Overview
Packaging inspection systems operate at the intersection of machine vision, automation, operator control, and production-line monitoring. For equipment deployed in food, beverage, pharmaceutical, and other processing environments, the operator interface must also withstand regular cleaning and demanding environmental conditions.
A specialized packaging inspection equipment manufacturer required an industrial computing platform that could provide touchscreen operation, reliable network and serial connectivity, Linux compatibility, and protection against washdown exposure.
Premio’s SIO-315-ASL 15" Stainless Steel Panel PC provided an integrated platform designed for these requirements. Combining a 15-inch touchscreen, fanless embedded computing, SUS316 stainless steel construction, waterproof M12 connectivity, and full-system IP66/IP69K protection, the SIO-315-ASL provided a more purpose-built foundation for industrial inspection equipment.
Company Overview
The customer develops advanced inspection equipment for packaging production lines serving food, beverage, pharmaceutical, and household chemical applications.
Its systems combine machine vision, inspection software, automation, and operator interfaces to detect product or packaging abnormalities while helping manufacturers maintain production quality and efficiency.
As these inspection platforms become increasingly connected and software-driven, the operator computing platform plays a larger role in machine control, visualization, connectivity, and overall system reliability.
The Challenges
Operating in a demanding washdown environment
Packaging equipment installed in sanitary or frequently cleaned production environments can be exposed to water, cleaning processes, and other contaminants.
A conventional industrial computer and display combination would introduce multiple potential ingress points through the enclosure, connectors, cabling, and mounting interfaces. The customer therefore needed a computing platform designed specifically for environments where washdown protection is a core requirement.
Providing reliable operator visibility and touchscreen control
Inspection equipment requires operators to quickly review system status, inspection results, alarms, and production information directly at the machine.
The interface needed to provide a sufficiently large display while maintaining reliable touchscreen operation in an industrial environment.
Integrating industrial networking and serial devices
The inspection platform needed connectivity for machine devices, production networks, and supporting equipment.
This required multiple Ethernet and serial interfaces as well as USB connectivity without relying on exposed conventional connectors that could compromise environmental protection.
Managing thermal requirements inside a sealed platform
Washdown-resistant systems create a different thermal challenge from open or conventionally ventilated industrial computers.
The computing platform therefore needed to provide enough processing capability for the inspection system while remaining compatible with fanless operation and the thermal constraints of a sealed stainless steel enclosure.
Simplifying mechanical and system integration
The customer needed the touchscreen computer to become part of the inspection machine rather than operate as a separate PC and monitor combination.
Mechanical dimensions, mounting, cabling, display integration, and connector placement therefore had to be considered together as part of the machine architecture.
The Solution
SIO-315-ASL 15" Stainless Steel Panel PC
Premio's SIO-315-ASL combines the operator display and embedded computer within a single industrial stainless steel platform.
The system features a 15-inch 4:3 XGA touchscreen, SUS316 stainless steel construction, optical bonding, scratch-resistant glass, and full-system IP66/IP69K protection. This integrated architecture reduces the need to separately design and protect a computer, touchscreen monitor, and their associated external connections.
Embedded Intel Atom processing for fanless operation
For the project configuration, the SIO-315-ASL can be equipped with the Intel Atom x7835RE processor, an 8-core, 12W option, providing embedded processing within the fanless stainless steel platform. The system supports 1× DDR5-4800 SODIMM up to 16GB and 1× M.2 B-key 2242 NVMe/SATA storage.
The fanless system is specified for operation from -10°C to 50°C, helping eliminate dependence on internal cooling fans while supporting deployment in industrial production environments.
Washdown-ready stainless steel construction
The SIO-315-ASL uses SUS316 stainless steel construction and provides full-system IP66/IP69K protection, making environmental protection part of the complete computing platform rather than simply a front-panel feature.
A SUS316L pressure vent and M12-based industrial connectivity further support installation in equipment exposed to frequent cleaning processes.
This architecture gives the equipment manufacturer a stronger foundation for integrating the operator interface directly into washdown-capable inspection machinery.
Industrial M12 connectivity
The SIO-315-ASL provides the interfaces required to connect the panel PC with surrounding inspection and automation equipment:
- 2× 2.5GbE LAN
- 2× COM
- 2× USB 2.0
- Optional Wi-Fi 6E expansion through an M.2 E-key
The LAN, COM, USB, and power connections use M12 interfaces to support industrial machine integration. The system also supports optional waterproof LAN, COM, and USB cables.
Linux-compatible platform
The inspection equipment's software environment required Linux support.
The SIO-315-ASL supports Ubuntu 22.04 and Ubuntu 24.04 LTS, allowing the customer to run its inspection and machine-interface software on an established industrial Linux platform. Windows 10 IoT Enterprise LTSC and Windows 11 IoT Enterprise LTSC are also supported for projects requiring Windows-based deployment.
Integrated industrial touchscreen
The 15-inch display provides 1024 × 768 XGA resolution, 450-nit brightness, wide viewing angles, and optical bonding. The standard projected capacitive touchscreen provides 7H surface hardness, IK07 protection, and glove-mode support.
For an inspection machine, this allows the same platform to serve as both the embedded computing system and the local operator interface / HMI.
Flexible machine mounting
With dimensions of approximately 385 × 310 × 49.5 mm, the SIO-315-ASL maintains a relatively thin integrated form factor for machine-side installation.
The system includes 100 × 100 mm VESA mounting holes, with an optional yoke mount available, giving the equipment manufacturer additional flexibility when positioning the interface around the inspection station.
The Benefits
Improved readiness for washdown production environments
SUS316 stainless steel construction, full-system IP66/IP69K protection, M12-based industrial connectivity, and fanless operation provide a computing platform better aligned with demanding packaging and processing environments.
Simplified machine integration
Combining the computer and touchscreen into one industrial panel PC reduces the number of separate components that must be mounted, connected, protected, and maintained within the inspection system.
Direct connectivity to inspection and automation equipment
Dual 2.5GbE LAN, dual COM, and dual USB provide the core connectivity required for networking, serial devices, peripherals, and surrounding automation equipment.
Better operator interaction
The integrated 15-inch touchscreen provides operators with a dedicated interface for monitoring inspection results, machine conditions, alarms, and production information directly at the equipment.
Platform flexibility for long-term equipment deployment
With embedded Intel processor options, DDR5 memory, M.2 storage and wireless expansion, Linux support, and standardized industrial connectivity, the SIO-315-ASL provides a platform that can support continued system development without requiring the OEM to independently engineer the computer, display, and environmental enclosure.
Conclusion
Packaging inspection equipment requires more than processing performance alone. The computing platform must bring together operator interaction, industrial connectivity, environmental protection, mechanical integration, and dependable operation within the same machine architecture.
For this packaging inspection application, Premio’s SIO-315-ASL 15" Stainless Steel Panel PC provided an integrated approach to machine-side computing. Its SUS316 stainless steel construction, full-system IP66/IP69K protection, embedded Intel processing, Linux support, M12 connectivity, dual 2.5GbE LAN, dual COM, dual USB, and industrial touchscreen give equipment manufacturers a purpose-built platform for demanding inspection environments.
By consolidating the operator interface and embedded computer into one washdown-ready system, Premio helped create a clearer path toward reliable, production-ready packaging inspection equipment.
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