Fascia Panels – Choosing the Right Option
Front panels, control panels or fascia panels are all one in the same thing. They are used on some kind of control system to make it safe and usable for operators and anyone else in the surrounding area. The most important part of choosing a fascia panel is choosing the right one, as no two control systems will be the same.
What is a control panel?
A control panel is usually found in a factory or some kind of industrial environment. They are used to control systems and to monitor them as well. They may be designed as a mimic panel, mirroring the area of the system they control to make it easier to control the system. Every one will be different – it is not something that can be mass produced. This is because every system is different and will have its own requirements it has to meet. You won’t be able to find just any system to do just any job. Usually, a control system will be individually designed for the building it sits in.
What makes a good fascia panel?
A fascia panel is so important because it is the front-end part of a control system and is what people see. These are some of the credentials that will make a fascia panel a good investment:
- Quality material. It should be made of anodised aluminium or similar, to give it durability and strength.
- Long lasting. The use of quality materials will help to make a fascia panel more durable and will help it stand up to the tough environment it might be working in.
- Simple. Simplicity is key. The fascia panel must be user-friendly, or it will not be easy for staff to use and operate. It may also need to be used quickly, so it is not going to be compatible with this if it is too complex. Even if the systems it controls are complex, the panel itself cannot be.
- Scratch resistant. The use of strong materials should help make the panel scratch and damage resistant so that it won’t become unreadable or unusable due to damage in the future.
Should control and fascia panels always be unique?
It would be hard to create a standard fascia panel. They need to work with different systems, so this wouldn’t work if they were going to be the same. It is usually easier to build a fascia panel from scratch, rather than trying to adapt something that already exists.
Choosing quality fascia panels
The easiest way to make sure you are getting quality is to go to the right retailer or supplier. They will be able to talk you through the design process, and if it is something you are unfamiliar with, they should be able to give you plenty of guidance. Work closely with the manufacturer to make sure the panels you are getting are going to be of the highest quality and won’t let you down. Make sure you are involved in the process, as the most important thing is for your panels to be representative of you.