What are the guidelines for selecting industrial touch screens?
Date:2025-09-26
The selection of industrial touch screens requires comprehensive consideration of multiple factors such as touch technology type, usage environment, performance indicators, communication interfaces, as well as budget and maintenance costs. The following is a selection guide for industrial touch screens based on the latest industry data compiled in 2025:
I.Selection of Touch Technology Types
Type | Advantage | Shortcoming | Applicable scenarios |
resistive touchscreen | Strong anti-interference ability, support glove/oil stain operation, low price | Low light transmittance and easy wear and tear | Adverse environments such as factory workshops, chemical plants, heavy industries, etc |
capacitive touchscreen | High sensitivity, support for multi touch, clear display | Glove operation is limited, afraid of water and oil, and has weak anti-interference ability | Medical, warehousing, high-end automation equipment |
Infrared touch screen | Support large-sized, borderless design | Afraid of strong light and dust affecting touch control, complicated installation | Large screen interaction, dispatch center, digital signage |
II. Key selection parameters
1. Protection level
For industrial environments, it is recommended that the front panel should be at least IP65, dustproof and waterproof; The whole machine needs to meet the installation environment requirements.
2. Operating temperature range
Standard industrial requirements: -10 ℃~+50 ℃; Wide temperature range (-30 ℃~+80 ℃) should be selected for extremely cold/high temperature environments.
3. Brightness and visibility
Indoor: ≥ 300cd/m ²;
Under semi outdoor/strong light conditions: ≥ 700cd/m ², it is recommended to add anti glare (AG) or anti reflection (AR) coating.
4. Touch response and accuracy
High sensitivity capacitive screens with a response time of less than 3ms are required for medical and precision control applications;
The rough operation of the factory requires a resistance screen, with a lifespan of ≥ 50000 times.
5. EMC anti-interference capability
It needs to be certified by IEC 61000-4-2 (electrostatic 8kV), CE-EMC, etc. to avoid accidental touch and drift.
6. Communication interface and protocol compatibility
Common interfaces: RS232/485, Ethernet, USB, CAN, PROFIBUS;
Need to support seamless integration with PLC protocols (such as Siemens, Mitsubishi).
III. Recommended configuration for typical scenarios
Application scenarios | Recommended Configuration |
Factory automation production line | Resistive screen+IP65+Wide temperature range+RS485/CAN |
Medical equipment | Capacitive screen+anti fingerprint glass+high resolution+eDP interface |
Outdoor information kiosk | High brightness screen (≥ 1000nit)+capacitor/infrared+IP67 |
AGV/Mobile Devices | Capacitive screen+seismic storage+power-off protection+high sensitivity |
Command and Dispatch Center | Infrared large screen+multi touch+narrow border design |
IV. Common selection misconceptions
1. Only focus on price and ignore certification
Industrial touch screens require multiple certifications such as EMC, wide temperature, and protection, and low-priced products may have high maintenance costs in the later stage.
2. Neglecting the need for gloves/wet hands operation
Choosing the wrong touch technology in medical, food processing, and other scenarios may result in inability to operate or frequent accidental touches.
3. Ignore installation structure and size matching
The opening size and wall mounted/embedded structure need to be confirmed in advance to avoid on-site installation difficulties
V. Summary: Suggestions for the selection process
1. Clearly define the application scenario and environmental conditions (temperature, humidity, dust, electromagnetic interference, etc.)
2. Determine the type of touch technology (resistance/capacitance/infrared)
3. Matching performance parameters (brightness, resolution, protection level, response time)
4. Verify communication protocol and interface compatibility (PLC, sensors, cloud platform)
5. Evaluate supplier service capabilities (certification, after-sales, customized support)
If you have specific application requirements (such as high temperature, explosion-proof, automotive, medical, etc.), I can further recommend a list of compatible models or brands for you. Do you need it?
