Industrial Panel PCs – SIO Series
The SIO Series is designed specifically for harsh, washdown environments. With a stainless steel enclosure, fanless thermal design, and full-system IP66/IP69K protection, these washdown industrial panel PCs help maintain reliable operation even during frequent cleaning cycles.
Key Features:
- Full SUS 316 stainless steel enclosure for corrosion resistance in harsh, hygienic environments
- IP66 / IP69K protection for high-pressure, high-temperature washdowns
- Full M12 I/O connectors for sealed, water-resistant connectivity
- Clear visibility with optical bonding and responsive 2-point PCAP touch
- Fanless, sealed design to prevent water ingress
>> Explore the SIO Washdown Panel PCs
Standard Industrial Panel PCs: When They’re the Right Choice
Standard industrial panel PCs are ideal for dry, controlled environments where washdowns and aggressive cleaning chemicals are not required. These systems are commonly deployed on factory floors, at operator stations, inside control cabinets, or in control rooms.
In these settings, standard industrial panel PCs offer a practical balance of reliability, flexibility, and cost efficiency. They are well suited for factory HMI, machine control, and automation tasks where environmental exposure is limited but dependable performance is still essential.
Standard Industrial Panel PCs for Factory HMI – VIO Series
The VIO Series is designed as a standard industrial panel PC for everyday factory and automation environments. Featuring IP65-rated front-panel protection, a fanless design, and modular expansion options, the VIO Series provides a cost-effective and flexible solution for a wide range of industrial HMI applications.
Key Features:
- Fanless, rugged design for reliable operation in industrial environments
- IP65-rated front panel protection for factory floor and cabinet installations
- Shock- and vibration-resistant construction for machine-mounted applications
- Flexible I/O and expansion options for diverse HMI and automation needs
- Built-in TPM 2.0 support for enhanced system security
>> Explore the VIO Standard Panel PCs
Stainless Steel vs Standard Industrial Panel PCs: Key Differences at a Glance
|
Category |
Stainless Steel Panel PCs (SIO Series) |
Standard Industrial Panel PCs (VIO Series) |
|
Ideal Applications |
Washdown, hygienic, and harsh environments |
Dry, controlled factory environments |
|
Environmental Protection |
High resistance to water, chemicals, and corrosion |
Front-panel IP protection for standard industrial use |
|
IP Rating |
Full system IP66 / IP69K |
IP65-rated front panel |
|
Hygiene & Cleanability |
Excellent; easy to sanitize and maintain |
Suitable for basic wipe-down cleaning |
|
Installation Areas |
Production lines, washdown zones, hygienic areas |
Factory floors, control rooms, cabinets |
|
Cost Consideration |
Higher upfront cost, lower long-term risk |
Lower upfront cost, cost-effective deployment |
How to Decide: Which Industrial Panel PC Is Right for Your Project?
Choosing the right industrial panel PC isn’t about selecting the most advanced or most expensive option. It’s about matching the system to real operating conditions and long-term project requirements.
Environment and Exposure
Projects exposed to water, cleaning chemicals, or frequent washdowns typically require stainless steel panel PCs. In dry, controlled environments, standard industrial panel PCs are often sufficient.
Hygiene and Industry Requirements
Food, beverage, and pharmaceutical applications often require stainless steel panel PCs to support sanitation and compliance. Standard industrial panel PCs are suitable where hygiene regulations are minimal.
Reliability and Uptime Expectations
For 24/7 operations where downtime is costly, stainless steel panel PCs offer added durability. Standard industrial panel PCs perform reliably in lower-stress environments.
Installation Location
Panel PCs mounted directly on machines or production lines face greater environmental risk than systems installed inside cabinets or control rooms.
Cost and Long-Term Value
Standard industrial panel PCs offer lower upfront costs and easier deployment, while stainless steel panel PCs often deliver better long-term value in harsh environments.
How Industrial Panel PCs Are Applied in Real-World Environments
Food & Beverage Production
Industrial panel PCs are used for HMI control, production monitoring, and quality checks directly on processing lines. Stainless steel panel PCs are preferred due to frequent washdowns and strict hygiene requirements.
Pharmaceutical & Chemical Facilities
Panel PCs support batch control, process visualization, and compliance-related tasks. Stainless steel systems are often selected to withstand aggressive cleaning and chemical exposure.
General Manufacturing & Automation
In dry, controlled environments, standard industrial panel PCs provide reliable performance and cost efficiency for machine control and factory HMI applications.
Conclusion: Choosing the Right Industrial Panel PC
Choosing between a stainless steel and standard industrial panel PC depends on how and where the system will be used. Stainless steel panel PCs are ideal for washdown, hygienic, and harsh environments, while standard industrial panel PCs provide a reliable and cost-effective solution for factory HMI and dry industrial applications.
By matching the panel PC design to real operating conditions, teams can improve uptime, reduce maintenance, and avoid unnecessary long-term costs.