Important Tips for Choosing the Right Industrial Touch Display

How to choose an industrial touch display is a common challenge faced by many engineers or purchasers. There are many types of products and many suppliers, and the harsh industrial environment places higher requirements on equipment performance, making the purchase decision particularly critical. Today we provide you with a buying guide for industrial monitors to help you make a decision.

What Is an Industrial Touch Display?

An industrial touch display is a durable, specialized screen designed to operate in challenging environments. These displays are built for use in factories, warehouses, outdoor kiosks, and other harsh settings where dust, moisture, extreme temperatures, and vibration are common. Unlike consumer displays, they are built to last and function reliably in conditions where ordinary screens would fail.

Selecting the Right Industrial Touch Display Technology

Resistive Touchscreens

1. Mechanism: Detect physical pressure on the top flexible layer.
2. Pros: Works with *any* stylus, gloved hand (any thickness/material), or fingernail. Resistant to surface contaminants like dust, water, grease, and chemicals. Generally lower cost.
3. Cons: Lower optical clarity (layers reflect/diffuse light). Surface film can be scratched or damaged. Does not support multi-touch gestures. Lower overall durability compared to glass-surface technologies.
4. Ideal For: Environments requiring glove/stylus use, high contaminant exposure, or where cost is a primary driver.

Projected Capacitive (PCAP or PCT) Touchscreens

1 . Mechanism: Detects the electrical properties of a finger or specialized conductive stylus.
2. Pros: Excellent optical clarity and light transmission (glass surface). Highly responsive with true multi-touch gesture support (pinch, zoom, rotate). Extremely durable, scratch-resistant glass surface.
3. Cons: Requires bare finger or *specialized* static-dissipative/conductive gloves. Performance can be affected by thick gloves, moisture (sweat/rain), or strong EMI. Higher cost than resistive.
4. Ideal For: Applications needing high image clarity, multi-touch interactivity, superior durability, and a premium user experience. Common in modern HMIs and control panels.

Infrared (IR) Touchscreens

1. Mechanism: Uses an array of IR LEDs and photodetectors around the bezel to create an invisible grid; touch interrupts the beams.
2. Pros: Excellent optical clarity (no overlay on the display surface). Works with any input (finger, gloved hand, stylus). Highly durable glass front surface. Scalable to very large sizes.
3. Cons: Susceptible to false triggers from dust, insects, or accumulated debris blocking IR beams. Water droplets can cause malfunctions. Direct, strong sunlight can interfere with IR sensors. Bezel design can trap dirt.
4. Ideal For: Large-format displays, kiosks, or environments where screen clarity is paramount and environmental contaminants can be well-controlled.

Surface Acoustic Wave (SAW) Touchscreens

1. Mechanism: Ultrasonic waves travel across a pure glass surface; touch absorbs the waves at the point of contact.
2. Pros: Exceptional image clarity and light transmission (pure glass surface). High touch accuracy and clarity. Durable glass surface. Works with finger, soft-tip stylus, or gloved hand (lightweight).
3. Cons: Performance severely degraded by surface contaminants (dust, grease, moisture). Vulnerable to physical damage (scratches, nicks) to the glass edges where transducers are located. Can be affected by loud noise/vibration.
4. Ideal For: Clean, controlled environments like medical devices, indoor kiosks, or control rooms where maximum screen brightness and clarity are essential.

Key Selection Considerations:

● Operating Environment: Glove requirements? Levels of dust, moisture, chemicals, cleaning agents? Exposure to direct sunlight or extreme temperatures?

● Input Method: Bare fingers, gloves (type/thickness), stylus? Need for multi-touch gestures?

● Display Clarity: Is maximum brightness, contrast, and optical clarity critical?

● Durability: Risk of scratches, impacts, abrasives, or harsh cleaning?

● Performance: Required touch sensitivity, accuracy, and response speed?

● Budget: Resistive is typically the most cost-effective; PCAP commands a premium.

What Protection Norms Should Your Industrial Monitor Have?

The industrial monitor you choose must be optimal for your application, but it must also meet the protection standards applicable to your industry:

● IP rating: the first digit of the IP (Ingress Protection) rating indicates protection against solids, the second digit indicates protection against water or other liquids. Industrial monitors generally have an IP67 or IP65 rating. Lastly, it is possible to choose between “Full IP” (all sides are protected) or “Front side” (only the front side is protected).

● IK rating: the 2-digit IK rating is the protection index for electrical equipment against external mechanical impact. It indicates protection against impact energy expressed in joules. It gives the equivalent to the fall of a mass of a certain weight from a certain height. For example IK01 => material protected against an impact energy of 0.15 joules (impact equivalent to the fall of a 150 g mass from a height of 10 cm). An IK00 rating indicates that the equipment is not protected.

● ATEX standards: ATEX standards concern the protection of people working in environments sensitive to explosion risks. There are industrial monitors that comply with ATEX standards for use in explosion risk areas. ATEX distinguishes between areas with high gas and vapour concentration (zones 0, 1 and 2) and areas with dust concentration (zones 20, 21 and 22).

● MIL-STD-810G/F is an American standard that indicates the robustness of the device. This standard was developed for the US military and is now used commercially to indicate to what degree a product is suitable for the environmental conditions.

Which Connection Should You Choose for Your Industrial Monitor?

● VGA analog connector: this is the most widely used video output port, it is standard on industrial monitors. But, it only provides an analog signal and is not suitable for very high resolutions.

● VGA-DVI connector: this evolution of VGA allows analog and digital signals to be obtained. Like the VGA, it has two screws, which prevents the cable from being pulled out.

● HDMI and DisplayPort: these are increasingly used for consumer products. They route all digital signals (audio and video) in a single cable. They also make it possible to convey very high resolutions.

● LVDS connector: this type of port should be favored for integrated screens. It connects the monitor to the graphics card by copper wires and allows a high data rate.

● S-video connector: used for an analog video signal that transmits colors and brightness separately.

● BNC connector: transmits the video signal in analog mode and also allows for audio transmission. It can be used as an analog and digital connection, as an antenna connection or for electronic testing. It can also be used for thin Ethernet networks. It is an electrical connector used as the end of a coaxial cable, most often used for radiofrequency.

More Tips for Choosing an Industrial Monitor

Display Size and Mounting Options

Industrial displays come in a wide range of sizes, from compact 7-inch panels to large 86-inch screens. The size you choose should match how the information will be viewed and how much data needs to be displayed. Mounting options include panel-mount, wall-mount, and pole-mount solutions. Some designs offer open-frame models for kiosk or enclosure integration. Proper size and mounting directly affect usability and installation efficiency.

Power and Installation Considerations

Power requirements vary. Some industrial displays run on standard AC power, while others use 12V or 24V DC for compatibility with battery or vehicle systems. For remote or mobile installations, Power-over-Ethernet (PoE) can simplify wiring. In hazardous areas, displays may need to be certified for explosion-proof or intrinsically safe use, especially in oil, gas, or chemical facilities.

Visibility and Readability

Visibility is key, especially for outdoor or brightly lit environments. High-brightness screens—typically 1000 nits or more—help ensure readability in sunlight. Anti-glare or anti-reflective coatings improve clarity, while wide viewing angles allow multiple users to see the screen easily. High resolution and strong contrast also contribute to a better viewing experience.

Hygiene and Cleanability

In food processing, healthcare, or cleanroom environments, displays must be easy to sanitize. Edge-to-edge glass designs prevent buildup of dirt and allow thorough cleaning. Models rated IP66 or IP69K can withstand frequent washdowns. Some also include antimicrobial coatings to reduce bacterial growth and support hygiene compliance.

Total Cost of Ownership

While industrial displays often have higher upfront costs, their long-term value is greater. Fewer breakdowns mean less downtime, fewer repairs, and lower maintenance costs. Look for products with a long mean time between failures (MTBF), solid warranties, and good manufacturer support. Considering the total cost of ownership helps avoid hidden expenses over time.

Comparing Unique Use Cases

Different environments require different features. Outdoor kiosks in public areas need weatherproof and vandal-resistant displays with sunlight readability. Food processing plants require waterproof, easy-to-clean screens that can be operated with wet or gloved hands. On oil rigs, explosion-proof certification and sealed enclosures are non-negotiable. Medical and cleanroom settings demand sterile, low-maintenance designs with smooth surfaces and antimicrobial protection.

Hopefully this guide to choosing an industrial touch display will be helpful to you. MICRON is a leading manufacturer and supplier of touch films based on copper metal grid technology. If you have more questions or needs about purchasing industrial monitors, please contact us immediately.