Today’s food and beverage plants require computing systems engineered for hygiene, durability, and seamless operator interaction

As today's food and beverage plants embrace greater automation and data-driven control, rugged industrial-grade monitors are emerging as vital tools on the production floor. These displays provide operators with immediate access to critical process information and controls but must also endure a plant's demanding environment. This includes withstanding repeated cleaning and moisture exposure without corroding, along with a seamless, sanitary surface that prevents the buildup of contaminants.

To meet these challenges, touchscreens are often housed in enclosures rated for washdown environments, typically NEMA 4X. Stainless steel is often chosen because it resists corrosion. In certain cases, anodized aluminum may be used. Without such protection, ordinary monitors would quickly fail or become contamination risks.

Within food processing facilities, these displays serve as vital interfaces for operators to view, monitor, and control every stage of the process. Critical production information must be visible in real time to maintain product consistency and regulatory compliance. Operators also rely on these monitors to respond to system alarms, manage equipment settings, and record data for traceability. Without this constant visibility, efficiency and quality control can deteriorate, leading to potentially serious production and even food safety problems.

In this environment, Human Machine Interfaces (HMI) offer a visual summary of process systems that simplifies the monitoring of crucial status and control data. An effectively designed graphical user interface strengthens situational awareness, eases the demands placed on operators, and enables consistent oversight of the full production process. As a result, operators are better prepared to recognize and respond promptly to any unexpected conditions.

Through the HMI, the monitor continuously displays operational data from equipment and production lines, providing clear visibility into essential variables such as temperature, flow levels, and mixing durations. This setup helps operators respond more quickly to any abnormal process conditions.

Using the HMI, the monitor presents live data from machinery and production systems, giving operators access to key metrics like temperature, flow rate, and mixing time. Operators interact with the HMI using a touchscreen to adjust settings, start or stop equipment, and respond to system alerts.

To withstand the harsh production environment, ARISTA's ADM series of industrial monitors are fully waterproof and feature sealed construction to prevent moisture ingress. Stainless steel or aluminum bezels provide corrosion resistance and structural durability in sanitary settings.

One example is the ADM-2124AP, a 24-inch panel-mount touch LCD display, which enables precise multi-touch control (even when operators wear gloves), supporting seamless interaction with process control systems and quality management tools.

For larger production areas, the 42-inch ADM-5842AX integrates a KVM (keyboard, video, mouse) extender, allowing the display to connect with remote computing systems. This setup keeps sensitive electronics away from washdown zones while providing operators with clear visibility of critical process data.

In addition to durable construction, flexible mounting options—such as pendant arms, walls, pedestals, ceilings, and VESA mounts—ensure the monitors can be installed wherever operators need fast, reliable access to HMI data.

As food and beverage manufacturing continues to adopt more advanced automation and data-driven processes, the role of reliable, hygienic control and monitoring displays on the plant floor will grow. Purpose-built systems such as the ADM series help ensure that critical production data remains visible and accessible--supporting quality, efficiency, and compliance in today's fast-paced, sanitary production environments.

For more information, contact ARISTA Corporation at aristaipc.com; phone (510) 226-1800; e-mail sales@goARISTA.com; or write to 48460 Lakeview Blvd., Fremont, CA 94538.

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By Del Williams

Del Williams is a technical writer based in Torrance, California.