Display for people moving applications.

Beijer Electronics has signed an agreement with Otis valued at more than 150 MSEK (€144m). Otis is part of the listed United Technologies group, the world’s leading manufacturer and maintainer of people-moving products, including elevators, escalators and moving walkways. Otis offers products and services through its companies in approximately 200 countries and territories.

The contract spans over a period of five years for the supply of display solutions for Otis product line Compass®. The agreement confirms Beijer Electronics ambition to have some of the world’s leading global companies as core customers in long-term relationships.

Beijer Electronics offers fully integrated and flexible display solutions, tailored to match mission-critical requirements.

“We are delighted to have been chosen by Otis to provide a custom display solution that will help drive Otis’s success in the market now and in the future. This is the beginning of a partnership for many years that will benefit both organizations.” says Haden Howell, Vice President, Key Accounts, Beijer Electronics.

Beijer Electronics sees the agreement as a confirmation of the corporate strategy: "Our processes now fully match the requirements of large enterprises with high demands and attention to detail, and we are thrilled to take the next steps together with Otis in our collaboration." says Stefan Lager, CEO of Beijer Electronics.

Deliveries starts in spring 2020 and will gradually contribute positively to Beijer Electronics’ result during the year.

#Transportation @beijerinc @OtisElevatorCo

Data in the cloud!

Beijer Electronics’ cloud solution with acirro+ provides a new opportunity to get insights to streamline a machine’s operation and improve operations.

The business of makers of Things, machine builders or providers of other technical equipment, runs on data. Data that can tell when machines are running efficiently and indicate when maintenance or other measures need to be introduced.

The threshold to accelerating into digital has never been lower than now, closing the gap between OT and IT. Beijer Electronics’ X2 HMIs and BoX2 devices are now IIoT ready by standard and fully prepared to help clients to move their machine data to the cloud.

A secure cloud connection is easily set up in the acirro+ platform to start moving machine data to the cloud. The solution is simple to implement on a machine without needing to re-wire an existing installation or re-program an existing application.

Data in the cloud enables customers to analyse and understand past events using large amounts of historical data. Diagnose outages quicker and shorten time to resolution. Understanding evolution patterns, average variations and peak data changes are essential. Historical data helps customers forecast future events and act upon them.

With data securely stored in the cloud, customers are able to create visual dashboards that combine different data sources, no matter how simple or complex, into a single view including bar graphs, pie charts, etc. Key performance indicators from machines can be viewed in real or near-real time using the runtime dashboard.

#PAuto @beijerinc 

Distributor for British market

Beijer Electronics announces the signing of a new British distributor, TLA. The signing of TLA is a stepping stone in the continuing growth of Beijer Electronics in that market and follows the company’s expansion of their direct sales staff earlier this year.

TLA will market and support Beijer Electronics’ range of HMI (human-machine interface) products which includes operator panels, HMI software and industrial PCs for industrial and rugged environments.

Richard Ainley, UK Sales Manager for Beijer Electronics, commented: “TLA are an excellent fit to Beijer Electronics and the UK operation, which is now expanding very rapidly. TLA’s extensive sales force will have a positive impact in the UK market place and they will add value to the products by offering ex stock delivery, technical support and even full project design and programming."

High performance inverters

Beijer Electronics has expanded its drives offer with a new range of high performance inverters of own brand.

Beijer Electronics Performance Inverters P2 combine premium control with high performance, reliability and ease of use.

P2 inverters are capable of controlling both standard induction motors and permanent magnet motors. The inverters offer open loop vector control of standard induction motors providing up to 200% torque from zero speed as well as closed loop encoder feedback capability.

For the latest generation of high efficiency PM motors the inverters offer open and closed loop control. The choice of control method and motor type provides premium control and optimum energy efficiency for the actual application.

Extensive I/O and communications interface capabilities ensure the drive can be integrated quickly and efficiently into a wide variety of control systems and the simple parameter structure with carefully selected factory settings provide fast and easy commissioning.

The Beijer Electronics Performance Inverters P2 are available in different frame sizes in the range of 0.75-160kW with a range of options as e.g. single or three phase input, main switch, Ethernet and fieldbuses, etc.

Communication equipment for rail cars

Beijer Electronics has through its subsidiary Westermo won a large order of some 30 million SEK ($4 million) from Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) as the end customer.

The order is a breakthrough for Beijer Electronics and Westermo's new solution for IP communication to the railway segment (Westermo IP-train solution) and it confirms the group's world leading position in this area. The order is also one of Beijer Electronics' single largest orders.

The order comprises communication equipment such as switches and routers for 364 rail cars. First deliveries will take place during the fourth quarter 2013 and deliveries will run for 2.5 years. There is a potential for additional orders as part of WMATA's upgrade of Washington's metro and train network.

Beijer Electronics' order for communication equipment is a part of an information system for the trains that will be delivered by Toshiba, thus Westermo's direct customer. Crucial for Toshiba's choice of Westermo's IP-train solution is the system's robustness and reliability in very harsh environments. The communication system also comprises specific functions for control and surveillance which will bring enhanced security.

Westermo has for nearly two years pursued an intensive work in developing the new solution for IP communication within the railway segment. Launch took place at the end of last year. In 2012, Westermo has also received two smaller orders for the system to new customers. The large order from Toshiba and WMATA testifies that the transition to IP based communication within the railway segment now has begun in earnest and Beijer Electronics sees a great potential in the global market.

Consistent HMI from compact to complex

Beijer Electronics has several new operator panel models in three integrated families, completing their offering of panels for every application in terms of performance and display size. From basic to complex applications, customers can now choose a consistent panel design and easily scale HMI projects between them. The new operator panels are optimized for the upgraded HMI software iX 2.0.

Hardware and software made for each other
Designed and built with aluminum housing, IP-rated sealing and quality components, Beijer Electronics’ new operator panels are robust and ensure reliable operation based on the iX software. All models come with a comprehensive list of drivers, enabling connectivity to most equipment from all major vendors.


Performance levels to suit any needs
Beijer Electronics’ new HMI solution comes in display sizes from four to 21 inches, built on three different CPUs to offer a competitive solution for every type of application. The smaller TxA models run on an ARM9 CPU and offer a highly cost-efficient solution with solid HMI functionality for small and medium-sized applications. The mid-range TxB models, running on the powerful Intel® Atom CPU, deliver high performance suitable for medium to large HMI applications, requiring handling of more data and utilizing more functionality. With the TxC series, built on the Intel® iCore CPU, Beijer Electronics takes HMI to the industrial PC level, delivering a wide range of connectivity options and high performance for larger projects. All models feature high-resolution displays, several in wide screen format and the largest model, the 21-inch TxC, even supports full HD.

The fastest way from idea to application
Beijer Electronics’ new generation HMI software, iX 2.0, and new families of operator panels constitute the company’s market-driven concept HMI at the speed of thought, which focuses on minimizing the distance between the HMI idea and the fully deployable, intuitive, application. The development software has a familiar Windows® based environment and offers refined engineering tools and improved ribbon menu, all of which ensure substantial time gains for project developers.

New HMI takes engineers from idea to result faster

Human machine interface technology take a giant leap forward with the launch of Beijer Electronics’ new iX 2.0 HMI software and new generation operator panels. Summed up in the market-driven concept HMI at the speed of thought, the iX HMI solution both speeds up project development and makes the application faster and more efficient to navigate.

The fastest way from idea to application
The iX 2.0 development software minimizes the distance between the HMI idea and the fully deployable, intuitive, application. Smarter engineering tools and an improved ribbon menu set in a familiar Windows® based environment ensure substantial time gains for project developers.

User-friendly and efficient operation
An industrial HMI has never been more intuitive than the new iX HMI solution from Beijer Electronics. Implementing navigation tools used in everyday applications such as mobile devices, iX 2.0 creates new ways to interact with machines using scroll and swipe gestures. Software features such as the unique “Action menu”, which enable a multi-level menu system and fast execution of actions, and the well-known “Roller panel” both help put the most relevant information right where the operator needs it, saving screen space and enabling manual-free operation in the process. With more intuitive applications that help operators make the right decisions, operation becomes safer and productivity increases.

New ways to personalise
Companies are looking for new ways to increase business value and strengthen their brands. Beijer Electronics meets this growing market trend with the launch of the HMI software iX 2.0, offering many ways to personalize the application – even including customizing the system dialogs. A visual expression in line with the machine and company brand help machine builders and others sharpen their competitive edge. The iX software offers full HMI functionality and is ready to use as it is, but also offers the possibility to add, e.g., .NET components and create customized functionality through C# scripting since the software is based on the Microsoft® .NET Framework.

Easy distribution of information
Beijer Electronics’ operator panels can share information with each other via panel networks, regardless of size or performance, which makes it easy to share information between users and provides safer control of complex machines also over long distances. The panels can act as OPC UA server and client, enabling distribution of information between the factory floor and business or planning system, and the built-in report generator turns figures into Excel reports for saving or printing directly. As web servers, Beijer Electronics’ panels enable engineers to freely create web pages which operators and supervisors will be able to log in to from, e.g., mobile devices, thus facilitating more efficient operations.

Increasing the tempo in car factory

Just as with road traffic, planning, movement and tempo are also decisive when manufacturing cars. Volvo Cars is using Beijer Electronics' HMI solution iX to optimize the flow and thus rationalize its bodywork factory. The intuitive iX system is being used not only by operators and other production staff, but also in administration.

The heart of the Swedish car industry is in Västra Götaland. Here Volvo Cars builds larger cars such as the XC90, S80 and V70. The smaller models in its range, such as the C30, V50, S60 and XC60, are manufactured at the plant in the Belgian city of Ghent. This factory, which currently employs around 3,000 people of 41 nationalities, actually consists of three closely interconnected factories. The first one manufactures the bodies, which are painted in the next one before moving on to final assembly. Volvo Cars' production is order-based. Following a few tough years for the car industry, there is now a tangible increase in demand. A recovering economy and a new owner, combined with the promising new V60 model, are contributing to the sense of positivism that permeates the air. "Even though we have small buffer stocks in various places, the flow through the factory is absolutely decisive for the production tempo, and thus also for profitability," says John Selander, who explains that it takes about three days, one for each factory, to produce a car.

Together with Andreas Pettersson and Thomas Bernhed, John Selander maintains and further develops the bodywork factory's automation systems. This means that these three colleagues have a major, important role to play in the team effort that has to produce 160,000 cars every year that are both safe and enjoyable to drive.

Optimized flow
John Selander points up to the ceiling of the bright, surprisingly quiet bodywork factory, where a two-shift system operates. To judge by the 46-inch monitors, which show all stations colored green, right now everything's just as it should be. All in all, a dozen or so large screens have been installed at various places around the factory. It is strategically important that all employees can easily monitor production status: "By being able to quickly identify any possible problems and bottlenecks in the production lines, we can reduce setup times and optimize the flow."

From the "bridge" Andreas Pettersson
monitors the bodywork factory closely

The large screens are one effect of the technology shift that took place in autumn 2009, when iX from Beijer Electronics replaced an ageing SCADA program of the SattLine type as the master system.
The upgrade took place to keep up with the times - and to facilitate development and support:
"It's become increasingly difficult to find programmers who master SattLine, and at the same time we were attracted by features such as the vector-based graphics in iX," explains Thomas Bernhed.

Full control
The entire manufacturing process in the bodywork factory is monitored from the permanently staffed "bridge". In the past this was simply a bridge that was raised above the factory floor to provide a view over the whole plant. Today's bridge is a normal office, albeit crammed with technology, where the operator has full control via monitors and video cameras. "The operator's summary screen is the same one as is shown on the big screens out in the factory," explains Thomas Bernhed, who was responsible for HMI programming, as he shows us how easy it is to click down to a detailed level for various stations.

Using the Windows-based development tool iX Developer, an intuitive master system has been created for production monitoring. The ease of use is proven by the breadth of use. Administrative staff and managers also log in to monitor the production status via the internal data network. Thomas Bernhed gives iX Developer top marks. He describes the tool as structured and easy to use for programmers. "It only took us a couple of weeks to create an initial version of the application, which we then supplemented and extended with more functions and screens."

Andreas Pettersson explains that Volvo Cars was invited by Beijer Electronics to be 'test pilots' even during the development phase for iX. Impressed by the inbuilt opportunities offered by iX, they started immediately to build this application. "Our stringent demands for operational reliability probably say it all about how well we thought that iX worked even then."

Profitable standard
Operational reliability and quality explain a relationship between Volvo Cars and Beijer Electronics that spans several years. The bodywork factory's first PLC from Beijer Electronics was installed back in 1993 – and the number that has broken down over the years doesn't take much counting.
The factory's robots, pressing and welding stations, and transport systems are now controlled by around 350 PLC units from the MELSEC family. These are controlled via more or less the same number of operator terminals. "We've standardized around MELSEC and have everything from small FX units to System Q," says Andreas Pettersson, who explains that operator terminals and frequency inverters are also bought from Beijer Electronics. Even if the PLC environment in this particular case is extremely uniform, the open architecture also favors iX. This HMI solution works on both operator panel and PC monitor, and together with a wide range of control systems. Data sharing in real time with SQL databases and OPC communication with third-party equipment and other IT systems are also no problem at all. There is no doubt at all that the "sneak preview" of iX whetted the appetite: "Many of our wishes have been met in the finished product. We've had and continue to have a good, open dialogue with Beijer Electronics and have received good support," says Thomas Bernhed.

One call is all it takes
The fact that the car company, with its skilled automation engineers as beta testers, has also made an important contribution for all of the other companies now using iX is evident. Erik Odhed is an account manager at Beijer Electronics' office in Gothenburg: "Our close collaboration and the opportunity during the development phase to try out iX in such a demanding, complex environment as car manufacturing was incredibly valuable," he says, explaining that the iX HMI solution was launched officially in spring 2010 and that it is now being used all around the world in a wide range of industrial environments.

As well as gaining a modern master system in iX, John Selander, Thomas Bernhed and Andreas Pettersson mention an additional benefit: "Having one single supplier for all key components, from PLC to HMI, means that one call is all it takes if you need help with any problems that may occur."

HMI – build versus buy...

Any manufacturer of complex machines or vehicles that include HMIs must face a crucial decision: should you build your own human-machine interfaces or should you buy these vital components ready-made or customized from an outside source?

The build versus buy decision is both important and complex, involving many tough questions.

Is developing the necessary hardware and software in-house the most cost-effective solution? Is such an engineering project consistent with your core competencies? Do your engineers have the time to develop these devices in house? Have you calculated the opportunity costs involved? Will a commercially available product line provide the features and operating reliability you require at a return on investment (ROI) you can afford?

A closer look
To help you solve the build versus buy dilemma, let us take a closer look at what is involved in designing, building, testing and maintaining a human machine interface system by outlining a typical product development cycle.

Planning
Begin by making an honest assessment of your engineering capabilities. Given your company’s core competencies and priorities as well as the opportunity costs involved. Is the design of a human-machine interface terminal the best use of precious engineering resources?

Design Phase
The first consideration in the engineering design phase is whether your engineers have the experience to design and build complex human-machine interface.

Next, consider that many aspects of electrical and mechanical design are highly specific, if not unique, to the requirements and constraints of the industrial environment. To mount components so they can withstand vibration and shock for example, or to seal displays and keypads from liquids, dust and other environmental hazards is highly specialized knowledge that most engineering design teams struggle to master. Developing those skills from scratch is a costly and time-consuming effort.

Finally, do not discount the complexity of software development for even a simple human-machine interface. Today, most displays provide graphical feedback to the human operator and intuitive navigational elements with a three-dimentional “look and feel”. The demands of programming in a graphical environment are many times more complex than programming for character-only displays.

Prototyping
It is important to prototype early and often in the design phase of a new product. Assess your company’s ability to develop mechanical prototypes quickly and cost effectively. Do your engineers have access to a 3D printer, for example, or will they have to send CAD files to an outside service?

Testing
How will your engineering team address the issues of testing both the hardware and software components? Does your team have the capability to design and build test fixtures and write the testing software? Also, fixtures and software must be created prior to the final assembly of a product. Does your company have the equipment to perform environmental tests?

Iteration
How many iterations of a design will your product development schedule allow? There are many potential failure points in the design and manufacture of a human-machine interface. Multiple re-designs and prototypes can use up critical weeks of development time. Yet most complex engineering projects require from three to six prototype stages to fully optimize the final product.

Final Testing and Certification
The final testing and certification could be a demanding discipline. Depending on the environment in which the machine will be used, HMIs may have to be tested for operation over for example extreme temperature ranges, as well as for thermal shock as devices are taken instantaneously from one temperature extreme to another. They may have to meet humidity requirements or be tested for sealing against immersion or high volume liquid spray. They may need to meet vibration and shock tests, and they must withstand electrostatic discharge and electromagnetic interference.

These tests are expensive and time consuming. Many of the environmental tests cannot be performed without specialized equipment and must be performed in a special laboratory. Regulatory certifications can take weeks or even months to schedule and pass.

Release to Manufacturing
The final release to manufacturing involves the generation of many types of documentation, including manufacturing documents, assembly drawings and flow diagrams. Repair manuals are required for service technicians and operator manuals for end users. The documentation task alone for an HMI involves many man hours of coordinated work, as well as a documentation tracking and updating system. Is your company ready to take on this task?

Sustaining Engineering
Once a human machine interface is incorporated into your product, the issues of maintenance, repair or replacement are major cost factors that must be planned for up front. If you source a terminal from a third party, product maintenance and repair will be covered by warranty, so no internal engineering effort is required on your part. In addition, when an HMI that you design requires an upgrade or becomes obsolete, your engineers will be responsible for the redesign.

Product Management
One of the hardest costs to calculate is opportunity cost. If you commit engineering resources to the development of a non-core competency human-machine interface, what other more important or more lucrative projects may be affected by this decision?

Risk factors must be honestly assessed by the product managers. These run the gamut from the risk of losing key members of an in-house design team to the need to change a crucial specification, such as screen size, in the middle of product development. Risks are also involved in the availability of component parts, particularly if you need them in low quantities. Once the product is in production, there are also the additional costs of ongoing maintenance and support.

The Bottom Line
Industry experts agree that the build versus buy question in any manufacturing industry finally comes down to a handful of key questions. Three questions are crucial to consider: time to market, risk assessment and cost analysis. All three are subject to the overriding question of core competency and opportunity costs.

If designing and building reliable terminals for your company’s line of products is not a core competency of your business, then the fastest, safest and most cost-effective course is to partner with a reputable manufacturer of human machine interfaces.

Submitted by Beijer Electronics Products AB.

Trendsetting HMI

Beijer Electronics has extended its HMI product range with the new iX Panel TxA series. The innovative touch panels will be applied, when sophisticated operator functionality combined in a compact format and a fresh design is essential.

The robust and lightweight aluminum housing ensures a long lifetime, even in rough industrial environments. Equipped with a powerful ARM-CPU and pre-installed Windows CE OS, the trend setting HMI units offer good performance, to present realistic graphic screens The fully flat front side ensures a dust free surface. The dimmable TFT display is equipped with maintenance free LED backlighting for long life usage.

The iX Panel TxA series features three different display sizes in 4.3”, 7” and 10,4”. The wide screen display in the 4.3” and 7” unit provides a 30% larger viewing area, which expands display capabilities for complex operating screens. All iX Panel TxA includes an unlimited iX runtime software.
The versatile touch panels come alive with the iX Designer, an intuitive Windows based programming tool with a huge scope of operation. The user grabs pre-defined graphical vector elements of an extensive library to create own objects. All elements can be stored and reused in future projects. This ensures a reduction of valuable engineering time and makes the iX concept to an cost efficient HMI solution.

"World´s most graphic HMI!"

The new iX V1.30 captivates by intuitive operation and realistic graphic objects

With its open platform architecture and world-leading graphics, iX has set the trend for modern HMI solutions. Beijer Electronics´ HMI solution, developed in house, is now available in an even more powerful combination, in which upgraded software offer extended features. This includes even greater functionality in development and runtime operation, quicker screen changes and project builds. Other improvements are a new scroll function, even better data uploads and downloads and Chinese language support.

The iX Developer acts as a universal project planning tool for all products of the iX Panel series. Its range includes touch and keypad units from 4,3” to 19” display sizes.

The overall performance of the iX Developer and the runtime has been improved drastically by adding new and modifying existing features. The result is an intuitive project planning tool, to create realistic graphical environments in an efficient way.

Every newcomer to the iX developer V1.30 will take advantage of the large amount of existing demo project, helping him in the realization of their own projects. Equally useful is the extended choice of demo screens. Using the existing templates and scripts inspires the user in easily creating their own solutions.

Animated GIF-files will make the screen come alive and creates a strong user attendance for a safe operation. The improved toggle-tag-feature helps the user to create a back lighted switch in a flash, clearly showing the status of the push buttons. Great reduction of the engineering time is implemented by the use of the extended object library and integrating the graphical elements into own projects.

The feature Database Export allows the summarizing of production data and alarm lists into complete reports with ease. Finally the Excel formatted file is ready to be analysed in external software programs.

In the runtime mode the new feature Alarm-Viewer offers a far improved navigation in alarm lists. By using the Touch-Scroll-Feature the user is able to sift through even long lists quickly and intuitively. Keyboard layouts, which contains special characters e.g. Cyrillic or Chinese fonts are now included as standard equipment. The machine user overlays their language specific keyboard to work in an well known environment. This feature is very useful, especially for export oriented machine builders.

Magneto-transport measurement systems

In the field of functional materials, the need for specialist turn-key systems is growing as scientists focus upon research into new materials and systems for the next generation of semiconductors, photovoltaics, spintronics and ferromagnetic systems.

Research and development into new materials continues to expand to meet the wider ranging needs of current and emerging technological applications. There is a growing trend within academic and industrial research and development for off the shelf turn-key measurement solutions which combine ease of use with high level research functionality and measurement sensitivity.

In the field of functional materials, the need for specialist turn-key systems is growing as scientists focus upon research into new materials and systems for the next generation of semiconductors, photovoltaics, spintronics and ferromagnetic systems.

The new Ohmpoint Measurement System from Rhomap  is a flexible research tool that offers a range of software selectable sample connection probe geometries in one system. The instrument allows users to measure resistance in two or four point geometry, sheet resistance and magneto-transport behaviour, including Hall effect and magnetoresistance. The flexibility of the system also enables the user to easily select between individual measurements and batch scanning of multiple samples.

The Ohmpoint system is controlled through the bespoke MeasureR software interface that provides a flexible and intuitive user experience.

HMI manufacturer acquired

"With the acquisition of QSI Corporation we get a strong presence in North America which is a strategically important market for Beijer Electronics. Among other positive things we see great potential with the extended product portfolio designed for demanding environments and for mobile applications", says Magnus Ekerot, Business Area Director of HMI Products.

QSI Corporation has established itself as one of the leading suppliers of rugged operator panels and mobile data terminals for the industrial and transportation sectors. QSI Corporation is mainly active in the North American market and is headquartered in Salt Lake City, Utah (US) with a turnover of approximately $20m and  70 employees.

The acquisition of QSI Corporation means:
- substantially increased body in the North American market with established sales and support channels
- a wider portfolio of products and solutions by adding rugged operator panels and mobile data terminals for the industrial and transportation sectors
- wider competence and development resources

New HMI-concept provides realistic user interfaces

iX - "The world's most graphic HMI solution!"

Industrial visualization is in a state of change. Now, industrial user interfaces take on inspiration from consumer-oriented products like personal computers, mobile phones, MP3 players, etc. with advanced 3D-style graphics, icon based navigation and controls. However, impressive user interfaces have a wider perspective reaching beyond the good looks. They motivate users and operators to interact with the working environment in a positive way. The traceable consequence is a more efficient work flow and reduced downtime - both factors which lead to increased profit.

A common look and feel among the products, graphics and environments that represent a corporation's ideas and vision, contribute to brand distinction and consistent customer experiences. iX, from Beijer Electronics Products AB, lifts the concept of a HMI solution from merely being a functional add-on, to becoming an integral part of a user experience by adding the right look and feel with advanced 3D-style graphics, icon based navigation and controls.

The user can take advantage of vector-based graphics, enabling to scale and rotate objects, which stay crystal clear without jagged edges or inconsistent color transitions. The import of WPF objects and .Net controls allows to use the vast resources behind Microsoft´s .Net framework Add drop shadows, bevels and choose opacity for objects in addition with other graphical effects are just a few functions to create a realistic user environment. iX also enables to incorporate Windows media objects like Media Player, Internet Explorer and PDF-viewer for easy understand process explanation.

Design time is reduced drastically with ready-made symbols and objects from the component library, which matches for several industrial applications. By applying dynamics in HMI applications, it´s easy to draw the attention of an operator to interact with an ongoing process or supervisory staff. The project engineer is able to generate individual graphical operator interfaces and offer end customers a recognizable added value in terms of user-friendly operation and improved user satisfaction.

A brand new range of panels and industrial PCs

A brand new range of panels and industrial PCs The Beijer Electronics´ iX HMI solution is enhanced by a broader range of panels and industrial PCs and some software additions. It is designed particularly for packaging, printing, food and pharmaceutical processing machines, machine-tools, water and irrigation, petrochemicals and marine applications.

The iX software is supported by the next generation of Beijer Electronics award-winning operator panels and industrial PCs

It is the innovative HMI solution allowing you to express your ideas with a strong combination of state-of-the-art graphics and solid HMI functionality. iX offers the experience of smarter design and engineering tools, and a truly open platform. iX covers the gap between proprietary operator panels and cost-intensive SCADA solutions. The iX software is supported by the next generation of our award-winning operator panels and industrial PCs. The iX software
The software is available in developer and runtime packages in versions for 250, 2000 and 4000 external tags as well as an upgrade version regardless of tag size.

It is supported by the next generation of the company's award-winning operator panels and industrial PCs - the iX Panel, the iX Panel Pro and the iX Panel Pro Nautic, combining high-performance hardware finely tuned for iX with robust construction. iX Panel
The iX Panels combine high-performance with a robust IP66 lightweight aluminum construction and include iX runtime software. The iX Panel series offers both keypad and touchscreen models to choose from. The iX Panel series is designed for industrial applications and complies with global industry standards.

Touchscreen models: 3.5", 5.7", 6.5", 10.4", 15.0"

Keypad versions: 5.7", 6.5", 10.4"

iX Panel Pro & iX Panel Pro Nautic
The iX Panel Pro and iX Panel Pro Nautic series feature industrial class C2D CPU performance and relevant nautical certifications. Multiple communication ports and expansion slots provide numerous options for networking and updating, making this an ideal HMI for machine builders and system integrators alike.

The Panel Pro series deliver full, open and expandable HMI platform functionality for industrial and marine applications. Both series are based on the same basic design, host the same features, and include the iX runtime installed in addition. Both series feature models with high-contrast TFT touch displays and a Box PC version.

Pro series: 12", 15", 17", 19", 19" with stainless steel front, and a Box-PC version with dual display output.

Pro Nautic series: 15", 17", 19", and a Box-PC with dual display output.

US Swedish alliance aids HMI offering

Beijer Electronics has entered a strategic alliance with QSI Corporation, a US based company, who develops and sells rugged operator interfaces and mobile data terminals for industrial OEMs and commercial vehicle systems integrators. This strategic alliance will increase Beijer Electronics presence in the US.

QSI will build its product offering around Beijer Electronics' new software platform iX and sell it through its channels in the US. By including the iX platform in their offering QSI can address the entire market for industrial automation. They will also include Beijer Electronics iX panels in their current product offering.

Beijer Electronics' President and CEO, Fredrik Jönsson, comments on the cooperation:
"The cooperation with QSI increases our footprint on the US market. Together we will be able to offer our US customers a strong product range in which our software platform iX is a key component."

QSI designs and sells robust HMI panels and mobile data terminals for use in industrial applications and transport vehicles. Their products, sold under both their own name and as customer specific solutions, are robust and able to withstand extreme environments like vibration, large temperature differences and other environmental parameters. The company operates in the US and is headquartered in Salt Lake City.

The iX platform is by far Beijer Electronics´ largest investment in product development and this new software technology provides a scalable and flexible solution that brings simpler programming and facilitates integration with other systems. Five models of the iX panels were launched last fall, and the software is available on a standalone basis for use in existing operator systems.

Stainless operator panel for food and pharma

Beijer Electronics has added a new model to its EXTER series of operator panels. The EXTER T150-st delivers intuitive HMI solutions, combining compact efficient functionality with award winning design. The thing that sets the EXTER T150-st apart from the rest is its sleek, stainless steel construction.

EXTER is a series of advanced operator panels that combines cutting edge HMI technology with award-winning design. By providing built-in functionality to handle e.g. alarms, recipes, remote access and multiple languages, EXTER makes it easy for its customers to ensure full control of their machines and processes. The EXTER series includes keypad and touch screen panels with displays ranging from 3.5 to 15.0 inches.

Durability in tough conditions
“The stringent regulations that apply throughout the Food & Beverage and Pharmaceuticals industries often require the use of powerful cleaning agents to satisfy the high standards of hygiene” explains Marcus Jillgart, Global Product Manager for Premium Segment HMI at Beijer Electronics. “Some acid-based cleaning agents can pose problems for other operator panels, with long term use leading to corrosion,” he clarifies “the EXTER T150-st has an acid-resistant stainless steel construction, so it’s perfectly suited to these kinds of tough conditions.”

In addition, “this stainless steel operator panel has a recognizably streamlined appearance, with the surface and shape offering a number of advantages over other operator panels,” he continued. “The streamlined construction, and the fact that the panel has neither foil nor labels on the front, means that there are less minute cracks and lines in the surfaces where bacteria and other pathogens might otherwise hide, so it’s much easier to keep clean.” What’s more, the front of the EXTER T150-st is waterproof, making it easy to clean with high-power water jets without the risk of water leaking into the operator panel itself.

Robust and aesthetic design
The exclusive design offered by the operator panel’s brushed-steel finish makes it an elegant complement to any control area, affording a rugged and robust aesthetic feel to operations. The EXTER T150-st is perfect for utilization throughout the Food & Beverage, Pharmaceuticals and Oil & Gas industries, being robust, easy-to-clean, aesthetically pleasing and compliant with the rigorous hygiene demands and safety standards demanded.

Easy-to-implement
It affords full interoperability with all major automation brands (more than 100 drivers are available) to satisfy all System Integrators specific needs. Less than 10 minutes is all you need to get the first application running and a wide selection of ready-made objects and functions enables to create applications by just pointing and placing on the screen – it is possible see exactly how the final result will appear. Projects are created in a visual environment which gives a complete overview in the project manager so it is possible to see what is happening in the process.