Mobile Computing, Rugged Industrial Tablets

Mobile solutions are playing an increasingly important role in the process control of modern industrial plants. If, for example, production processes have to be recorded directly on site in real time and the data obtained has to be made available elsewhere in processed form, stationary systems reach their limits. Robust rugged industrial tablets are increasingly in demand here. Two of the most important advantages: Due to their multi-touch display, they are extremely convenient to use and their all-round protected design makes them extremely resistant to the sometimes adverse influences of mobile industrial use. Rugged industrial tablets are also ideally equipped for outdoor applications or, for example, in sectors with logistical requirements.

The degree of robustness (ruggedness) of an industrial tablet is measured according to two standards: The test criteria defined by the US military in accordance with MIL-STD 810G are usually used to assess the impact/shock, vibration and drop resistance. The screen and housing of a "ruggedised" industrial tablet in this sense are reinforced or fitted with protective caps/edges so that they can withstand drops from 1.9 metres (6.4 feet) onto a concrete floor without their function being impaired. Protection against the ingress of foreign bodies (sand, dirt, dust) and water, on the other hand, is defined in accordance with DIN EN 60529. Protection class IP65 has proven itself for industrial tablets. This means that the housing, including all interfaces, is completely dust-tight and the high-quality PC components inside are protected against the ingress of water jets from any angle.

Our range of rugged industrial tablets extends from compact 8-inch devices with an integrated, fully IP65-protected keyboard to tablet PCs with a screen diagonal of 13.3 inches. When operating the projected capacitive (PCAP) multi-touch display, the user can choose between rain, glove and stylus mode. The powerful tablet PCs realise their full potential in combination with accessories that are precisely tailored to the area of application. In addition to the standard integrated features such as front and rear cameras, Rugged Industrial Tablets can be expanded with numerous options for communication and data capture. The customisation options are diverse and include a suitable docking station, barcode, RFID or fingerprint reader, hot-swappable batteries or an integrated multifunctional stand.