Pepperl+Fuchs introduces a 22 in. monitor to its family of VisuNet Industrial 900 Series Operator Workstations. Also available in 15 in. or 19 in. versions, VisuNet 900 series workstations withstand high shock, vibration, washdown and other challenges in even the harshest Ex-areas, including Class I/Div 2 environments. They are encased in a rugged Type 4/4X stainless-steel or painted steel slim housing, with seams that are continuously welded and ground smooth. The robust enclosure design mitigates heat without the need for venting or cooling fans. 

They feature an Intel® Atom™ or Core 2 Duo processor with Windows 7 32 bit operating system and are available in glove-friendly touchscreen and transflective models for clear outdoor viewing. “VisuNet remote monitors integrate all the benefits of a modern network infrastructure based on standard Ethernet components in a simple-to-use remote solution that enables the display, keyboard and mouse to be up to 2 km away from the PC in the safe area. And they are flexible and robust enough to be used as a full-scale panel PC installed within the hazardous location,” says Kristen Barbour, Product Marketing Manager. The harsh ambient conditions in oil and gas, and well drilling applications can be extremely problematic, and equipment must meet the stringent demands of constant use. Visualization systems can be subject to moisture and extreme temperature shifts, as well as solvents chemicals and cleaning. 

VisuNet operator workstations solve this problem by enabling users to decide which essential components to keep in the field, while using data lines to establish connections to the desktop PC equipment in a safe area. These industrial workstations can be ordered to meet the existing communication infrastructure of the application. The standard connectivity provided by Pepperl+Fuchs is Cat 5 or fiber-based KVM Monitors, Ethernet Remote Network Monitor or Full PC. Their adaptable design enables operator workstations throughout the processing facility to have a consistent look and feel, but with different functions. Various keyboard, mouse and touchscreen options are available to satisfy a wide range of application needs.