High-end level controls with new graphic industrial displays
Magnetrol® International has been dedicated to the development and manufacture of level indicators and flow controls for over eighty years. Numerous inventions, such as the first magnetic level limit switch for liquids, can be attributed to the internationally active pioneer. According to Chief Engineer Kevin Haynes, the increasing complexity of this type of measuring task also increases the need for user interfaces that are quick to understand and easy to operate. In his experience, graphic displays are the most suitable means of doing this. They can display a wealth of information simultaneously on a relatively small surface area. The scalability of the characters improves readability at greater viewing distances. However, graphic displays can not only show discrete values, but also progression curves, which significantly simplifies diagnostics during installation and troubleshooting. Additionally displayed operating instructions help the user to configure and handle the measuring device. Combined with just a few operating buttons, user guidance can be designed to be intuitive and intuitive.
Magnetrol® International was looking for a display for its measuring devices that had to fulfil several, sometimes contradictory, requirements. The display had to consume as little energy as possible and be very compact in order to fit into the handy housing. Nevertheless, a visually appealing display with excellent readability was required. The operating temperature range had to be wide enough for the displays to be used in all areas of industrial production. To make do with just a few cables, the control had to be serial and easily adaptable to customer-specific requirements.
