FORSIS Equipment Retrofits Save Money and Resources
FORSIS’ modular industrial PCs can be expanded and modernized as needed, for example, for a Windows upgrade. The extended lifespan reduces investment costs, conserves resources, and minimizes the CO2 footprint. We are continuously working on improvements.
By purchasing a panel PC from the PROFI, MASTER, EXPERT, and MOBILE series, FORSIS customers choose a durable and future-proof hardware concept. Thanks to the modular design, individual components can be repaired or replaced at any time. The most common reason: an upgrade to Windows 11.
As part of such a retrofit, the motherboard, including the processor, chipset, and RAM, as well as the hard drive if necessary, are renewed. The remaining components are checked and replaced if required. The following components can be replaced if needed:
- Housing
- Display unit/touchscreen
- Motherboard with CPU and data storage
- Optional components (e.g., RFID reader or WLAN antenna)
Case Study: Freudenberg Performance Materials
Between July 2021 and February 2023, the Freudenberg Performance Materials group had 50 FORSIS MASTER 1500 industrial PCs updated. For the planned upgrade to Windows 10 IoT Enterprise LTSC (Long Term Service Channel), FORSIS renewed the motherboard and replaced the HDDs with SSDs. The remaining components were checked and retained if possible (see Table 1).
7 tons less waste and CO2
Compared to a new purchase, the retrofit avoided almost 3.3 tons of CO2 emissions and more than 500 kg of material, including approx. 300 kg of aluminum, 120 kg of steel, and 90 kg of electronic waste (Table 2). Together with the more energy-efficient operation of the new processors (Intel i3, 13th generation) and SSDs (Table 3), the CO2 savings over a 10-year lifespan total 6.5 tons.
Result: good for climate and budget
As the Freudenberg Performance Materials case study shows, climate protection and cost savings can be optimally combined.
Compared to a new acquisition, the retrofit was approximately 30 percent cheaper – with an expected service life of 10 to 15 years.
“We can only recommend this approach,” says Christian Eck, Head of IT Shop Floor Systems at Freudenberg Performance Materials Service GmbH, which operates the entire IT for the group of companies.
“This is not only due to the reduced CO2 footprint, but also to the smooth project execution and the long-standing, trusting collaboration with FORSIS.”
