Panel PCs

A panel PC is an all-in-one industrial computer that combines the processor, storage, I/O and a touchscreen display in a single sealed housing. Removing the separate tower, monitor, keyboard and mouse cuts down on cabling and failure points, and the rugged enclosure copes far better with dust, moisture, vibration and temperature swings than commercial hardware. Read our full guide.

IP ratings (IEC 60529) use two digits: the first covers dust, the second water. A 6 for dust means fully dust tight. For water, IP65 protects against low-pressure water jets, IP66 against powerful water jets, and IP69K (ISO 20653) against close-range, high-pressure, high-temperature washdown at 80–100 bar and 80°C. A front IP65 rating is usually enough when the unit is panel mounted and only the front is exposed. For washdown areas, choose a fully IP rated panel PC sealed on every side, including the rear connectors.

A front IP rated panel PC is sealed at the screen and bezel only, so its rating applies once it's correctly panel mounted with the gasket compressed against the enclosure. The rear stays protected by the cabinet it's mounted into. A fully IP rated panel PC is sealed on all sides, usually with sealed M12 or gland connectors, so it can be mounted in the open on an arm or stand and washed down directly.

Our panel PCs range from 7" to 32". 7" to 12" models suit machine-mounted controls where space is tight, 15" to 21.5" are the most common size for operator stations and HMI, and 24" to 32" suit SCADA, line monitoring and displays read from a distance.

Projected capacitive (PCAP) touchscreens support multi-touch gestures, work through thick protective cover glass, and can often be tuned to work with thin gloves. Resistive touchscreens register pressure rather than conductivity, so they work with thick gloves, a stylus or any object, and are less affected by water on the screen.

Panel mounting fits the unit into a cut-out in a cabinet or machine door, secured with clamps that compress the front gasket to maintain the IP rating. VESA mounting uses standard rear hole patterns, such as 75 x 75 mm or 100 x 100 mm, to attach the unit to an arm, wall bracket or stand. Open frame panel PCs have no outer housing and are designed to be built into your own enclosure.

Yes, if the panel PC is certified for the specific hazardous zone. In the EU, equipment must comply with the ATEX Directive 2014/34/EU, and in Great Britain it requires UKEX marking. Zones are classified by how often an explosive atmosphere is present: Zones 0, 1 and 2 for gas, and Zones 20, 21 and 22 for dust. Always check the product's certification matches the zone it will be installed in.

Every DSL panel PC comes with a minimum 5-year warranty, backed by our ISO 9001 accredited quality processes. All units also use 7H hardened anti-vandal glass to protect the touchscreen in demanding environments.