What Is an Industrial Edge HMI? Introducing the B Series

As factories add more sensors and connected equipment, sending every reading to the cloud becomes slow and expensive. Edge computing processes data at the source, and an edge HMI is the visible face of that strategy — a panel that both controls the machine and runs local analytics. The B H1 10.1" Touch Panel PC is our Industrial Edge Series entry point.

Why edge matters

• Lower latency: control loops respond in milliseconds instead of waiting on a round-trip to the cloud.
• Resilience: the process keeps running even when the network drops.
• Reduced data costs: only summaries and alerts go upstream, not raw streams.
• Local security: sensitive machine data stays on the plant floor.

Where edge HMIs fit

Typical deployments include energy monitoring, industrial instrumentation, machine tool HMIs and gateway panels that bridge legacy Modbus devices to a modern network. On a production line, the same panel class also covers industrial automation dashboards, where operators need status, alarms and local control in one place. The B Series combines a 10.1-inch touchscreen with the connectivity and processing headroom these jobs demand.

The B Series lineup

All four models share the same 10.1-inch touchscreen, exterior inset mounting and a VESA 75 × 75 hole pattern. They differ mainly in frame material and finish:

• B-H1-101 — plastic frame, available in silver, black or white.
• B-P1-101 — plastic frame in silver or black.
• B-L1-101 — CNC aluminum frame in silver or black.
• B-S1-101 — CNC aluminum frame in silver or black.

Plastic frames keep unit cost down in volume products. The aluminum frames add rigidity and a more industrial look, which suits panels that face customers or sit on heavy equipment.

If you are weighing an open-frame core against an enclosed edge panel, the S Series open-frame comparison explains that trade-off. For a customized build, the OEM/ODM process guide covers how a requirement becomes a production run.

If your equipment needs a panel that does more than just display values — one that runs logic at the edge — the B Series is worth a close look. Discuss your application with our engineering team.

Frequently asked questions

What does an edge HMI do that a regular HMI panel does not?

A regular panel displays and takes input. An edge HMI also runs logic at the machine: local control loops, event rules and basic analytics, and it keeps the process running when the network drops.

Which B Series model should I choose?

For panels built into your own volume product, the plastic-frame models keep cost down. For panels that face customers or mount on heavy equipment, the CNC aluminum models (B-L1-101, B-S1-101) are the stiffer option. All four share the same 10.1-inch display and VESA 75 × 75 mounting, so switching between them later is not a redesign.

Can a B Series panel talk to older PLCs and Modbus devices?

Bridging legacy Modbus devices to a modern network is one of the typical roles for this panel class. Send us the device list on the machine side and we will confirm the interface fit for your project.

What mounting options does the B Series support?

Exterior inset mounting with a VESA 75 × 75 hole pattern on all four models, so the panel sits flush in a front panel or mounts on an arm or stand.

Get a configuration review

Tell us what the panel has to control, which protocols sit on the machine side and where the data should go, and we will propose a B Series configuration that fits. Send an inquiry, or start from the industrial automation solution page to see the context these panels run in.