What Industries Benefit Most from Custom Display Integration?

Custom Display Integration

Custom display integration is especially valuable in industries where standard off-the-shelf displays cannot meet a product's mechanical, optical, environmental, electrical, or lifecycle requirements.

Industries that benefit most include industrial automation, medical equipment, transportation, aerospace and aviation, marine systems, energy equipment, test and measurement, and specialized commercial electronics.

For OEM manufacturers, custom display integration can go far beyond selecting an LCD panel. It can involve touchscreen integration, optical bonding, high-brightness backlights, custom cover glass, interface requirements, mechanical modifications, and other display enhancements designed around the final product.

What Is Custom Display Integration?

Custom display integration is the process of adapting a display system to meet the requirements of a specific OEM product.

Instead of designing a product around a standard monitor, manufacturers can configure the display around their application.

Depending on the project, this may include:

• TFT LCD selection

• Touchscreen integration

• Optical bonding

• High-brightness backlights

• Custom cover glass

• Anti-glare or anti-reflective treatments

• Custom cables and connectors

• Mechanical integration

• Interface compatibility

• Wide-temperature components

• Ruggedization

• Long-term display availability

  
  

The industries that gain the most value from these capabilities are typically those operating outside conventional office and consumer environments.

1. Industrial Automation and Manufacturing

Industrial automation is one of the most common applications for custom displays.

Manufacturing equipment, robotics, machine controls, and industrial HMI systems often operate continuously and may be exposed to vibration, dust, temperature changes, or heavy operator use.

Typical applications include:

• Industrial HMI panels

• Factory automation systems

• Robotics controllers

• CNC equipment

• Process control systems

• Machine vision equipment

• Production monitoring systems

An industrial display may require a rugged touchscreen, protective cover glass, wide viewing angles, extended operating temperatures, or a high-brightness backlight.

Long-term availability can also be important because industrial equipment may remain in production or service much longer than consumer electronics.

2. Medical Equipment

Medical equipment manufacturers frequently have display requirements that differ significantly from standard commercial applications.

Displays can be integrated into:

• Patient monitoring systems

• Diagnostic equipment

• Medical carts

• Imaging equipment

• Laboratory instruments

• Surgical equipment

• Portable medical devices

Depending on the application, manufacturers may need high resolution, excellent viewing angles, touchscreen functionality, custom cover glass, or specific optical performance.

Mechanical integration is also important because the display must fit within the equipment enclosure while supporting the intended user interface.

Medical products may be subject to additional regulatory and qualification requirements, so display specifications should always be evaluated as part of the complete system design.

3. Transportation Systems

Railway Signage

Transportation equipment creates another demanding environment for electronic displays.

Displays may experience vibration, changing temperatures, strong ambient lighting, and extended operating periods.

Applications can include:

• Rail systems

• Commercial vehicles

• Fleet equipment

• Passenger information systems

• Vehicle control interfaces

• Navigation systems

• Transportation monitoring equipment

High-brightness LCDs and optical bonding can be particularly valuable when displays must remain readable in bright environments.

Rugged mechanical integration and wide-temperature operation may also be important depending on where the display is installed.

4. Aerospace and Aviation

Aerospace and aviation systems often require displays designed around demanding optical and environmental conditions.

Applications may include:

• Cockpit interfaces

• Avionics equipment

• Cabin control systems

• Aircraft monitoring equipment

• Portable aviation devices

• Ground support equipment

• Aerospace test systems

One important consideration is readability under changing ambient lighting.

Technologies such as high-brightness LCDs, optical bonding, anti-reflective treatments, and wide-viewing-angle displays can help improve display visibility.

Mechanical design may also need to account for vibration and other environmental conditions.

For aviation and aerospace projects, qualification and regulatory requirements should be evaluated for the complete system and intended application.

5. Marine Equipment

Marine electronics can expose displays to sunlight, moisture, temperature variation, and frequent touchscreen interaction.

Common applications include:

• Marine navigation systems

• Vessel monitoring equipment

• Control consoles

• Sonar and radar interfaces

• Engine monitoring systems

• Marine instrumentation

Outdoor readability can be particularly important.

A marine display may combine a high-brightness LCD with optical bonding, appropriate cover glass, and anti-reflective or anti-glare treatments to improve visibility.

The final enclosure can also be designed around the required level of protection from water and contaminants.

6. Energy and Utility Equipment

Energy infrastructure increasingly relies on digital interfaces for monitoring and control.

Custom displays may be integrated into:

• Power generation equipment

• Battery energy storage systems

• EV charging equipment

• Solar power systems

• Utility monitoring equipment

• Grid control systems

• Field service equipment

These products may be installed indoors or outdoors and can have very different requirements depending on their environment.

Outdoor equipment, for example, may require high brightness, wide-temperature operation, protective cover glass, and environmental sealing at the system level.

7. Test and Measurement Equipment

Test and measurement manufacturers often need to display large amounts of detailed technical information in a relatively compact interface.

Applications include:

• Oscilloscopes

• Network analyzers

• Measurement instruments

• Laboratory equipment

• Diagnostic systems

• Inspection equipment

• Portable field instruments

Resolution, contrast, viewing angle, and touchscreen performance can all affect usability.

Custom integration also allows manufacturers to select a display with the appropriate dimensions, resolution, interface, and mechanical configuration for the instrument rather than designing the instrument around a consumer display.

8. Specialized Commercial Equipment

Self-ordering Kiosk

Custom displays are also useful in commercial products where a standard display does not provide the desired appearance, functionality, or integration.

Examples include:

• Self-service kiosks

• Digital control panels

• Professional kitchen equipment

• Building automation systems

• Security systems

• Access control equipment

• Professional audio/video equipment

• Specialized portable monitors

• AI controller interfaces

These products may require custom cover glass, touch integration, unusual display dimensions, high brightness, or specific mechanical designs.

For manufacturers, the display can become an integrated part of the product rather than a separate component.

Why Not Use an Off-the-Shelf Display?

A commercial monitor may work well during early prototyping, but production equipment often introduces additional requirements.

An OEM manufacturer may need:

• A specific mechanical footprint

• Consistent mounting points

• A particular display interface

• Custom cable assemblies

• Touchscreen integration

• Custom cover glass

• Improved outdoor readability

• Higher brightness

• Optical bonding

• Wider operating temperatures

• Better resistance to vibration

• Longer product availability

When these requirements become important, custom display integration can provide significantly more flexibility than designing around a finished consumer monitor.

What Can Be Customized in an OEM Display?

The level of customization depends on the project.

A custom display solution may involve one or several components:

Requirement	Possible Display Solution
Bright outdoor environment	High-brightness LCD
Excessive reflections	Optical bonding / AR treatment
Touch interface	PCAP or resistive touchscreen
Physical protection	Custom cover glass
Harsh environment	Ruggedized display assembly
Temperature extremes	Wide-temperature display
Unique enclosure	Mechanical customization
Specific electronics	Interface/cable customization
Long production program	Lifecycle-focused panel selection

The goal is not necessarily to customize everything.

The goal is to identify which display characteristics matter to the final product and customize where doing so provides meaningful value.

When Should Manufacturers Consider Custom Display Integration?

OEM manufacturers should consider custom display integration early in product development if the display is an important part of the user experience or product architecture.

Before selecting a display, engineering teams should define:

• Required display size

• Resolution

• Brightness

• Viewing environment

• Viewing angles

• Touch requirements

• Cover glass requirements

• Operating and storage temperatures

• Mechanical dimensions

• Display interface

• Shock and vibration conditions

• Environmental exposure

• Expected product lifecycle

• Production volume

Defining these requirements early can reduce the risk of selecting a display that later creates mechanical, optical, or electrical integration problems.

Custom Display Integration for OEM Manufacturers

Interactive Display Solutions (IDS) works with OEM manufacturers and system integrators to develop display solutions for specialized products and demanding environments.

Depending on application requirements, IDS display solutions can incorporate technologies such as:

• TFT LCD displays

• High-brightness displays

• Touchscreen integration

• Optical bonding

• Custom cover glass

• Rugged display solutions

• Custom cables and interfaces

• Mechanical integration

• Optical enhancements

Rather than simply selecting a display based on screen size, manufacturers can evaluate the complete optical, mechanical, electrical, and environmental requirements of their product.

Does Your Product Need a Custom Display?

Industries such as industrial automation, medical equipment, transportation, aerospace, marine, energy, and test and measurement benefit from custom display integration because their products often operate under requirements that standard consumer displays were not designed to address.

The right solution depends on the application.

If you're developing an OEM product and need help selecting or integrating a display, contact Interactive Display Solutions to discuss your display requirements and customization options.

Published by IDS Display - Interactive Display Solutions, Inc.