| | | | | 3. For computing in extreme temperatures, computer |
| The demands on computers in industry are a lot | | | | enclosures can in fact work to a better standard |
| higher than the demands of a conventional desktop | | | | than industrial machines as the extra cooling and |
| PC. | | | | heating units can be replaced if they are not working |
| Often environments in industry are the exact | | | | as efficiently as they should (a sealed industrial |
| opposite of the optimum conditions an off-the-shelf | | | | computer that is running too hot or cold would need |
| computer is designed to run in. There can be large | | | | to be replaced or returned for an upgrade). |
| quantities of dust, dirt, grease and grime. It can be | | | | 4. Computer enclosures can enable a PC to run |
| too hot or too cold and there could be many | | | | equally as reliable as an industrial computer as the |
| processes and cleaning that requires water, not | | | | desktop PC housed in the enclosure can be any |
| forgetting the forklift trucks and pallet trucks that | | | | conventional machine, from a trusted office |
| could completely destroy a PC if it got clouted. | | | | workhorse to the latest all singing, all dancing off-the |
| The solution in industry and manufacturing has, for | | | | shelf PC. |
| many years, been to use specialist solid state | | | | 5. A computer housed in an enclosure is also far |
| industrial computers. These machines are often | | | | cheaper than an industrial computer. Apart from the |
| intrinsically sealed, rugged and tough. They are often | | | | initial outlay for the expensive bespoke industrial |
| designed to be resistant to dust, dirt and grime and | | | | computer, enclosures can out live an industrial |
| can also be completely waterproof. | | | | machine by over a decade as an industrial computer |
| These machines are also very expensive, not just to | | | | will eventually have an internal failure (as all |
| buy but also to maintain. Industrial computers have to | | | | computers do) or become completely obsolete and |
| be maintained by service engineer, often forcing | | | | will need replacing. However, an enclosure can be |
| shutdown of production lines they also have to be | | | | reused to house another machine and will in general |
| replaced periodically as the hardware and software | | | | house three generations of machines. |
| will eventually become obsolete. All computers | | | | 6. A computer enclosure can house monitors, |
| eventually fail but an industrial computer enclosure | | | | printers, touch-screens and all manner of computing |
| means that over three generations of computers can | | | | equipment (including the peripherals such as mouse |
| use the same enclosure. | | | | and keyboard ) or they can be combined with water |
| Industrial PC enclosures are a more efficient, | | | | dust proof sealed keyboards and mouse. |
| affordable and reliable alternative to these expensive | | | | 7. As an enclosure houses a conventional PC, any |
| machines. The main benefits of an industrial computer | | | | repairs or upgrades can be carried out in-house in |
| enclosure are: | | | | minutes rather than have to wait for an engineer and |
| 1. Withstand the same environments as an industrial | | | | have to shutdown the production. |
| computer, whether that is dust (including explosive | | | | 8. Enclosures can be manufactured from a range of |
| atmospheres), dirt, grime, oil, grease and water (even | | | | material including food grade stainless steel. |
| completely doused). Enclosures are rated using | | | | 9. Enclosures can be lockable and secured to walls or |
| European IP ratings that give a clear indication to the | | | | floors to prevent theft or tampering. |
| types of environments the enclosure can operate in, | | | | 10. Enclosures allow you to choose which software or |
| for example IP 65 totally protects dust whilst | | | | hardware to run inside the enclosure rather than |
| protecting against strong jets of water, (the first | | | | suffer out-dated technology. |
| digit, 6, represents the dust protection the second | | | | With the demands of industrial computing so variable |
| digit, 5, the water) while IP 66 offers the same dust | | | | and extreme, industrial PC enclosures offer a flexibility |
| protection but the enclosure can be completely | | | | that even conventional industrial computers fail to |
| immersed in water. | | | | match whilst also offering the same protection and |
| 2. Enclosures can also withstand the same shocks, | | | | reliability for a fraction of the cost. PC enclosures are |
| vibrations and tampering as the enclosure can be built | | | | ideal for even the most hostile industrial environment |
| from robust materials and the enclosed PC can be | | | | and while specialist PCs will always be required for |
| fitted snugly and secured with shock absorbing bolts. | | | | certain tasks the majority of uses for an industrial |
| Enclosures can also be securely locked and bolted to | | | | computer can be achieved using a conventional PC |
| floors or walls to protect against theft. | | | | housed in an industrial PC enclosure. |