Category: Industrial PC

The Importance of Business Grade Tablets

Michelle

Business vs Consumer Tablets  : Know the Difference

 

The claim of 10-hour battery life on most newer tablet computers sounds pretty good, but there’s a few striking caveats to those promises, and quite a few other issues with those systems that make them poor choices as business machines. For one, most consumer tablets are intended for casual web browsing or watching videos, not for many hours of continued, application-heavy use. Under those conditions, the batteries on those types of tablets tend to drain out in closer to four hours. This doesn’t seem like much of a problem for people who are able to sit next to an outlet and charge back up, but so much of business happens on the go. And another massive problem is being unable to swap the battery when it does run out. This forces businesses to face the costly need to have several tablets on hand to keep up with their work demands. Consumer tablets are also designed to be handheld or used with a separate cradle or custom mounting apparatus.

Yes, the price points of of consumer-grade computer equipment makes them attractive at a blush, but industrial grade tablets and computers offer businesses a higher quality experience and durability that translates to even more cost effectiveness in the long run. Industrial tablets like Tangent’s P13 thirteen inch industrial all-in-one computer can make all the difference for operations requiring sustained mobile computing over long periods of time. The P13’s removable Li-Ion battery offers up to 6 hours of uninterrupted heavy use, and of course, comes with a power supply for charging. The tablet can accept a wide range of power inputs from 12-19VDC.

It’s VESA 75 capability means it can be mounted almost anywhere, with flexible installation options. If handheld use is required, the sturdy industrial tablet is easily carried since it’s only 3.75lbs and has an ultra slim design at 19mm in thickness. Warehouse employees can easily and quickly move the industrial tablet computer from one work kiosk to another. Field engineers can diagnose and complete repairs at several work sites in a day without having to worry about charging. Businesses can also feel assured of their investment because of the P13’s industrial grade construction. The industrial tablet has a completely fanless operation so there are no moving parts in the computer and no dust will build up in the internals, ensuring a reliable, durable and long-lasting life of the product. It was designed to function as a full-fledged workhorse computer system, not just an oversized smartphone.

Versatility, customization, ruggedness, and power are hallmarks of Tangent’s industrial tablet computers. The P13 tablet has a configuration panel that opens up to many of the swappable components that are housed together for easy access and quick upgrades or repair. This sort of access to internal components is unheard of in the consumer tablet world. And for the casual technology user, that’s not much of an area of concern, but businesses require much more control and trust in the computers that they depend on for their livelihood.

Industrial PC Ideal for the Meat Processing Industry

Michelle

Industrial PC Ideal for the Meat Processing Industry 

In late 2012, the largest beef recall in Canada was prompted by an E. coli outbreak from a meat distributor called XL Foods. Eighteen people became sick, some to the point of needing hospitalization, and more than 4,000 tonnes of beef was recalled from across Canada and the U.S. This event sparked months of investigation, government inquiries, and resulted in massive financial impacts, but it is only one of many examples of foodborne illness-related recalls and scares in the agriculture industry. Contaminated foods is one of the greatest wastes any industry can face and so it’s understandable that cleaning and sanitation within meat processing plants is considered one of its most important activities.

So what can be done to ensure all the equipment in an industrial meat processing plant meets  strict sanitation requirements and safety protocols? Invest in equipment that can stand up to the rigors of being inspected, wiped down with cleaning solutions and water jet spray, and exposed to widely varying temperatures. Computer equipment often falls short on these needs, but industrial PC solutions are readily available from Tangent for these types of harsh and demanding environments.

The Tangent S-Series Industrial Panel computers were purpose built to offer reliable, long-lasting processing with a durable case. The enclosure is IP69K rated to protect the internals against spray downs using high water pressures and high temperatures, as well as applied solutions. The rugged, stainless housing also offers a corrosion resistant surface.  High pressure washing is efficient for surface cleaning after dry-cleaning of scrap materials in a meat processing center, followed by an application of cleaning or detergent agents. The input ports on this industrial computer come capped to protect against liquid or other contaminants. The availability of Intel Wireless AC-7260 and Bluetooth connections also diminish the need for cabling which reduces potential ingress.

The S-series industrial Panel PC line can be safely operated from 32  to 104°F (0 – 40°C), is rated to be shock and vibration resistant, and has versatile mounting options. The rugged computers are offered in a variety of sizes from 15” to 22” to suit any space and operate without any fans to further bolster its cleanliness. It’s disturbing to consider what could potentially hide in a computer on an industrial floor when fans are continually sucking in the dirty ambient air.

As more perishable and sensitive meat products have become popular in the market, particularly pre-packaged convenience foods, the need for proper sanitation in meat handling has increased. The microbial content of food products needs to be low enough to prevent spoilage during distribution and to guarantee an adequate shelf life once it reaches the store. Tangent’s prime directive is to provide top quality industrial computers to not only meet the requirements of business such as meat processing and distribution facilities, but to exceed them. Public health scares can largely be a thing of the past when industry standards align with forward-thinking technology. The S-series industrial computers from Tangent promote safety and perform to support a business’ bottom line.

Automobile Manufacturing Automation

Michelle

Automobile Manufacturing Automation

The use of advanced technology in automotive manufacturing has been commonplace since the 1960s when car manufacturers first pioneered the use of industrial robots and then went on to make them standard in car assembly  by the 1980s. Having seen tons of videos of robots welding chassis and components together on the automotive shop floor makes one think that the entire process is automated. But what’s surprising is that on the assembly side of things, automotive manufacturing is still quite people-intensive. In the past, industrial touchscreen computers were largely used for monitoring and quality assurance purposes. However, newer tech has seen the advent of things like collaborative robots that can help factory workers with challenging tasks, delivering materials, or assisting with heavy materials. Drones have been developed and deployed to inspect parts or potentially hazardous environments, while the factory staff control and investigate the proceedings on an industrial touchscreen PC. GM is even now using exoskeletons for repetitive operations in manufacturing. Workers wear a glove and they are given added strength and dexterity, but eventually they will also pass on their repetitive work tasks to a computer. Car manufacturers state that this is only the beginning in their quest for automation. In GM’s vision, the entire assembly floor will one day be a streamlined and automated flow of events.

The place for human intervention will no longer need to be in harm’s way on a hazardous assembly line, but with the tools and technology to be able to complete the same tasks using industrial touchscreen computers. Tangent’s All-in-One industrial PCs are created to be ready for the great ideas and automations of the future, whilst being able to withstand and succeed in the harsh and demanding environments of existing manufacturing sites. The S Series industrial all-in-one comes in a 15 inch, 19 inch, or 22 inch touchscreen monitor, built with a stainless steel enclosure that is IP69K rated as being fully waterproof. This series is also offered with a fanless design for reliability, longevity, and a noise-free operation which can be critical in manufacturing plants that must minimize dust circulation or ambient sound. The CPU is an Intel 3rd Gen Core i5, offering best-in-class integrated media and graphic performance to keep up with ever evolving (and moving) assembly line requirements. The units are available not only with VESA 100×100 compliant mounting, but also an optional tilting side mount, or with a sunlight readable panel with UV protection coating. This industrial touchscreen computer doesn’t even need to be indoors to provide effective utility! Another convenience is the S-Series’ optional Intel wireless and Bluetooth connectivity, removing the need to route ethernet cabling to the computer. This prevents clutter and maintains a clean work environment.

The automotive industry is always looking for process improvement through the use of innovative, reliable technology. Supporting smarter and safer technological endeavors is the heart of Tangent’s industrial computer offerings. The S-Series industrial touchscreen PCs are but a shining sample of the targeted work that Tangent does to bring quality and scalability to the manufacturing floor.

 

Booming the Brewing Industry

Michelle

Booming the Brewing Industry: One Flat Panel PC at a Time

We can’t think of a grassroots industry in California that’s had as big a boom as the craft beer industry has in recent years. In 2016, San Diego County alone was home to one hundred and twenty five licensed craft breweries – the most of any region in the United States. In that same year, craft breweries all over the state contributed $7.3 billion to the state’s economy, so it’s clearly a high profile industry. With so much competition, breweries often move to expand their brand and distribution through on-premise bottling and canning. The size and scope of these operations can vary a great deal, and the technology used to manage them is pivotal to a successful business.

It’s posited that the most important step that goes into the mass production of bottled beverages is the one in which bottles are sealed with caps. Capping mistakes can cause quality control issues, with some serious cases forcing the brewery to abandon whole crates of bottles. This can be devastating to the bottom line of a small craft brewery. Not only will a loose or missing cap make bottles unfit for shipment, it allows contaminants into the beers that can make them unsafe for consumption, and that poses a lot of potential liability risks for the company. Poor labeling and miscounts can also plague production lines. That’s why it’s important for companies to invest in quality monitoring system for their bottling operations, and this can be efficiently achieved through the use of industry grade flat panel touchscreen PCs.

An excellent offering in the industrial flat panel, all-in-one computer space is Tangent’s Vita 474 19” flat panel PC. Coupled with capacitive sensors and production line management software, the Vita 474 is a powerful, durable, and reliable computer that can keep up with the demands of any bottle production schedule. It’s fanless design lends itself to reliability and helps maintain a clean working environment. The IP64 rated front panel of the PC offers protection against dust and water (or beer) splashes and can be wiped down without damaging the unit. The flat panel PC has both wired and wireless internet network interfaces, which allows for additional monitoring from stations within or outside the brewery. The PCAP capacitive touchscreen feature makes switching between applications or focusing on particular stations a breeze. Storage space on the flat panel PC can go up to 2TB with a hybrid SSD/HDD drive and can be equipped with up to a beefy 32GB of memory. Other handy features include a good variety of communication ports for peripherals, VESA 75/100 options for flexibility in mounting the flat panel PC, and a very wide operating temperature range of -4ºF to 122ºF. Depending on the software used, the flat panel PC can be configured for communication with most PLCs and motion controllers.

Production management and monitoring is a key component to any successful distribution operation, and equally important is the equipment used to ensure those tasks are handled with accuracy day in and out. Flat panel  all-in-one PCs offered by Tangent have been tried and tested to stand to the rigors of industrial use, and can be customized and scaled to suit the needs of businesses both small and large. Because brewery business needs can vary as much as their beers do, Tangent creates products to best suit those needs.

 

Working Smart while Looking Smart

Michelle

Working Smart while Looking Smart

The popularity of tablet PCs and smartphones in the last decade or so have ushered in a thrilling era of sleek styling, simplicity, cleanliness, and cordless computing. Wireless internet and wireless charging has especially transformed consumer expectation of computers’ appearance, and it was certainly a welcomed change. I’m not sure if most people remember what a mess of cords and bulky components that formerly took up an entire work desk. The rat’s nest of cabling and dust bunnies underneath the desk was an even worse nightmare, and don’t even get me started on the storage room for all the cables and equipment.

Tablets and smartphones are great for small tasks and internet browsing, but they are woefully underpowered and incapable for business use as work PCs. All-in-one computers were introduced as far back as the 70s in attempt to address the messy desk problems, but those first all-in-one PCs were quite large and cost a good amount more than a standard computer setup so they didn’t quite catch on for some time. That is until Apple released its landmark iMac in 1998 and really put all-in-ones (and themselves) on the map. But as cute, innovative and in-demand as they were, the iMacs were still not of a caliber that most businesses could utilize as reliable and powerful computers.

Despite the shortcomings of earlier all-in-one computers, the idea of a space-saving and uncluttered business grade computer system persisted. The introduction of LCD and touchscreen monitors along with solid state drives, the decline of compact disc drives, and many other advances all set the stage for the brilliant re-emergence of the all-in-one PC. Tangent has taken even lengthier steps to making their all-in-one business PCs offer the top of the line in terms of form and functionality, especially in clinical or high traffic use.

l24-business-class-pc

The Tangent L24 24” widescreen all-in-one business PC is a hallmark of that intersection between clean design and technological prowess. The technical specifications on this, Tangent’s newest all-in-one business PC, has an impressive list of features: Intel 6th Gen Core i Series, a 2.5″ HDD/SSD hard drive for storage up to 2TB, up to 32GB of memory, wireless and bluetooth capability, a numerous amount of input/output ports including four USB 3.0 ports, and an IP65 rated, antimicrobial enclosure. Truly, the only cable that you could potentially see on the entire system is the AC power cable. The versatile stand allows one to use the PC in  either a portrait or landscape view, as well as tilting, raising and lowering the screen. This PC offers an attractive, presentable and fully featured business computer at a meager 13.1 pounds with the touchscreen option.

20-inch-v20-energy-saving-pc

If you’re looking for something even more minimal looking than that, the Tangent V20 20” slim all-in-one business PC provides a robust computing experience at a shocking 6.8 lbs with a super slim profile and a stand built right into the back of the system which gives the appearance of a monitor standing on its own. Performance is not sacrificed on any of the Tangent line of all-in-one PCs. A tidy, hygienic, professional-looking system is highly sought after in today’s markets and the Tangent all-in-ones have much to offer in that space.

 

Dressing the Part for Modern Industry

Michelle

Dressing the Part for Modern Industry

Interior design legend, Elise de Wolfe, once said that dressing well is largely a question of detail and accessories. As much as this philosophy applies to fashion and design, it can also be said that a great computer system is largely contingent on the details built into it, versatility of use, and available accessories for expansion of capabilities. For example, say that you need an industrial tablet to be a workhorse computer at a construction job site, but also need something to entertain your children in the evening. Many people would cite that these two scenarios are equally hazardous to the health of the tablet PC. Let’s consider that this same system also needs to be able to read smart cards (including credit cards) and barcodes. This sounds like a lot for a tablet to do but Tangent offers products that are not only fully featured themselves, but come built to survive harsh conditions and falls, and are also accessorized to suit many types of business needs.

 

Tangent’s industrial tablet PC, the R10, is encased with a durable and highly protective enclosure with rubber on the corners that also keeps the back of the case from getting scratched when the tablet is laid down flat. The industrial PC is tested to withstand drops from a distance of four feet up. Being jostled around a bit will not damage the internals as there are no moving parts; the PC is built with a fanless design to ensure extreme reliability and a noise-free operation. These details certainly come in handy when working outdoors, or when less-than-careful hands are swinging it around. The casing of the industrial PC is rated IP65 on the back panel and IP64 on the front panel against dust ingress and water spray. The USB ports are also covered to protect against contamination from dirt and liquids.

 

The processing unit of the industrial PC is no wimp, either. The tablet comes equipped with an Intel 3rd Gen Core i7 processor and up to 480 GB of solid state storage. This harks back to the point about there being no moving parts in the industrial PC. Up to 8GB of memory is also offered for the industrial tablet PC. Wireless and bluetooth capabilities come standard on the unit, as well as integrated audio and speakers. Another great feature for customization is F1 & F2 programmable keys for quick access to common commands.

 

And let’s talk about the accessories! The optional combo data input accessory offers a smart card, MSR, and fingerprint reader, along with capabilities for RFID and a barcode reader. This means one could scan an item and then accept payment for it. Of course, this is easier done when the tablet is stationary, so the industrial PC also has an optional desktop charging stand. If you find that a stand is unnecessary and want a smaller charging option, the included standard power module provides a non-intrusive power input for the unit and an added USB port. The many add-ons to the R10 industrial PC make it a beautifully versatile tool for a great range of computing needs.

Mini PCs for Industrial Use

Michelle

f15Mini PCs for Industrial Use

When deciding whether to buy a Mini PC, you may feel some hesitancy comparing it to a full size PC. Although the size may be attractive, there may be some questions in your mind about what their capabilities are.  You may be surprised to learn about their versatility and wide range of power and capacities Tangent’s Mini PCs have.

With fifteen Mini Pcs (and more to come) to choose from, our Mini PCs can be utilized in a wide variety of industries and applications. Our Rugged E3 Mini PC is able to withstand temperatures of -13 degrees up to 185 degrees. This Mini PC is fanless and provides noise-free operation. Rated for shock & vibration,, designed with removable drive bays and RAID support, the Rugged E3 is an ideal Mini PC for video surveillance and video capture POE. The TPM and watchdog timer enhance functionality.

RUGGED E3Rugged E3

 

Our Rugged S is slightly larger than a standard pencil. It meets medical grade UL60601-1 requirements and is ideal for healthcare or industrial applications. With optional multiple ISO ports, the Rugged S can be configured to meet the needs of critical care environments. The Rugged S is fanless and provides noise-free operation. It also comes with an Available Full PCIe Slot which can be configured with optional 4KV isolated card for high voltage insulation, making this model ideal for healthcare environments.

rugged-mini-s Rugged S

At 1.53 pounds and dimensions of 4.57″ x 4.33″ x 1.93″, our Rugged Q is lightweight and has an ultra mini form factor. This desirable computer is easy to mount and install in a variety of environments. With a wide input power of 9 to 24V DC and VESA 75/100 Mounting, wall mounting brackets and DIN rail mounting this Mini PC offers versatile connectivity and mounting options. Standard with two LANs, one RS232, four USB ports, and two HDMI connectivity is not an issue for this Mini PC.

rugged-qRugged Q

Our complete line of Rugged Mini PC’s can be used for in-vehicle, defense, factories, mills and healthcare applications. They can also be mounted on mobile carts, used for surveillance  and for digital signage. Tangent’s Mini PCs are capable of performing similar to their larger counterparts, at times even surpassing larger PCs. Our available Mini PCs our designed to meet your industry needs. The question is not if they have have the power to perform. The question is which Mini PC best suits your specific needs.