Using Screens in Chilled Environments

Common for supermarkets and food retailers, distribution centres provide an efficient means of storing food ready to replenish the shelves of a districts many stores. Often positioned in central locations, near major road networks, large distribution centres prevent the need for large storage space in the stores themselves.

Many of these large distribution centres require monitoring and visual communication for staff to keep track of orders. However, as these locations store food, some of which is frozen, many of these distribution centres are like giant chillers or freezers.

Running screens in chilled and frozen environments causes potential problems for standard display hardware. Protecting the screen in these environments is essential, as extreme cold can lead to potential failure by expanding components and causing permanent damage.

Just as high temperatures cause expansion of materials such as metals, cold causes contraction. In frozen environments, an LCD screen will soon fail if not protected; standard LCD screens have an optimum temperature range but as soon as temperatures drop close to zero, few standard devices will function.

Designed for chilled and frozen environments, LCD enclosures provide the temperature protection needed. Insulated and with internal heaters and fans, the LCD enclosure monitors the internal temperature making sure the optimum range is never exceeded. Available in a range of sizes, LCD enclosures enable the operation of standard screens in chillers, freezers and other hostile locations.

Even screens in ambient temperature distribution environments require protecting, as often these locations are dusty. Dust blocks filters causing overheating and even leads to short-circuiting if allowed to penetrate inside the TV device.

As LCD enclosures are waterproof too, cleaning and wash down is also permissible –ideal for locations where cleanliness is essential.

Ideal for displaying ordering and picking information, many supermarket distribution centres already use screens housed in LCD enclosures. Often by installing screens in chillers or freezers, efficiency increases as monitoring of performance and order times becomes easier.