1. Able to handle any industrial environment

Industrial computers used on the factory floor will be integrated into production lines and robotic arms, used as Hmis, connected to forklift cages and carts, and workstations. In most cases, these devices will be used in areas with dirty, dusty working conditions and temperatures.

Many operations alternate between indoors and outdoors, with large temperature differences, and industrial tablets should have internal components that are not affected by these temperature fluctuations because they are designed with this possibility in mind.

In order to be able to withstand these conditions, industrial tablets need a high IP rating that indicates that the device is effectively sealed to prevent the intrusion of foreign objects and moisture in the front baffle or throughout the case.

For temperature, some of these industrial-grade tablets have fanless radiator designs. These devices protect their internal components from particles while dissipating heat. They are capable of handling a wide temperature range.

2. Designed for various operating systems

The good news is that manufacturing plants have a range of systems to choose from for management and maintenance functions. The bad news is that ordinary computing devices may not interface with it.

Over time, the computer tablet you use today will not determine future system upgrades. But successful management involves getting useful life out of your devices, and they need to be able to handle a variety of operating systems.

3. Touch screen design

Two factors that are critical for tablets on the factory floor are readability and responsiveness. The lighting on the factory floor ranges from dim to extremely bright.

Consider computers that offer high-resolution, sun-readable LCD lit screens, TFT screens, CCFL backlights, high brightness, and wide viewing angles. Readability is important because information must be viewed quickly on the screen, and any misunderstanding can lead to serious consequences.

The demands of industrial computers require a screen life of 100 million cycles. Many tasks require hand protection, so the screen needs to respond to touch with gloves.

4. Portability

This standard is not only meant to be easy to operate, but also to withstand the rough handling of industrial environments. On the factory floor, this handling includes occasional drops, which can bring ordinary computers to a halt. The tablet can withstand a four-foot drop to a plywood floor.

The forklift is operated using an on-board computer attached to the cage to obtain instructions from the material handling system. The rugged tablet can withstand the bumps in this high-motion environment.