Industrial Box Thin Clients for 24/7 Operation

Complete Thin Client Solution from the Control Room Down to Hazardous Areas

Pepperl+Fuchs: Explosive atmospheres, rough conditions, extreme temperatures—process industries pose particular challenges to people and technology. This also applies to the thin clients that are common in office environments. Unlike applications on conventional PCs, applications on thin clients are not on remote servers. Only image information and input is entered via the network.

Since centralization and virtualization of computers is also a trend for modern process control systems, thin clients have become more important in this field, too. In order to use the technology in process industries, Pepperl+Fuchs developed industrial box thin clients that are suitable for harsh conditions. The BTC12 supplements the existing BTC01 and expands the thin client portfolio.

The BTC12 comes in a robust, enclosed IP4x housing and is designed for 24/7 operation. With its extended temperature range of -20 to +60 °C, the BTC can be installed in extreme temperatures and stowed in cabinets, drawers, or containers. All connectors are mechanically securable so the box thin client can withstand vibration.

A Clear View—from Quad Monitor to Ultra HD

Large screens are not only finding their way into living rooms, but also into control rooms. Pepperl+Fuchs has optimized the BTC12 for use with the latest screen technology. The new version comes with two DisplayPort interfaces that allow the use of Ultra HD monitors with 4K resolution at 60 Hz—this ensures an optimal overview of your processes. Due to the DP++ option, users are able to connect HDMI monitors with a passive DisplayPort adapter.

The well-known BTC01 even supports Quad Monitor installations and can display information on four Full HD screens. Sow with the Pepperl+Fuchs box thin client portfolio, users can adapt monitoring in the control room to their individual needs.

Easy Configuration with RM Shell 5

To simplify not only hardware installation, but also configuration and setup of the box thin client, VisuNet RM Shell 5 firmware is pre-installed and pre-configured for various control systems. So just like thin client-based VisuNet Remote Monitors, the BTC can be put into operation quickly and easily within a few minutes. The latest generation of RM Shell is based on Microsoft® Windows 10 IoT Enterprise LTSB, which is provided with long-term security updates by Microsoft. In addition, RM Shell 5 comes with integrated security mechanisms that give the system reliable protection from malware and virus infiltration.

RM Shell 5 firmware is available for every VisuNet device from Pepperl+Fuchs. It enables a complete thin client solution for process industries—from the BTC in the control room down to the remote monitor in Zone 1/21. And with VisuNet Control Center software, plant operators can configure, monitor, and efficiently manage all devices from one central point.