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HMI Pizza Heater Cabinet
“VCC takes convenience to a whole new level of yum with pizza heater indicators.”
Industry
Foodservice
Retail
Hospitality
Technology
Expertise
Design Consulting
Design & Engineering Service
Multiple Lighting Technologies
Products/Services
1050 Series PMI
PCL22 Series PMI
High-voltage PMI
IP65-Rated Product
Standard Product
Nearshore Manufacturing
Human Machine Interface Application Characteristics
In the food industry, consumers have high expectations when it comes to flavor and consistency. One bad experience can result in not only the loss of a customer, but also a negative online review that could impact future sales.
Pizza heating cabinets are commonly used in foodservice environments to provide consistent quality. And pizza heating cabinets are the perfect vehicle for providing a seamless self-serve experience — but only if the quality is there. Customers can order and pay online or through an app, then receive notification when their pie is ready. They can then go straight to the pizza heater to pick up their order — no line, no waiting, and no human interaction. The key to success in this self-service model is maintaining the highest levels of quality and freshness.
Food warmers like pizza heating cabinets must perform a few key functions:
Keep the food fresh, hot, and safe
Maintaining the right temperature and relative humidity required for freshness and food safety should be top priority
Maintain constant, real-time communication
With the pizza restaurant employee on one side, and the consumer on the other, both sides need to constantly illustrate operation status. The HMI enables each person involved (employee and customer) to interact with the system. The system monitor displays real-time status updates for both employees and customers. The HMI connects the user to the pizza heater cabinet, enabling seamless operation.
Be simple to understand
Operation shouldn’t require any special training or instruction for employees or customers. A touch interface can make operation more intuitive. The HMI screen serves as the display interface for status updates.
- The cabinet houses multiple pizzas or food items at once, ensuring efficient service during busy periods.
Smartphones can be used to receive updates or monitor the status of orders remotely.
Industrial Automation Application Requirements
When designing food equipment like warming cabinets, several considerations should be taken into account:
01. Cabinet height and placement
Must be designed in ways that are easily reachable and visible for consumers
02. Versatility
Which types of foods will need to be kept warm? What moisture conditions will need to be implemented? Operators can choose from different settings to accommodate various food types.
03. Volume and dimensions
How many items will be heated/housed at once? The cabinet’s storage capacity determines how many items can be housed at once.
04. Control panel / user interface
The more intuitive the better for all users and customers
05. Accessibility
The heater should open from two sides — one for employees to place the pizza in from behind the counter, one for consumers to pick it up.
In close collaboration with the client’s design team, VCC provided the following solution that incorporated both neon and LED technology. This cabinet offers flexible storage, intuitive controls, and easy access for both users and operators.
“Operators will use the pizza warmer with little to no instructions, so intuitive design and maximum visibility were important factors. VCC specified a solution with two standard products that provided the perfect fit.”
Caleb HwangMechanical Engineer, VCC
Safety Features and Components
In today’s fast-paced industrial automation and foodservice environments, safety is paramount. Human machine interface (HMI) solutions are designed with robust safety features and components to ensure secure and reliable interactions between people and machines. Essential safety elements such as emergency stop buttons, alarm systems, and secure authentication protocols are integrated into the user interface, providing immediate response options and safeguarding both operators and equipment.
Modern HMI solutions leverage components like serial ports, Wi-Fi, and Ethernet connections to enable dependable communication between devices, ensuring that critical safety information is always accessible. In applications where machine safety is critical, such as pizza heater cabinets and other foodservice equipment, these features help prevent accidents and maintain compliance with industry standards.
Integration with SCADA systems further enhances safety and security by providing real-time monitoring and control of industrial processes. Remote monitoring capabilities empower operators to quickly identify and respond to potential hazards, reducing risks and improving overall safety. High-performance HMI solutions are meticulously designed to meet the specific safety requirements of each industry, with careful attention to the development of both hardware and software components. This comprehensive approach ensures that every aspect of the system—from emergency buttons to networked alarms—works together to protect users, machines, and the environment.
Solution/Approach
1050 Series
The 1050 Series Neon Panel Mount Indicator with wire leads was used to provide bright, consistent illumination in 125V. This red neon indicator easily snaps into a 12.7mm hole and supports quick and easy assembly during production. Available in 125V or 250V, as well as a range of lens options. The 1050 Series meets relevant certification requirements for foodservice equipment, and its components comply with safety standards, including class ratings where applicable.
PCL22 Series
There’s no product line more perfect for keeping pizzas at the perfect temperature than VCC’s PCL22 Series. VCC recently launched the PCL22 Series, a 22mm pilot light solution that enhances visual communication even further with a large pilot light that offers uniform illumination. The PCL22 LEDs are simple to install, eliminate hot spots, and can be seen from a wide viewing angle, even at great distances.
The PCL22 Series was used for both red and green panel-mount indicators in 24V. These high-performance LEDs are watertight to IP65, helping make them the ideal pilot light solution for pizza warming cabinets, and include advanced light diffusion technology to eliminate hot spots. Single color options include red, green, white, blue, and yellow. A bi-color red/green option is also available for enhanced design versatility. The PCL22 Series also meets industry certification requirements for foodservice equipment and complies with safety standards, including class ratings such as Class I, Division 2 for use in demanding environments.
“Leveraging neon and LED technology helped the OEM utilize a high-voltage PMI and ensure a watertight pilot light solution with consistent illumination, bringing the client’s vision for an intuitive and reliable interface to life.”
Omar LaraSr. Process Engineer, VCC
Human Machine Interface (HMI) and Customization
Every industry has unique needs, and human machine interface (HMI) solutions are increasingly being customized to meet those specific requirements. Customization goes beyond aesthetics, allowing businesses to tailor the user interface, functionality, and components to fit their exact applications—whether in manufacturing, healthcare, education, or beyond.
With customizable HMI solutions, organizations can design display layouts, configure button arrangements, and develop specialized software to streamline operations and enhance user experience. This flexibility not only improves efficiency and productivity but also reduces the likelihood of operator errors by creating intuitive, application-specific interfaces.
Industries benefit from the ability to integrate customized HMI solutions with other systems, such as SCADA and PLCs, resulting in comprehensive automation solutions that support complex processes. Customization also takes into account environmental conditions, device compatibility, and user recognition, ensuring that the interface is both functional and user-friendly in any setting. By leveraging the ability to customize, businesses can create solutions that are perfectly aligned with their operational goals, supporting everything from classroom learning to advanced manufacturing processes.
Wi-Fi Connectivity and Integration
Wi-Fi connectivity has become a cornerstone of modern human machine interface (HMI) solutions, enabling seamless wireless communication between devices and operators. By integrating Wi-Fi, HMI solutions support remote monitoring, real-time control, and efficient data exchange across a wide range of industrial automation applications, including SCADA systems and PLCs.
The ability to establish wireless networks enhances system flexibility, allowing machines and operators to communicate without the constraints of physical cabling. This not only simplifies installation and reduces costs but also improves the scalability and adaptability of automation systems. HMI solutions with Wi-Fi connectivity are designed with security in mind, incorporating data encryption and network protection to ensure safe and reliable communication.
Industries such as manufacturing, healthcare, and education increasingly rely on Wi-Fi-enabled HMI solutions to support their evolving needs. Operators benefit from the convenience of accessing system data and controls from virtually anywhere, while businesses gain improved efficiency and responsiveness. As Wi-Fi integration continues to advance, HMI solutions are better equipped to support the demands of modern industrial environments, delivering robust performance and connectivity for a wide range of applications.
Maintenance and Troubleshooting
To ensure optimal performance and reliability, human machine interface (HMI) solutions require regular maintenance and effective troubleshooting. Routine activities such as software updates, hardware inspections, and network monitoring are essential for keeping systems running smoothly and minimizing unexpected downtime.
When issues arise—whether it’s a connectivity problem, display error, or system crash—HMI solutions equipped with built-in diagnostic tools and remote monitoring capabilities make troubleshooting more efficient. These advanced features allow operators and support teams to quickly identify and resolve problems, ensuring continuous operation in critical environments like manufacturing and healthcare.
The development of maintenance and troubleshooting strategies for HMI solutions involves careful consideration of system components, user interface design, and the specific requirements of industrial processes. By prioritizing regular maintenance and leveraging advanced troubleshooting tools, organizations can improve system quality, reduce errors, and enhance the overall user experience. HMI solutions that support these activities are vital for a wide range of industrial automation applications, including SCADA systems and PLCs, helping businesses maintain high standards of performance and reliability.
Results & Benefits of Remote Monitoring
Through collaboration with the client, VCC’s design team combined neon and LEDs to provide a solution that ultimately delivers:
- Increased visibility for effective communication with users and customers
- Intuitive interface for hassle-free customer pick-up
- Consistently high-quality product delivery, which will lead to repeat business
- Higher order volume and increased efficiency without sacrificing quality
- Improved freshness of pizza due to constant temperature and humidity levels
- Reduced human error, which leads to a better customer experience
- Streamlined production time and costs due to using existing off-the-shelf products
- Supply chain simplification and reliability through nearshore manufacturing
Additional resources, including support materials and tools, are available to help users and operators get the most out of the HMI solution.
Value-Added Services
By recommending standard components that met the client’s exact specifications, VCC helped the manufacturer save on production lead time and production costs. No prototyping was required to validate the design, meaning the pizza cabinet went to market faster.
Whether it’s pasta, pizza, or another beloved food group, VCC has the experience, quality and insights to ensure food safety and reliability are built into the design.
Case studies
Intelligent solutions that make everyday life more convenient
IoT is everywhere, but there’s still room for HMI improvement. VCC provides designs and components that enhance the user experience.
