Modern industrial businesses need powerful and reliable computers to support their efforts. But how do you get a computer that can handle the stresses of an industrial worksite?
The solution is industrial-grade computers. These computers integrate design features that ensure durability even in harsh work environments.
A General Definition for “Industrial-Grade”
But what is “industrial-grade” in the first place? A general definition of “industrial-grade” is “any device or product built specifically for industrial environments.” However, an industrial-grade computer will have a vastly different set of criteria from an industrial-grade cleaner or hand tool.
Parameters for Industrial-Grade Computers
In theory, anyone can claim that their products are "industrial-grade." However, there are certain standards and features that any trustworthy computer manufacturer will include on their industrial-grade computers, including:
IEC 60068 Tested
Industrial work environments often include harsh vibrations, extreme temperatures, and high humidity. Any one of these factors can damage or destroy a computer if it isn’t properly designed and tested. To deal with these issues, the International Electrotechnical Commission’s IEC 60068 standard outlines various tests that simulate these conditions. A computer tested to these standards can better withstand the working conditions of a factory, construction site, or other challenging environment.
IP65 Sealed Cases
Industrial worksites are rarely known for being clean. Sadly, the dust and liquids that permeate most worksites can also damage or destroy a computer if they get into a computer’s casing. Therefore, an industrial computer’s casing should have a high ingress protection rating. IP65 is considered ideal, as this rating ensures water- and dust-proof sealing.
Fanless Designs
Most computers rely on fans to cool their components and prevent overheating. However, these fans suck in dust and are prone to breaking down. Therefore, industrial-grade computers will implement fanless cooling technology to avoid these issues.
Environmental Requirements
Another key component for industrial-grade computers is environmentally friendly design elements. ENERGY STAR ratings are a perfect example, as they reduce the amount of electricity a computer uses. This helps save money on utility bills and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Legacy I/O Ports
Many businesses rely on machines that are decades old and use I/O ports that are no longer widely supported. For example, serial ports were once widely used by both computers and machinery but have been phased out in favor of more modern designs, such as USB. To counter this issue, industrial-grade computers use both modern and legacy ports. This helps ensure compatibility with the full range of equipment a business uses.
Benefits of Industrial-Grade Design
Unsurprisingly, industrial-grade designs bring numerous benefits to industrial applications, such as:
Greater Reliability
A consumer-grade PC simply cannot handle the harsh working conditions of industrial settings. The various features that industrial-grade computers use protect them from mechanical breakdowns, which also prevents disruptions to your workflow. After all, if a computer controlling an assembly line fails, the entire line grinds to a halt.
Less Maintenance Required
With greater reliability comes less maintenance needed. For example, fanless designs don’t need to have their fan vents cleaned of dust to prevent them from clogging. This saves your maintenance and IT team time and lets them focus on other, more demanding issues.
Compatibility
By using industrial-grade computers with legacy I/O ports, businesses can continue to use their older equipment without needing to purchase expensive replacements. This gives them the best of both worlds, as they can enjoy both their typical workflow and the features that modern computers offer.
Applications for Industrial-Grade Computers
Thanks to their reliability and flexibility, industrial-grade computers are found in a wide range of applications, with the most common being:
Manufacturing and Automation
Industrial panel PCs make for an excellent user interface for manufacturing and automation. Their large touchscreens are intuitive and easy to use, allowing workers to input commands without needing a mouse and keyboard. Integrating a PC and monitor into a single device also helps save space, which is especially helpful in cramped working conditions.
Logistics and Inventory
A typical warehouse processes hundreds of packages and products every day, which can quickly become impossible to track with paper records. Industrial-grade computers can integrate barcode scanners and RFID readers that scan packages as they enter or exit the warehouse, automatically adding or removing them from the inventory.
Fieldwork
Workers out in the field or in places where conventional computers cannot be supported still need digital tools. In these areas, a rugged industrial tablet can be the perfect mobile computing solution. With reinforced cases and chemically hardened screens, they can endure mishandling while still supporting software for surveying, tracking workers, teleconferencing, and more.
Artificial Intelligence
While still in its infancy, artificial intelligence is shaping up to be a revolution in the industrial field. AI can be used to empower machine vision, perform real-time data analysis, and boost automation, but it still requires rugged construction to serve in harsh work environments. Industrial AI box PCs deliver high levels of performance without compromising on durability.
Industrial-Grade Computers from Cybernet Manufacturing
What is industrial grade? It’s a necessary set of design features that let computers support even the most demanding work environments.
If your company is looking for industrial-grade computers to support its efforts, contact the team at Cybernet Manufacturing. We offer a wide range of pre-built options for industrial computers. Our experience as an original equipment manufacturer (OEM) allows us to customize our products to better meet your specific needs.