Kontron Announces the Industry's Lightest, Most Powerful and Versatile HMI Family of Products

Optimized for Automation and Military Applications, Kontron’s New HMI Solution Offers Ultra-Rugged Flexibility in Harsh Environments

SAN DIEGO, April 10, 2007 – Kontron, designer and manufacturer of standard-based and custom embedded solutions for OEMs, today announced the industry’s lightest, most powerful and versatile Human Machine Interface family of products. Named the Kontron Barracuda, the ultra-rugged product family is designed for harsh military and automation environments. The Kontron Barracuda workstation model is available now with a touch-screen, stand-alone display model available in the third quarter of 2007. Offering a truly mobile and cost effective HMI solution, the Barracuda family was designed using Kontron’s proven embedded computing and mobile rugged technology.

“The extreme environmental conditions found in both military and automation operations call for equipment that is both rugged and versatile – two characteristics that do not always coexist in harmony,” said Dale Szymborski, general manager of Kontron’s Mobile Rugged Computing Division. “With the Kontron Barracuda, we are able to provide both in a highly cost-efficient and reliable HMI solution that transcends the boundaries set by harsh environmental factors and the capabilities of existing solutions.”

The Kontron Barracuda solves the industry’s need for displays that are both rugged and mobile enough to operate in extreme conditions. Many rugged notebook computers have failed under the same harsh conditions that Kontron Barracuda is designed to thrive in. Workstations and displays used in military and automation applications need to be transportable and flexible enough to mount in a variety of ways. Customers have the versatility to configure and mount an array of displays close together providing access to multiple sources of information at one time.

The Kontron Barracuda offers a sunlight-readable 15-inch display, is operational in a 0 to 50 degree Celsius environment and offers a -30C option for use low temperature extremes. Optional water- and dust-tight circular military-rated connectors allow for harsh environment connectivity. The Kontron Barracuda can be utilized in Military command, control, communications, and computers (Military C4) where a display or workstation must be able to withstand harsh vehicle shock and vibration or other harsh environmental factors. The solution’s small footprint and VESA hole pattern allows for easy mounting in space-constrained work areas, making it equally suitable for use in automation environments where a standalone system must be mountable to various surfaces, from a standard pedestal to a boom, pole or custom panel mounting.

The Kontron Barracuda is available in two configurations, depending on industry and specific application requirements. The Kontron Barracuda DS offers a full military-hardened Mil-Std 810F and Protection Classification IP65-compliant daylight-readable touch-screen display. The Kontron Barracuda WS provides an Intel® PentiumTM M processor workstation that offers a removable hard drive or Compact Flash storage device.

Technical Features:
• Sunlight-readable 15-inch XGA touch screen display
• Removable storage media
• Low power Intel® PentiumTM M processor
• Optional modular AC/DC sealed power supply
• UPS battery back-up
• Optional built-in high gain wireless antenna
• Corrosion-proof NEMA-4, IP 65 aluminum enclosure
• Multi-mounting options

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About Kontron
Kontron designs and manufactures standard-based and custom embedded and mobile rugged solutions for OEMs, systems integrators, and application providers in a variety of markets. Kontron engineering and manufacturing facilities, located throughout Europe, North America, and Asia-Pacific, work together with streamlined global sales and support services to help customers reduce their time-to-market and gain a competitive advantage. Kontron’s diverse product portfolio includes: Computer-on-Modules, SBCs/blades, open-modular platforms and systems, HMIs, mobile rugged workstations, and custom capabilities. Kontron is a Premier member of the Intel® Communications Alliance and was awarded 2006 Intel Member of the Year. The company is a recent three-time VDC Platinum vendor for Embedded Computer Boards. Kontron is listed on the German TecDAX stock exchange under the symbol "KBC". For more information, please visit: www.kontron.com.


Editor Contact
Richard Pugnier
Manager, Marketing Communications
Kontron America
858.623.3006
richard.pugnier@us.kontron.com

Product and Technical Contact
Dale Szymborski
General Manager
Kontron America
510.661.2220
dale.szymborski@us.kontron.com