Software on tablets leads to smart devices on the plant floor

As a result Products4Automation (P4A) has seen growing demand for ruggedised tablets suitable for use in industrial environments, and is meeting this with a new range of tablets and complementary keyboards. In fact, as well as Movicon the new tablets can run any SCADA or visualisation system.

Available in 6, 8, 10, and 12in screen sizes and running either Windows 10 or Android operating systems, the tablets offer IP67 protection as standard and are designed in accordance with the demanding MIL-STD-810G standard for environmental ruggedness.

This includes resistance to shock and vibration, operating temperatures from –20 to +80°C, and humidity from 5-95%. Each tablet features a toughened case combined with a water-rejecting Gorilla Glass screen – toughened glass manufactured by Corning to be thin, light and damage-resistant.

This ruggedisation does not come at the expense of usability, however. Screens offer multi-touch capability with support for glove touch as well.

Features include standard on-board memory up to 4GB, storage up to 128GB, integral webcam and optional fingerprint touch ID for increased data security. There is also a range of data collection options, including 1D/2D barcode reader, infrared transceiver, NFC and RFID.

Standard I/O interfaces include USB, micro USB, micro SD, micro SIM and micro HDMI slots. RF data transfer options include WiFi Bluetooth, 3G and GPS.

With its 12in screen, the HST-012 is the largest tablet in the range, yet weighs only 1.3kg while the 6in HST06 comes in at just 360g. P4A also offers an administration version of the tablet, the HST-08R, which offers an ID card reader as standard in addition to fingerprint recognition.

Complementing these rugged tablets, P4A also offers a complete portfolio of ruggedised keyboards. Constructed from rigid silicone, these washable industrial keyboards are sealed to IP68 and provide a rubberised surface for comfortable typing. The material is also anti-microbial, making the keyboards suitable for use in the medical, pharmaceutical and food sectors, as well as harsh industrial environments.

The keyboards are available in six different sizes and formats, offering support for Microsoft Windows 7, Vista, XP, 2000, ME and 98 and supporting all languages compatible with Windows.