Was everything better in the past?

The demand for reissues of proven display technologies for use in extreme environments and temperature ranges is increasing. The reason is the durability of well-known systems and thus the minimization of new approvals and specifications that arise when replacing them with innovative displays or components.

"Currently, obsolescence is a cost-driving factor in the industry, as some models are released up to four times per year across different product generations. It is therefore not surprising that system integrators are looking for constants. This is especially true for industries where sustainability is valued or where applications inherently require high demands on temperature, shock, or vibration resistance combined with longevity," says Klaus Wammes, Managing Director of Wammes and Partner GmbH and one of the board members of the DFF (German Flat Display Forum).

The expert for displays and flat-screen technology for special applications observes a trend towards durability in these industries. According to him, responsible parties no longer want to act solely based on price if they can secure the system's lifespan. "The higher investment in displays for extreme applications is not only amortized through their longevity but also, for example, by saving other assemblies and expensive system requirements — which makes the system generally more resistant and at the same time more compact," explains Wammes.

He notes that this trend is evident not only in discussions with colleagues within the DFF but also within his own company: in the increased demand for reissues of older highly specified display models, such as the 100i.10X-XT. It was first delivered in 2009 and is a 10.4-inch open-frame display used in critical conditions, for example, on oil platforms, underground mining, research stations, and by government agencies operating 24/7.

Wammes: "The 100.10X-XT is extremely robust and characterized by a very long product and system lifespan, full functionality, and readability even under adverse conditions. Due to this combination of extreme performance and long lifespan, it has always been kept available with us. We are now increasingly receiving inquiries for a reissue of this classic."