Kontron Launches Kontron FusionClient

Scalable, robust, multi-touch HMI enables Industrial IoT (IIoT) solutions for Smart Automation

Augsburg, GERMANY, November 24th, 2015 – Kontron, a leading global provider of embedded computing technology (ECT), today announced Kontron FusionClient, its latest generation of powerful HMI solutions, a crucial part of Kontron’s IIoT ready Industrial Computer Platform family.
 
FusionClient is based on the company’s revolutionary and holistic approach to HMI design which optimises usability and functionality, empowering solutions architects, systems integrators and machine builders to place the full potential of the Industrial IoT and Smart Automation at users’ fingertips. With user experience, reliability, scalability and connectivity being top customer priorities, the innovative and modular FusionClient HMI combines an edgeless, easy-clean, pure glass multi-touch interface with the industry proven performance and flexibility of the Kontron COM Express® Computer-on-Module.
 
Intuitive multi-touch access to real-time actionable data makes FusionClient well suited for use with real-time SCADA and Manufacturing Execution Systems (MES) monitoring and control applications. Holistic, single pane of glass views of the entire production process across individual or multiple sites will lead to increased productivity and more informed and timely decision making.
 
Users will also enjoy easier and more precise operation of machinery and applications, with and without gloves, thanks to the specification of Projective Capacitive Touchscreen (PCAP) technology and support of a wide range of touch gestures. The FusionClient is also prepared for gesture recognition which enables a direct user interaction without touching.
 
With the growing importance of sharing Operational Technology (OT) Data with on-premise or cloud-based Enterprise IT Systems, and to meet the requirements for comprehensive data visualisation, FusionClient is WiFi-enabled for seamless connectivity with plant machinery and other connected devices on the plant floor. The unique placement of the FusionClient’s WiFi antennas directly behind the glass front  ensure full bandwidth even if the FusionClient is mounted in a cabinet door.
 
Equipping FusionClient with an innovative LED alarm bar for providing machine status alerting even when the display is dimmed, is a further example of Kontron’s commitment to ensuring an enhanced user experience and increased productivity when conducting real-time data acquisition and monitoring.
 
As part of Kontron’s IIoT ready Industrial Computer Platform family, FusionClient automatically benefits from Kontron’s inherent and innovative ‘wartungsfrei’ (maintenance-free), modular and scalable design architecture. This offers customers maximum product availability, reliability, and reduced TCO/lifecycle management while providing total flexibility for easy customisation and upgrading to future processor generations. The first members of the FusionClient family will be powered by Intel®  latest generation Atom™ processors.
 
“Our FusionClient family prepares customers for the Industrial IoT age by literally placing the full power and productivity of the latest Smart Automation applications right at the user’s fingertips,” said Norbert Hauser, Head of Industrial Automation, Kontron. “Systems and machine designers can leverage our totally holistic approach to HMI, ensuring interoperability between customers’ new and legacy automation applications which can all be easily viewed and accessed via our highly functional, multi-touch, single pane of glass interface.”  
 
“A major focus of our Industrial Computer Platform product strategy is to drive innovation around two main concepts: Wartungsfrei Design and Forever Young”, added Norbert Hauser. “This is applied to FusionClient by offering passive cooling without fans, SSD instead of rotating media and SuperCaps for real-time clock (RTC) back-up instead of batteries. Our customers also have the opportunity to stay “Forever Young” with FusionClient by having the flexibility to upgrade to next generation processors by simply swapping the modules.”
 
All FusionClient multi-touch displays are frameless and feature easy-clean front glass which is anti-glare and scratch-proof as well as being IP65 front side protected. Based on the standard 16:9 wide format displays will be available in 10.1”, 15.6”, 18.5” and 21.5” sizes, both landscape & portrait. In addition to the W-LAN and LED alarm bar options for tracking and checking machine issues and their severity, a RFID reader can also be mounted behind the glass for enabling highly secure user access.  
For maximum connectivity to suit the widest possible Smart Automation requirements, the new FusionClient HMI’s extensive I/O features include 1x Dual Channel LVDS display, 2x GbE, 1x USB 3.0. and 2x 2.0 ports,1x RS-232, SD card reader, Mini PCI Express slot and optional I/O expansion board which allows easy customisation of I/O using standard products. In addition, mass storage support is included for eMMC, mSATA, 2.5” SSD, and SD card.
 
 
About Kontron
Kontron, a global leader in embedded computing technology and trusted advisor in IoT, works closely with its customers, allowing them to focus on their core competencies by offering a complete and integrated portfolio of hardware, software and services designed to help them make the most of their applications.
With a significant percentage of employees in research and development, Kontron creates many of the standards that drive the world’s embedded computing platforms; bringing to life numerous technologies and applications that touch millions of lives. The result is an accelerated time-to-market, reduced total-cost-of-ownership, product longevity and the best possible overall application with leading-edge, highest reliability embedded technology.            
Kontron is a listed company. Its shares are traded in the Prime Standard segment of the Frankfurt Stock Exchange and on other exchanges under the symbol “KBC”.
For more information, please visit: www.kontron.com