Industrial panel PCs typically cover a range of approximately 7 inches (around 17.8 centimetres) to 24 inches (around 61 centimetres) screen diagonal. Compact devices in the 7 to 10-inch range are suitable for simple control tasks with limited space. The mid-range of 10.1 to 15.6 inches covers classic HMI and machine control applications. Larger displays between 17 and 24 inches are used for complex visualisation tasks and control station applications. At the outer edge of the market, there are also large-format industrial displays over 24 inches, but these are found more in custom solutions than in the standard portfolio of most manufacturers.

The InduSmart® series from GETT concretely covers this spectrum in its four product lines.

The number of control elements, status values and diagrams to be displayed simultaneously significantly determines the required display area. A rule of thumb from HMI design states: touch targets should not fall below a minimum size of approximately 10 to 15 millimetres regardless of display size, to ensure they can be reliably hit under operating conditions. If the information density of the application increases, either the display size must grow or the user interface must be divided into multiple levels. Both approaches have consequences: more levels increase click paths and thus potentially increase operating time, a larger display increases installation space and power consumption.

Resolution and pixel density, measured in PPI (pixels per inch), together with viewing distance determine whether content is sharp and readable without strain. At greater viewing distance, lower pixel density may be sufficient, whilst at close operation fine content quickly appears blurry without higher resolution. Additionally, brightness, measured in nits or candela per square metre, plays a central role in readability under varying ambient light. In bright production halls or near windows, higher brightness values are necessary to avoid contrast loss due to scattered light. Displays with optical bonding, where the air gap between cover glass and display unit is replaced with a transparent adhesive layer, significantly reduce internal reflections and thus improve readability under strong ambient light and contrast under direct sunlight. An anti-glare coating, also known as AR coating, additionally reduces glare effects on the glass surface.

The selected display size directly determines the required front aperture in the control cabinet, console or housing as well as the required installation depth behind the front panel. Larger displays typically also require greater installation depth for electronics, heatsinks and connectors, which must be considered in confined installation spaces. The bezel width, i.e. the frame around the active display area, additionally affects how compactly multiple panel PCs can be mounted side by side if required. For installation, several concepts are typically available:

The choice of touch technology is closely linked to the planned display size and operating environment. Projected capacitive touchscreens (PCAP) offer high optical clarity, support multi-touch gestures and are used consistently in the InduSmart® series. PCAP touchscreens typically achieve protection rating up to IP65 on the front in industrial environments, but often require specially tuned sensor technology or compatible gloves for reliable operation with thick work gloves. Resistive touchscreens, by contrast, work pressure-based and therefore reliably recognise any type of input, including thick gloves, styluses or wet fingers, making them the preferred choice for certain outdoor and warehouse environments, even if optical clarity and multi-touch capability are lower than with PCAP solutions. When selecting touch technology, the actual type of glove used in the field should therefore always be considered and tested where possible.

In addition to diagonal and touch technology, the panel type used influences image quality. IPS panels (In-Plane-Switching) offer wide viewing angles and stable colour reproduction even when viewed from the side, which is advantageous for operating stations with multiple simultaneous viewers or with elevated installation. The RedLine series consistently uses high-resolution IPS displays with wide viewing angles and high brightness for good readability in the factory hall. VA panels, by contrast, offer higher contrast values with somewhat narrower viewing angles, whilst TN panels primarily score with short response times and low costs, but show stronger colour and contrast shifts when viewed from the side.

In machine and systems engineering, medium display sizes between 10.1 and 18.5 inches predominate, since usually a limited number of control elements and status displays need to be displayed simultaneously. For premium solutions with high design requirements and custom control elements, the BlackLine with 18.5 or 21.5 inches is ideal, whose robust metal housing with IP65 front protection and IP54 rear protection and illuminated capacitive button bar was specifically developed for demanding machine environments. An emergency stop button can additionally be integrated directly into the control bar.

In food production, cleanrooms and medically-related environments, cleanability and sealed, low-seam housing concepts take priority. Display sizes in the mid-range between 10.1 and 15.6 inches are typical here, as larger glass surfaces tend to be more susceptible to contamination and cleaning marks and simultaneously place higher demands on the mechanical stability of the glass surface. Glass surfaces without seams and recesses significantly facilitate cleaning with disinfectants and reduce the risk of microbial accumulation in crevices. Electrical medical devices are additionally subject to the IEC 60601 standard series with specific requirements for electrical safety and interference immunity, which must be considered when selecting a panel PC for medically-related applications.

Control stations and monitoring centres typically require the largest available display sizes between 18.5 and 24 inches, as multiple process visualisations, key figures and alarm messages need to be displayed in parallel here. Larger viewing distances in control station environments also allow for larger displays without compromising ergonomics. The RedLine and BlackLine with Intel® Core i5 with their equipment for compute-intensive applications such as SCADA, MES and production dashboards as well as their comprehensive connectivity are ideally suited for control station systems and central operating stations of complex systems.

In outdoor use and vehicle manufacturing, additional requirements apply for brightness, anti-glare and mechanical stability. Direct sunlight requires higher brightness values as well as measures such as optical bonding and anti-glare coating to avoid contrast loss due to scattered light. The mechanical shock resistance of the front panel is frequently specified via the IK protection rating according to IEC 62262, with IK07 to IK09 being common for displays on machines with continuous vibration and occasional mechanical contact, whilst IK10 is primarily used on publicly accessible or vandalism-prone terminals. Display sizes in vehicle manufacturing are usually based on available space in the cab and frequently fall in the compact to mid-range between 7 and 12.1 inches.

The choice of display size also affects total cost of ownership. A consistent display size across multiple generations of systems reduces the effort for spare parts inventory and simplifies scaling for follow-up projects, as the user interface and mechanical aperture remain unchanged. Obsolescence management – actively monitoring when a particular display size or panel technology is discontinued on the market – is particularly relevant for long-lived machine projects. GETT addresses this risk with documented long-term availability of up to 7 years for the BlackLine based on the form-fit-function principle, ensuring that display size and control logic remain available for reordering unchanged throughout the period. This is complemented by a documented return rate of 0.21 per cent across the entire portfolio, which can be used as an indicator of actual manufacturing quality and field reliability.