Industrial HMI systems must comply with strict EMC regulations and certifications to ensure safe and interference-free operation. SCHURTER combines comprehensive HMI development with deep EMC expertise – from early-stage analysis and material selection to housing concepts and pre-compliance testing. Does your HMI design meet the EMC standards of demanding industrial environments?
From sensors and switches to digital control systems – industrial machines and devices today contain numerous electronic components. Avoiding interference from electromagnetic radiation is therefore an important prerequisite for reliable and trouble-free operation. To ensure safe use, machines must meet strict requirements in the area of electromagnetic compatibility (EMC).
The control panels (also known as human-machine interfaces or HMIs for short) of industrial applications are particularly sensitive areas, as they are usually located on the outside of the machine. The HMI itself can generate electromagnetic radiation and emit it into the environment, but it can also absorb external radiation, which then penetrates the device. A radiation-resistant HMI is therefore an important component for achieving electromagnetic compatibility.
International EMC regulations
Electrical and electronic products must comply with various electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) regulations worldwide in order to be approved for the respective markets. These regulations ensure that devices do not cause electromagnetic interference and are themselves protected from external electromagnetic influences.
HMI design for industrial use
The first step in developing an HMI for industrial use is to determine the requirements that the final application must meet. What legal regulations apply, and under what conditions will the device be used later? What radiation influences are present in the environment, and how can sufficient immunity be ensured in the design? The electronics within the HMI itself are also an important factor: the application must not generate any radiation (emission) that affects other devices in the environment. By analysing the expected conditions at an early stage, the product design can be adapted accordingly.
Power electronics
Industrial machines and devices often contain so-called power electronics – electrical components that operate at high power levels. These applications often use circuits that switch very quickly and generate specific radiation frequencies. This makes the industrial market a particularly challenging environment when it comes to minimising electromagnetic radiation. Due to the high power levels in use, interference can also have significant consequences.
Sophisticated choice of materials
Electronic components are connected to each other by cables and connection points. By selecting materials with high immunity, electromagnetic radiation can be largely reduced. Shielded cables and interference suppression components play a key role in achieving the desired EMC level. The positioning of the various components in relation to each other also influences the sensitivity to radiation. Interference sources can be fitted with filters or placed behind shields. As early as the design phase, the engineers determine the optimum combination of radiation-reducing measures, taking into account the environmental conditions, the manufacturer’s requirements and the costs of the various solutions.
Housing of the HMI
In addition to adjustments to the internal circuits of a control panel, the housing can also be designed and integrated in various ways. A closed metal housing can act as a Faraday cage that protects against external radiation. Openings in the housing, for example, for connection cables, can be sealed as radiation-resistant as possible through specific adaptations to ensure maximum immunity.
Pre-Compliance-Tests
Tests can be carried out as early as the development phase to ensure that the desired EMC level is achieved. If possible, special software is used in a test environment to measure how the application reacts to interference radiation. This allows weak points to be identified and various adjustments to be tested in order to achieve the best result.
Working together to create an EMC-safe HMI solution
EMC starts with the design and is perfected through close collaboration. As a developer of HMIs, SCHURTER works closely with manufacturers of machines and devices for industrial use. With specific expertise in this area, SCHURTER engineers provide support in the customised development and trouble-free integration of the HMI so that the final solution meets both the manufacturer’s requirements and the applicable EMC regulations.
When developing applications in which EMC plays a central role, close cooperation between all parties involved is crucial. Customised development takes all relevant requirements into account right from the start – from industry-specific standards to CE conformity. As a specialist in customised control panels, SCHURTER is a leader in the field of EMC and has extensive expertise in the development, production and integration of industrial control panels. SCHURTER’s HMI solutions have already proven themselves in automation, shipping, rail transportation and in potentially explosive environments with ATEX certification
SCHURTER Electronics Ltd.
Unit 3, Midshires Business Park, Smeaton Close
United Kingdom
+44 1296319001
info.uk@schurter.com
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