How Freudenberg Sealing Technologies Enhances Usability and Maintenance with GETT InduSmart® BlackLine Panel PC

In the past, Freudenberg Sealing Technologies used industrial panel PCs mounted directly into the front of control cabinets. While functional, this approach created several challenges:

• Upgrading to a new generation of devices often required extensive modifications—or even complete replacement—of the control cabinet front panel.
• Mechanical pushbuttons were difficult to clean in dusty industrial environments, experienced higher wear over time, and were prone to failure.
• Standard control enclosures frequently included hardware components that were not actually needed, resulting in unnecessary complexity and additional costs.

As Marek Semrau explains:

“Our previous operator interface solutions lacked flexibility and required significant effort whenever changes were needed—both from a mechanical and an organizational standpoint.”

While searching for capacitive buttons that could also be operated with gloves, Freudenberg Sealing Technologies discovered GETT. At the time, the BlackLine was not yet officially available on the market—yet the collaboration began immediately with an initial prototype.

What followed was an intensive, collaborative development process tailored precisely to Freudenberg Sealing Technologies’ requirements:

• Individually labeled buttons with pictograms behind glass—durable, robust, and language-independent
• Color feedback when activated (e.g., green = active, red = confirmed, blue = inactive)
• Open code access and customization of button response behavior to specific needs
• Mounting on a movable arm for ergonomic workstation design
• Slim, compact HMI design with no additional software, but high resistance to dust and splashing water
• Modular system with a central panel and optional sub-distribution unit, connected via simple CAT cabling

As Marek Semrau explains:

“We were taken seriously from the very beginning—it was a collaboration on equal footing.”

“We were impressed by the BlackLine surface: scratch-resistant, easy to clean, and highly functional—ideal for production environments.”

The new solution has already delivered significant improvements across multiple areas:

• Consistent global standards enabled by a modular design
• Simplified troubleshooting and reduced downtime, for example through MAC address-based identification
• Faster commissioning thanks to preconfigured, lab-tested units
• Fewer on-site repairs, as entire panels can be replaced instead of individual components when needed
• Strong user guidance through clear visual feedback and intuitive symbols

As Marek Semrau explains:

“We haven’t had any failures so far—and I believe it will stay that way. But if something does happen, we would prefer a retrofit solution. It would be a shame if high-quality components had to be discarded because of a single defect.”

“GETT products are high-quality and customizable, and the collaboration was professional and collaborative. So why not?”