Stainless steel workstation bezel ideal for sanitary manufacturing environments

CTC offers 15" HPC and HPX PowerStations with FDA-approved material on exposed front bezel

March 2006  ? Parker Automaton-CTC has recently announced the release of a new stainless steel bezel option for its 15?display HPC Industrial PCs and HPX Windows?based HMI PowerStations. This option will provide these workstations with an exposed front that is ideal for maintaining sanitary conditions in FDA-regulated environments such as food processing, pharmaceutical and medical device manufacturing.

The stainless steel bezel option complements CTC’s NEMA 4/4X designed PowerStations and latest version of InteractX Windows-based HMI software integrating built-in tools for FDA 21 CFR Part 11 compliance, Operator Tracking and E-Signatures. This unique combination of hardware and software provides an ideal HMI solution for FDA-regulated OEMs and end users desiring a 15?touchscreen display.

Many of these manufacturers require FDA-approved bezel material on faceplates of industrial monitors and computers so that exposed surfaces are washable, inhibit bacterial growth and are resistant to corrosion and chemicals used in industrial and food-safe cleaning fluids. Having all of these material properties, stainless steel has become the preferred bezel material used in these environments.

The PowerStation stainless steel bezel is constructed of stainless grade 304, which is the most versatile and widely used ?8/8?standard grade. For even higher resistance to pitting and cracking, stainless grade 316 is available by special request to the factory.

CTC’s stainless steel bezel comes equipped with the same analog resistive touchscreen, mounting clamps and gasket materials found on standard 15?molded bezels included with HPC and HPX PowerStation workstations. CTC has also announced its plans to release a stainless steel bezel version of their 15?Industrial Monitor in the near future.

CTC’s PowerStations take advantage of the latest PC technologies in a factory-hardened workstation that is cost-competitive with “light duty? Industrial PCs. Both HPC and HPX PowerStations are available in 10? 15? and 17?panel-mount touchscreen systems, as well as non-display versions. Each has been designed and tested to perform under extreme conditions and runs Windows OS on CompactFlash for even greater reliability.

HPX PowerStations offer the same features and display options as HPC units, but also come installed with CTC’s award-winning InteractX HMI software. InteractX software is designed specifically for machine control and OEM needs ?particularly in reliability, ease of application and reduced long-term costs of ownership ?InteractX offers the most advanced graphics of any Windows HMI product.

About Parker CTC
Since 1980, CTC has been designing, manufacturing, and marketing both hardware and software to provide factory-floor, machine-operator-interface solutions for automation projects worldwide. With annual sales exceeding $8 billion, Parker Hannifin is the world's leading diversified manufacturer of motion and control technologies and systems, providing precision-engineered solutions for a wide variety of commercial, mobile, industrial and aerospace markets. The company employs more than 50,000 people in 46 countries around the world. Parker has increased its annual dividends paid to shareholders for 49 consecutive years, among the top five longest-running dividend-increase records in the S&P 500 index. For more information on CTC brand products from Parker, contact: Parker Automation-CTC, 50 W. TechneCenter Drive, Milford, OH 45150. Phone: 513-831-2340. Fax: 513-831-5042. Internet: www.ctcusa.com