What Happens to an Electronic Kiosk That Never Gets Covered
Kiosks always look best right out of the box: a crystal-clear touchscreen, a spotless enclosure, and brand colors standing out for everyone to see. But what about 18 months later? Same kiosk, same location, but with no protection for over a year. Imagine what it looks like now: dusty fingerprints and scratches marring the once-sharp screen, a damaged enclosure that’s exposing wires and electronics, and dull brand colors that aren’t recognizable to anyone.
Covers for electronic kiosks are not just helpful accessories. When you neglect to build covers into your electronic kiosk rollout, you’re making a decision that comes with a cost, and that cost compounds over time.
That’s the idea we’ll be covering today. From how dust can degrade to preventing touchscreen damage, we’ll go over how electronic kiosks get damaged in the first place before exploring the real math behind maintenance and replacement. Finally, we’ll give you an idea of how much a custom cover can cost in comparison, so you can make an informed decision about whether covers are a necessity for your electronic kiosks.
Dust: The Mortal Enemy of Electronic Kiosks
Every kiosk manufacturer knows that dust is a kiosk’s mortal enemy. The visible dust on the screen is the least of your worries. The real issue is when dust settles into important components like vents and fans, and accumulates for months at a time. Dust accumulation can interfere with thermal management and processing performance, and particulate buildup in vents can shorten the life of components and trigger overheating.
Kiosks in enclosed retail environments don’t typically deal with this level of dust exposure, but many kiosks are used in places like transportation hubs, food courts, and semi-enclosed outdoor areas, where they are constantly exposed to dust. This is especially apparent in high-traffic environments, like airports and stadiums, because kiosks are often not protected at night or during the off-hours.
How Quickly Touchscreens Degrade Without Protection
Touchscreens are complex technology, and small things can damage them easily if they are not well-protected from the elements or integrated with waterproof enclosures.
From microscopic scratches to UV exposure to temperature swings—all these types of exposure and damage occur because of a lack of protection, and they are immediately obvious to the end-user, who may see the kiosk as worn out and degraded. UV exposure is particularly insidious, causing coatings on screens to degrade and become less clear over time.
Why a Damaged or Worn Kiosk Reflects Poorly On Your Brand
A scratched, dirty kiosk is not just problem for customers, it’s a problem that can reflect poorly on your brand overall. Enclosures often have finishes, wraps, or paint jobs, and these exterior components are the first to show wear and degradation. Branded graphics and decals are often the next to go, fading or peeling when they are exposed to excessive UV and other environmental factors.
This sends a very clear message to guests, travelers, or shoppers that the equipment, and the organization that manages it, are not well-managed. In certain environments, this can be devastating to your brand—after all, who wants to utilize a kiosk in a healthcare setting or at an airport that’s dirty, grimy, and dusty?
While it may seem like a small detail, electronic kiosks get thousands of impressions per day, especially those in high-traffic areas, and when you multiply that thought by thousands of customers, that’s a lot of poor opinions that can turn the tide against your brand. Not to mention the potential for social media posts and other callouts by customers—it’s a better idea to put your best foot forward as a brand.
How Custom Covers for Electronic Kiosks Compare
When you really look at the math, replacing and repairing electronic kiosks can be a pricey endeavor. The average cost of replacing a touchscreen, even on a medium-sized kiosk, is several hundred dollars, and the price goes up depending on the kiosk size and if any other components--like the touch assembly--need to be replaced as well. An average custom cover, on the other hand, can be half the cost, and it will provide protection for years to come.
In fact, custom covers for electronic kiosks just make life easier. There’s less labor associated with cleaning the kiosk and less downtime for kiosks going offline due to damage.
What a Kiosk Cover Costs (and What It Doesn't Cost You)
Custom covers for electronic kiosks are not a luxury—they’re an operational line item that should not be ignored. And because they are a one-time or low-frequency purchase, you’ll receive multi-year protection from just a single cover, meaning that line item will only repeat itself when the cover wears out.
When you order from a custom cover manufacturer like Equip, you won’t have to worry about minimum order quantities. We can spec a single cover just as easily as a 200-kiosk rollout, and each cover is designed to fit the kiosk’s actual dimensions, rather than just stock covers that won’t fit properly.
Think about it this way: a cover is an easy item to replace; kiosk components are not.
From Unprotected and Grimy to Protected and Pristine with Custom Covers for Electronic Kiosks
Let’s think about the kiosk we talked about before, the one that sat exposed for over a year. If that kiosk is covered with a custom cover, it’ll look nearly as sharp 18 months after install as on the day it came out of the box. The cover is what prevents the damage—but knowing to order a cover before any damage occurs is the real win.
If you’re in midst of planning kiosk deployments and haven’t yet ordered custom covers, now is the time to think about it. Want to have a custom cover expert join in on that conversation? Send us an email or fill out our Request a Quote form for more information.
FAQs
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Yes, kiosk covers can protect against UV rays if they are made of UV-resistant material or material that has been coated with a UV-resistant coating. For outdoor projects, Equip utilizes high-quality materials that resist UV radiation as well as mold and mildew.
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When electronic kiosk covers are manufactured to the highest standards, they can last years with daily use. On the other hand, when you purchase low-quality covers, they may last only a year, if that. The quality of materials and precision of the sewing determine the life of the cover.
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Yes, covers can be manufactured for both indoor and outdoor and outdoor kiosk installations. Indoor and outdoor covers typically utilize different materials, but whether your kiosk is located within a building or out on the street, they’re made to protect from dust and other exposure.
Equip is Your Electronic Kiosk Cover Provider
Equip Inc. manufactures custom electronic kiosk covers in the USA, tailored to your specifications. Our weather-resistant, lockable designs are trusted by organizations nationwide: from stadiums and transportation hubs to hospitals and retail chains.
📧 Email: info@equipinc.com 📞 Call: 719-599-0300
Request a quote today and keep your assets covered, protected, and ready for anything.
