With innovation comes complexity and Fedegari understands this better than anyone. As automation becomes increasingly crucial for the pharmaceutical industry, so does the need to provide operators with a simpler, more intuitive user-experience through HMIs. While traditionally the industry has prioritized functionality, today usability has become the true driver of meaningful change, enabling optimized processes, reducing risks and minimizing distractions for operators. In this article, we will explore the core principles behind the design of the new TH5 HMI, and how this innovation is set to reshape the industry with one goal: collective well-being.
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Introducing TH5: a new course for UX
At Fedegari we are always driven by innovation, which leads us to constantly explore new solutions and pave the way to the future. The new design of our TH5 process controller is proof of this commitment. With a user-centered approach at its core, the new TH5 introduces a simpler, more intuitive experience that enhances performance.
This next-generation Human-Machine Interface (HMI) design redefines how users interact with technology, prioritizing ease of usage while maintaining full compliance. In developing the new interface, we combined the best practices of UX and UI, supported by thorough research and guided by the highest industry standards. The result is an advanced HMI with accessibility and usability at its core, designed for a future where technology is for everyone, thanks to a human-centric approach.
Designing for inclusivity: beyond functionality
The industrial automation market is increasingly characterized by complex systems. Traditionally, industrial HMIs have prioritized functionality over user-experience. At Fedegari we chose to move beyond the usual route, to reimagine an HMI defined by innovative usability. The benefits of user-centered design are significant: reducing errors, enhancing operator performance and improving situation awareness. For this redesign process, alongside industry standards like ISA 101, we also implemented WCA Guidelines, typically reserved for web content. By embracing broader standards we’re not only enhancing today’s user-experience, but also paving the way for a more inclusive tomorrow, aligned with upcoming regulations like the 2025 Accessibility Act.
User-experience: the compass for innovation
User experience is at the heart of the new Fedegari TH5 HMI. More than just a functional interface, TH5 was conceived as our compass, shaped by insight and guided by strong design principles. The result is a shift in how operators interact with machines, driven by a reimagined functional architecture. The redesign project structured UX/UI methodologies with a strong focus on the user at every stage of the process.
In-depth analysis and interviews with users revealed the key pain points that slowed down operations, leading to a task-driven design, which ensures that interface components align with real-world user behavior. The result is a new architecture of the information, which enhances user-experience and minimizes distractions through a simplified, process-oriented navigation structure.
Visibility the foundation for a robust journey
In high-stakes environments a robust system is a key necessity, meaning stability, reliability and peace of mind for operators. The TH5 HMI is designed to guarantee continuous process visibility, allowing operators to check key phases, completed stages and next steps while minimizing errors and cognitive load. A multi-level alert system, with prioritization and tagging based on process stages was also introduced to empower operators to proactively recognize and address issues before they escalate. Recognizing the pressure users face, we ensured that operators could focus on their tasks without distractions, crafting a reliable and stress-free user experience.
Smartness: guiding operators with adaptive tools
The TH5 HMI adapts to operators and helps them stay focused while facing real-world tasks.
To support them, an intelligent navigation system is adopted: task-focused flows guide users through operations seamlessly, reducing overwhelming and improving focus. Operators can also customize the display according to their specific needs, improving clarity and control across different contexts.This smart design enhances usability by making the system more intuitive and personalized, adapting to the needs of each operator.
Key milestones along the journey to innovation
As we moved forward on this journey towards a smarter, more intuitive interface, we reached key milestones that elevate the user experience. The user-centered design made the system easier to use and more responsive in real-world scenarios, through clear and process-oriented paths which guide users effortlessly through tasks, reducing confusion and saving time. To reach this result a consistent visual language was crucial: icons, colors and typography follow a unified style, making the interface intuitive and quick to master. The design is also aligned with WCA Guidelines to support the varying needs of users and implements guided workflows which help prevent mistakes and ensure safer, more confident operations.
Reaching the destination: a new inclusive standard
The redesign of Fedegari's TH5 HMI sets a new benchmark in User Experience for industrial automation. By focusing on seamless system interaction, robustness and smartness, we’ve created a system that not only performs reliably and efficiently, but also provides an intuitive and inclusive experience for all users. The UX-focused redesign of the TH5 ensures that operators can work smarter, faster and with greater confidence, ultimately enhancing operational safety and efficiency.
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The purpose of the journey
The journey we faced is the clearest expression of Fedegari’s paradigm shift, a new way of thinking, designing and interacting where technology adapts to people, not the other way around. In today’s high-stakes environments, User Experience is no longer a luxury: it is the compass guiding performance, safety and progress. With TH5, we have reimagined the interface as a space of empowerment where complexity becomes clarity and control becomes confidence.