WHICH HMI PANEL ENCLOSURE IS RIGHT FOR MY INDUSTRIAL ELECTRONICS?

ROLEC MULTIPANEL VS PROFIPANEL HMI PANEL ENCLOSURES

Customisation as standard? It sounds like a contradiction in terms, but that’s what ROLEC’s multiPANEL and profiPANEL ranges both offer. You can specify each model in any size you like – to within a millimetre – up to 800 x 800 mm. And all as standard.

That’s because both ranges employ a profile-based construction method that makes bespoke sizes very easy to manufacture. So easy in fact, that customisation is the starting point – not an afterthought once the finished standard housing has been completed.

But if both multiPANEL and profiPANEL offer this huge level as choice from square one, which range should you specify for your HMI electronics? At headline level, the choice seems simple because the two models are destined for very different markets:

• multiPANEL is an elegant premium panel enclosure for the very smartest of factories. It is best suited to small-volume applications requiring advanced functionality and cutting-edge designer aesthetics.
• profiPANEL is a more cost-effective but highly versatile and very practical alternative to multiPANEL. It is aimed at higher-volume applications, especially machine building.

However, as you’ve probably guessed, there’s more to it than that: profiPANEL is no poor relation. Quite the contrary – in some areas of specification, profiPANEL offers greater choice than its sleek multiPANEL counterpart.

Think of it as a race between a beautiful sports car and a powerful muscle car. At first glance, the two may seem somewhat different. But they’re both the result of great design, they both deliver epic performance…and each can handle the challenge posed by the other.

It’s time to look at these worthy rivals in more detail…

PREMIUM MULTIPANEL HMI ENCLOSURES

Advanced multiPANEL (IP 65) was the progenitor that preceded and inspired the creation of profiPANEL. Almost borderless and with flush installation, innovative multiPANEL can accommodate a glass screen for touch applications, or a metal front plate should you prefer.

With their aluminium profiles and stainless steel inlays, these enclosures are designed to look stunning and make a statement. The enclosures are available in two depths: 70 mm or 85 mm. You can specify them in three versions:

• bolted flush rear wall
• bolted flush door – hinges enable simple opening without having to remove the rear wall completely
• door with locks and hinges – offering even easier (but tamperproof and secure) access.

The front plate is connected permanently to the main case body. It can be specified fully customised ready for your electronics. The enclosures will arrive at your production line fully finished.

We recommend mounting multiPANEL enclosures on either a profiPLUS 50 or taraSMART suspension arm. They can also be fitted to wall pivot mounts that are available as an accessory. These mounts have a load-bearing capacity of 20 kg and allow 138° rotation. Other accessories include handles, a choice of keyboard trays (380 mm or 450 mm, rigid or swivelling), and a mouse tray for the 450 mm keyboard tray.

PRACTICAL PROFIPANEL HMI ENCLOSURES

Elegant multiPANEL might be a hard act to follow but profiPANEL (IP 65) is more than up to the task – and at a lower price point. Like multiPANEL, it uses the same profile-based construction system, albeit with polyamide (PA) corner covers in either grey , traffic red (RAL 3020), traffic blue (RAL 5017) or jet black (RAL 9005) as standard. And profiPANEL offers the same flush mounting of a permanently connected front plate.

But unlike multiPANEL, profiPANEL offers a much wider choice of depths. By combining 60 mm and 90 mm profiles, ROLEC can offer profiPANEL in eight standard depths from 30 mm to 600 mm. Hinged, lockable doors are available on all sizes; the hinges are on the longer side as standard.

And – again unlike multiPANEL – profiPANEL also offers an optional 60 mm or 90 mm deep desk for a keyboard and more controls. This 200 mm high desk provides plenty of space for routing HDMI or DVI cables, but if you want a bigger unit then bespoke sizes are available. Alternatively, you could opt for a 450 mm swivelling keyboard tray and mouse tray (both accessories). Optional accessories also include handles, wall connectors and a mounting bracket set.

SAVE EVEN MORE MONEY WITH PROFIPANEL STANDARD

What if you don’t need your profiPANEL enclosures built to a millimetre-specific custom size? What if one of four standard sizes from 400 x 400 x 90 mm to 600 x 520 to 90 mm would suit your application?

Cost-effective profiPANEL STANDARD offers the same practical construction advantages of normal profiPANEL. It can house panel PCs with screens from 10” to 21”. And it’s just as customisable in terms of machining, bespoke colours, engraving, laser processing, digital printing and all the other in-house services that ROLEC offers.

But it can be manufactured at a lower cost and shipped faster because all the components are held in stock. The range of accessories is slightly smaller (no keyboard or mouse trays) but the handles, wall connectors and mounting bracket set are still available. And so are the grey, red, blue or black corner covers for easy branding or colour coding.

Remember how we said at the start that multiPANEL was the choice for small volumes and profiPANEL was better for larger batches? Well, profiPANEL STANDARD is great for small volumes too. That makes it a very sensible choice for smaller operations with modest budgets. Or for anyone who simply likes superb value.

AT-A-GLANCE COMPARISON GUIDE

• Which HMI enclosures are the most elegant? multiPANEL.
• Which model offers the greatest choice of rear panel/door configurations? multiPANEL.
• Which provides the best protection for an additional keyboard? profiPANEL – because it’s the one with the extra desk.
• Which model offers the greatest choice of sizes? profiPANEL – because of all the depth options.
• Which is the most cost-effective? profiPANEL STANDARD.

SUSPENSION ARMS FOR HMI ENCLOSURES

With five different ranges of modular suspension arms, ROLEC is well placed to supply the complete solution for your HMI panel and mounting requirements. Of the five, new taraSMART and tried-and-trusted profiPLUS 50 are probably the best starting point.

Both these designer suspension arms for light to medium loads complement multiPANEL and profiPANEL perfectly. They’re tough, dependable and designed to cope with the rigours of industrial environments – all the cables are routed safely inside the capacious aluminium profile sections.

Load capacity will depend on how you configure the arm; intermediate joints and bases will reduce capacity. But if you need a stronger arm, then you can always specify the bigger and stronger profiPLUS 70 for medium to heavy loads. There is even a 70/50 adapter if you want to combine the best of both the profiPLUS 50 and 70 ranges.

February 2023

ROLEC’s advanced HMI enclosures now include multiPANEL, profiPANEL and profiPANEL STANDARD – giving industrial electronics designers more choice.

Elegant multiPANEL is best suited to small-volume applications requiring advanced functionality and cutting-edge aesthetics. Versatile profiPANEL is for higher-volume applications, notably machine building.

Both models enable virtually borderless, flush-fit installation of a front plate or glass. They are manufactured from aluminium profiles, enabling the specification of millimetre-specific custom sizes from 150 x 150 mm to 800 x 800 mm.

Smart, modern multiPANEL (IP 65) is available in depths of 70 mm and 85 mm, each in three variants offering either a bolted rear wall, a hinged and bolted rear door, or a hinged and lockable rear door. The front plate is connected permanently to the main body. Features include decorative stainless steel inlays. The main case and rear wall/doors are black (RAL 9005).

Anodised silver profiPANEL (IP 65) enclosures offer greater depth capacity (eight depths from 60 mm to 300 mm). There is one option for the rear: a hinged, lockable door. A 200 mm high keyboard desk unit (60mm or 90 mm deep) is also available as standard. Both the main case and desk unit feature light grey plastic corner trims.

A more economical option is the 90 mm deep profiPANEL STANDARD (IP 65) – available in four standard plan sizes from 400 x 400 mm to 600 x 520 mm for 10” to 21” screens. Always-in-stock components enable shorter delivery times.

Accessories for multiPANEL include: keyboard and mouse trays, handles and wall connectors. For profiPANEL: as above but also a mounting bracket set and traffic red (RAL 3020), traffic blue (RAL 5017) or jet black (RAL 9005) corner covers. For profiPANEL STANDARD: wall connectors, handles, mounting bracket set, and the red, blue or black corner covers.

ROLEC recommends mounting the enclosures on its profiPLUS 50 or taraSMART suspension arms. It can supply the enclosures and arms full customised. Services include CNC machining, custom colours, engraving, laser processing, printing, and assembly/installation of accessories.

GET EXPERT TECHNICAL ADVICE

Contact ROLEC for expert advice on specifying our HMI enclosures and suspension arms.