Top 5 Challenges Food & Drink Manufacturers Face with Industrial Computers

Food and drink production is a demanding environment for any piece of equipment. Computers on the factory floor must withstand frequent washdowns, strict hygiene controls, increasing automation, and continuous operation. Despite this, many sites still use standard PCs that were never designed for food production.

So, what are the common challenges manufacturers encounter when using industrial computers in food and beverage manufacturing sites, and how can stainless steel panel PCs built for these environments address them?

Hygiene is critical in food and drink manufacturing environments. Standard computers feature vents, cooling fans, and plastic enclosures that are difficult to clean properly, leading to bacterial buildup, increased risk of allergen contamination, and noncompliance with food safety standards.

Stainless steel panel PCs specifically designed for washdown areas help address these concerns. Featuring stainless steel enclosures that are sealed up to IP69K for high-pressure cleaning, protect against water and dust ingress, and enable thorough cleaning with disinfectants to support consistent hygiene practices in food processing.

IT equipment deployed on factory floors is often exposed to liquid spills, airborne particles, vibration, and fluctuations in temperature. Many standard industrial computers struggle in these conditions and can fail, leading to unplanned downtime and increased maintenance costs.

Panel PCs specifically designed for food and beverage production are engineered to address these challenges. With stainless steel enclosures, sealed construction, and fanless designs, stainless steel computing solutions provide the durability needed for 24/7 operation in harsh industrial environments where traditional PCs often fall short.

Automation, robotics, and real-time data collection are now standard across much of the food and drink sector. However, older or poorly specified industrial computers can limit connectivity and slow down access to critical production data.

Modern panel PCs are designed to integrate easily with scanners, weighing systems, PLCs, and MES platforms. Touchscreen interfaces allow operators to access live data directly on the production line, helping them react quickly to issues and keep automated processes running smoothly.

Any computer that relies on internal airflow can draw in moisture, dust, and food particles. Over time, this creates hidden contamination risks that are difficult to manage in hygiene-critical areas.

Fanless, fully sealed panel PCs remove this risk entirely. With no vents or moving parts, there is nowhere for contaminants to collect, helping to maintain a cleaner environment and reducing long-term hygiene concerns.

Operators often work in wet conditions and wear gloves, which makes traditional keyboards and mice impractical. Poorly designed interfaces can slow tasks down and increase the likelihood of mistakes.

Stainless steel touchscreen panel PCs with projected capacitive touchscreen technology are well-suited to these conditions. They are designed to operate reliably with bare or gloved fingers, reducing the need for external peripherals.  Screens with this touch technology are scratch, dust, and water-resistant.

As food and beverage manufacturers continue to invest in automation, digital systems, and higher hygiene standards, factory-floor computing must evolve alongside them. Stainless steel panel PCs designed for harsh working environments offer the durability, cleanliness, and usability needed to maximise production, whilst reducing costs and downtime.

For manufacturers aiming to minimise downtime, maintain compliance, and support future automation projects, selecting the right industrial computer is a key part of the equation.

At Distec Ltd, we offer a wide range of stainless steel computing solutions. Talk with our experts today to find the right industrial PC for your production line. Contact our experts here or view our range of stainless steel panel PCs here.

Louise Knowles is the Marketing Manager at Distec Ltd, a UK-based technology solutions provider specialising in cutting-edge industrial computing, embedded systems, and innovative IIoT and Edge solutions. Working with leading technology partners, Louise Knowles shares the latest product news and insights that support businesses across industrial automation, healthcare, retail, marine, and military sectors.