Why Industrial PCs Do Not Require Maintenance

It’s a common misconception that industrial PCs are similar to conventional PCs, but that’s not true. While conventional PCs come pre-made, industrial PCs are assembled from the ground up by the factories or industries using them.

Industrial PCs are modified for industrial operations, available in different sizes, and used in high temperatures, dusty areas, and even in motor pools. They are known for working 24 hours non-stop without freezing or heating up and requiring almost zero maintenance.

Let’s look at the qualities of industrial PCs that make them suitable for industrial use and why they don’t require any maintenance.

What Are Industrial PCs?

Industrial PCs are computers designed to be used in industrial environments, such as during the manufacturing of goods.

They are made from materials that can withstand extreme dust, heat, and weather conditions, are highly configurable, have a long lifecycle, come with a large memory capacity, and feature a fanless and ventless design.

These PCs can be installed in laboratories, oil refineries, water-treatment plants, and factories. They can also survive falls. For example, if they fall on a concrete floor, their technical components will be okay.

Industrial PCs usually have the latest GPU, motherboard, RAM, graphic card, SSDs, and other technical specifications. For example, an industrial PC might have an Intel Core i9, an NVME SSD, a 3090ti, DDR5 ram sticks, and an MSI motherboard.  

What Processes Do They Perform?

Industrial PCs are used to:

  • Monitor industrial processes
  • Control entire systems and machine tools
  • Monitor parameters like pressure or temperature
  • Supervise machines and tools
  • Display information relevant to the product being manufactured
  • Collect data from sensors and transmit it back to a central system
  • Run solutions on Microsoft Windows.

Industrial PCs vs. Normal PCs

There are several differences between normal and industrial PCs, such as:

  • Industrial PCs are supposed to run 24/7, while normal PCs are made to run for eight or ten hours a day.
  • Normal PCs are made from less resilient materials, so they stop running when subjected to extreme environments, such as intense heat or heavy shocks. Industrial PCs, on the other hand, can breeze through six-foot falls and bone-melting heat.
  • Industrial PCs are protected from water, debris, dust, fire, and shocks. In contrast, normal PCs aren’t; they usually don’t even have dust protection or water-resistant ratings.

Thus, if Industrial PCs are used to perform every function we could imagine, they should require maintenance. So, why don’t they?

Why Don’t Industrial PCs Require Maintenance?

Industrial PCs are robust and resilient. They have more heavy-duty technological components. So, they provide higher performance, are longer-lasting, and are more robust compared to conventional PCs.

However, their higher-quality components and stronger performance don’t mean they don’t require any maintenance at all. In fact, they do require yearly outer-body cleanings and a part change when needed — but that’s rare.

Therefore, industrial PCs don’t require regular maintenance; in fact, you can forget about these PCs for months on end, and they won’t suffer any problems. Why? Because they’re built to last.

Industrial PCs: How They are Used?

Industrial PCs have a form factor between a nettop and a server rack and are used to produce products and services. Industrial PCs are higher dependable and precise standards and are generally more expensive than consumer electronics. In addition, IPCs often use complex instruction sets, such as x86, where reduced instruction sets such as ARM would otherwise be used.

Industrial PCs are well built-in in nature and are more useful in an industrial environment, which protects them from dust, water, debris (spoilage), fire, shock, or vibration.

Application                                           

Industrial PCs’ primary work is to process control or data acquisition. In some cases, an industrial PC is used as a front-end to another control computer in a distributed processing environment. 

Industrial PCs offer multiple features in terms of reliability, compatibility, expansion options, and long-term supply.

Manufacturing

Sturdy Industrial PCs are the best hardware platform for large-scale manufacturing that exceeds the labor limitations of the average human workforce. Machine automation has done what the internet did for a large number of products for communication. Having had a shaky start in its infancy, many manufacturers heavily rely upon industrial PC systems, not just for machine vision and robot guidance but also for the ability to collect valuable and important data from machinery and equipment for preventive maintenance and service, keeping them running and prevent any costly unplanned downtime from unexpected equipment failure.

Packaging Inspection and Quality Control:

Another major application of IPC in manufacturing is the vision-controlled quality assurance that works much faster and with greater accuracy, which humans cannot do. Using machine vision and packaging inspection systems, manufacturers and food packaging plants automate the quality assurance of their products at a great speed.

Asset Tracking:

The industry has begun to rely heavily upon industrial PCs. Retail and healthcare sectors have also implemented industrial PC hardware into their everyday operations and functions due to their ability to track and monitor assets and processes for inconsistencies and anomalies. This tracking assets process can be done more precisely and efficiently both on-site and remotely. 

Simulation and Control:

Powerful processors are used on Industrial PC platforms to imitate and create simulations of potential real-world scenarios. This enables enhanced insights for analyzing and detecting risks, predicting further possibilities, and testing systems within any organization. 

 Remote Data Collection:

Data is important in the era of computerization, automation, and the Internet of Things. For example, remote IoT sensors can send and receive data about the use of remote machinery, tools, hardware, and other connected devices, which allows operators that deploy them to receive actionable data about operational processes, equipment fatigue, and overall performance. This data allows and assists control systems in knowing when to regulate the power to equipment, trigger actuators, adjust the temperature or pressure controls, and perform other operational functions extremely precisely. 

What is meant by Industrial PC?

Industrial PC a computer for industrial application. Industrial purposes such as production of services or goods. Industrial PCs have greater reliability and industry standards and typically cost more than consumer grade computers. 

An industrial PC is a computer intended for industrial purposes (production of goods and services), with a form factor between a nettop and a server rack. Industrial PCs have higher dependability and precision standards, and are generally more expensive than consumer electronics. They often use complex instruction sets, such as x86, where reduced instruction sets such as ARM would otherwise be used.

Industrial PC Features and Architecture

Industrial PCs are characteristically designed with components selected to withstand harsh and trying conditions. Encased within rugged housing, the internal components are housed within controlled environments.

Common Features:

  • Solid state, fanless cooling
  • Metal construction and enclosures
  • Mountable enclosures (such as VESA wall mount, panel mount)
  • Expansion card retention
  • Watchdog times for automatic system reset
  • Extreme operating temperature ranges, including freezing and scorching temperatures
  • Robust power supply
  • IP Ratings, such as dust proof, water resistant, immersion proof
  • Sealed connectors, MIL-SPEC or Circular-MIL 
  • Heavy-duty controls and screens
  • Controlled access to the controls through the use of locking doors
  • Controlled access to the I/O through the use of access covers

Industrial PC Manufacturing

Industrial PCs are manufactured in smaller quantities.

Industrial PC Applications

Industrial PCs are used in virtually all industrial applications including outdoor kiosks, indoor farming, correctional facilities, self-driving vehicles, schools, fast-food restaurants, fitness centers, and airports.

indoor farming

Industrial Computers for Indoor and Greenhouse Farming

Tangent offers specialized computers ideal for indoor and greenhouse farming. Humidity, dust, liquids, chemicals, extreme temperature and 24hr redundancy are some of the elements that industrial computers by Tangent were designed to provide. 

Engineered for Indoor and Greenhouse Farming

Industry-specific computers have been custom engineered with components able to physically withstand environmental demands. The Vita KW industrial computer operates at temperatures between 32° – 95°F and humidity levels of 20% – 85% non-condensing, making it a versatile unit perfect for several crops and regions. While our S Series industrial computers offer operation in harsher environments with operating temperatures of 32 – 104°F and humidity levels of 10% – 90% non-condensing.

Configured for Peripherals

Tangent industrial computers like the Vita KW and S Series make monitoring easier with widescreen options. Comfortable viewing options allow end users to view and display automation data and make adjustments from their fingertips. Modern greenhouse sensors can detect the following: moisture, humidity, pump flow, temperature, PH, PPM meters for liquid fertilizers and additive chemicals. Adjustments to levels and equipment are then made to ensure the crop is at optimal levels necessary. With multiple port options, sensors requiring ethernet and USB connections can be configured to the industrial computers with ease. Optional Intel Wireless AC-7260 & Bluetooth configurations allow for the computers to connect to wireless devices. Wired or wireless, greenhouse and indoor farming staff make lighting adjustments, schedule automated irrigation and regulate temperature all from one industrial computer.

External connectors are bypassed with a variety of ports including USB, serial (rs232) or RJ45. Indoor and greenhouse farmers may be able to avoid the need for additional switches and USB hubs, with 4 ethernet ports that can act like individual ports, switch or network sharing, and over 6 USB ports and legacy ports like LPT1. 

Compatible Touchscreens

Indoor farmers actively work to keep chemical and water levels balanced. This may be in the form of adding liquid fertilizer or manually adjusting a sprinkler system. Tangent Vita KW and S Series computers make the job easier with PCAP Multi-Touch screen options. Sensitive enough for a gloved hand or a bare hand, greenhouse farmers can come back to their unit while actively maintaining their greenhouse. The KW and S Series offer touchscreens made for gloves, including latex, nitrile, garden and work gloves. The touchscreen uses a pressure sensitive array of micro sensors vs common capacitive technology, allowing the screen to function when wet or dirty.

What’s more is that the Vita KW and S series industrial computers are enclosed in stainless steel chassis with a IP67 or IP54 rating (depending on which model you choose). Spraying down and cleaning the unit clean is an easy process requiring zero downtime. 

Dust-Friendly Units

Greenhouse growers must also carefully maintain soil levels making sure there is enough moisture and replacing or adding medium where necessary. Greenhouse growers may need to add more top soil, coco, or wool rock. The process of medium adjustment often creates a dusty environment. Tangent’s Vita KW and S Series computers are fanless yielding redundant operation eliminating the risk of the unit getting clogged by dust. Industrial computers with fans for cooling suck in air which makes them susceptible to performance failure in environments of air debris. Tangent’s Vita KW and S Series industrial computers provide fanless cooling technology. A copper and aluminum solid-state heat pump efficiently and silently moves the heat away from critical chips on the motherboard, including the CPU and chipset. A cooling design ideal for greenhouse growers.

Nighttime Performance

Tangent’s KW and S Series computers are equipped with a back-lit, dimmable LCD screen making nighttime monitoring optically comfortable. Powered by a power adapter, these units provide 24/7 operation for day and evening use. 

Tangent’s industrial computers feature all the specifications needed for optimal greenhouse operation. View our indoor farming computers here: VITA KW and S SERIES

industrial computers shock resistance(1)

Industrial PC: Why Shock Resistance Matters

The office environment is a controlled one. An office has air conditioning, is constantly cleaned, and would never have large industrial equipment in it. Commercial computers fit well into these sorts of environments. But just like you would never see industrial equipment inside an office, you ideally would never see commercial computers in an industrial workplace. The dynamic and ever-changing landscape of a factory, meat processing plant, or other industrial facility demands equipment that is suited for rougher environments. One of these demands is for shock resistance. A good industrial PC needs to be shock resistant so that it can perform in any situation.

Why An Industrial PC Needs To Be Shock Resistance

There are many situations that call for a shock resistant Industrial PC. Think about all the vehicles your facility employs, whether they be cranes or forklifts or even tractors: they all face situations that typical commercial vehicles could not handle. This may be a bumpy road — or no road at all. In any case, the computer you use in these vehicles also has to be able to withstand these conditions.

In areas like foundries where metals are cast, there are many routine operations that cause a great deal of shockwaves to be emitted. Over time, these shockwaves can cause damage to the delicate components used in traditional computers. By using an industrial PC with shock resistance, this damage can be avoided and your computers can last longer.

Vibration Resistance Is Also Crucial

Of course, shocks are only one part of the equation. Shock resistance refers to an object’s ability to take on a sudden force of acceleration. But what about constant, small forces? That’s where Vibration resistance comes in. Your industrial vehicles, even when being pelted by debris, may experience vibrations that could cause harm to standard commercial computers.

By using an industrial PC built with vibration resistance, these threats can be eliminated. An industrial PC built with an SSD amplifies this protection. SSDs, unlike disk-based HDDs, have no moving parts in them. They can withstand far more punishing environments than HDDs, and make their computer far more resilient. 

Industrial PCs That Are Shock And Vibration Resistant

Rugged Mini E3 Industrial Computer
Rugged Mini E3 Industrial Computer

Of course, not every industrial PC has high shock resistance and vibration. However, many from Tangent’s lineup of industrial computers do. An industrial PC like the Rugged E3 from Tangent has both forms of resistance. The E3 is perfect for use in industrial vehicles of all varieties. Its small form factor allows it to fit in any small nook that your vehicles may have, and its extensive power options ensure there’s always an outlet for it. Outside of vehicles, Tangent’s S series is the perfect all-in-one Industrial PC with shock and vibration resistance. It can be mounted on any VESA 100 mount, and has a touchscreen for easy use.

Industrial Grade Computers-Tangent Industrial Grade Computers
S Series Of Industrial Computers

Worry Less About Damaging Your Computers With Tangent

Your facility has no doubt gone through changes since the beginning of the pandemic. Now is the time to consider what other changes can help keep your facility running smoothly. An industrial PC from Tangent will help it do just that. For more information, contact Tangent Sales today.

Industrial PCs Why Tangent Has Your Best Options

Industrial PCs: Why Tangent Has Your Best Options

Bottlenecks in shipping have affected consumers and producers alike. With current trends, the supply chain crisis is unlikely to resolve in the near term. Everything from cars to computers is facing delays in production in one form or another. During times like these, companies across all sectors need reliable tools that they can depend on. With a supply chain crisis, there is simply no sense in risking further delays in production with fault equipment. Industrial PCs have become a common fixture in many industries. But when was the last time your company audited and upgraded its equipment? As demand once again surges to pre-pandemic levels, now is the time to sort out upgrading your facility with the latest industrial PCs to ensure it emerges from this crisis in fighting shape.

But not every brand of industrial PCs is building equipment that will last your facility for years. Many computers are designed with either low-impact resistant materials, small operating temperature ranges, or lacking in ports. Tangent industrial PCs are built for a wide range of applications, all while performing in nearly any environment.

Industrial PCs: Variety Of Form Factors

One of the most valuable resources any industrial facility has is its square footage. Factories can only produce as much as they have room for. Oil rigs are notoriously cramped spaces as well. Making the most out of every square foot is crucial to increasing productivity. Tangent understands this and has designed their lineup of industrial PCs to fit in nearly every space.

VITA KW Line of Industrial PCs
VITA KW Line Of Industrial Computers

Not every location is suitable for a full desk setup. Yet, a computer may be extremely necessary in an area with limited space. Small form factor industrial PCs like the VITA K22 from Tangent are perfect for these situations. The Vita K22 does not require a mouse or keyboard to operate with its touchscreen. With standard VESA mounting, the K22 can be placed in nearly any environment.

Instead of having to rely on a far away control center, workers can check up on an area’s equipment by using a wall mounted industrial PC like the Vita K22. This computer can also run Android, meaning it is compatible with Android specific applications.

Other industrial PCs offer even smaller form factors. The Mini E3 V2 from Tangent offers all the power of a desktop computer in a tiny package. The E3 is a mere 3.15 inches tall, and around the width of a small laptop. This industrial PC can be placed in nearly any situation, and makes a great in-vehicle computer.

Industrial PCs: Built Tough 

While job sites take safety seriously as priority these days, safety for industrial PCs is a whole different matter. Standard PCs that are used in offices and homes do not have to be built to withstand industrial conditions. On an oil rig, there is the constant threat of water seeping into a computer. In factories, shaking and drops are a routine occurrence. 

A good industrial PC needs to be able to survive in a variety of environments with damage to the unit. Tangent’s industrial grade PCs are built with all working environments in min. The Mini E3 is designed with an extruded aluminum enclosure complete with heavy duty metal. This casing, combined with its advanced design, allows it to withstand 50 G, half sine, 11 ms of shock and 5 Grms, 5- 500 Hz, 0.5 hr/axis worth of vibration. The E3 can be used in a variety of situations where moving parts routinely cause damage to PCs.

Many of Tangent’s industrial PCs feature shock and vibration resistance. These features also make them perfect for use in large industrial vehicles, as their constant movement won’t be a problem for the PCs.

Industrial PCs: Fanless and fanned chassis design.

Many industrial sites make use of materials that produce dust, or exist in areas where dust is routinely kicked up. While your workers have masks and other PPE to protect them from dust, what about your industrial PCs? Many computers utilize a fan-based cooling system. This cooling system circulates air throughout the body of the computer in order to keep its delicate components cool enough to function properly. However, in order to feed air into these fans, these computers require ventilation.

In an area where dust is common, this simply won’t do. PCs would be breaking down constantly as they filled up with debris. That’s why Tangent’s industrial PCs make use of a fanless cooling system. This system utilizes passive cooling technology to keep the computer running at a cool temperature. Because there is no fan, these units do not need ventilation and are protected from dust at all times.

This not only prevents the industrial PCs from overheating, but also saves maintenance costs and time as well. Your IT department will not have to routinely dust these computers nearly as often, and can instead focus their efforts elsewhere.

Maximum Water And Dust Resistance

Dust of course is not the only environmental enemy that your industrial PCs face. Water exposure is a constant threat to any form of electronics. Just a few drops can take out an entire computer, and halt a facility’s operations. In an industrial environment, liquids can appear from any number of sources entirely by accident. Industrial PCs need to be built with this in mind.

Rugged Mini O Industrial Computer
Rugged Mini O Industrial Computer

That’s where the Rugged Mini O comes in. The Rugged Mini O features an entirely closed off enclosure that keeps water out, and your computer operating. The Rugged Mini O features all the IO ports that your facility requires, but with plugs to keep them safe from water. This industrial PC meets the highest IP standard possible for water and dust protection. This IP69K rating means that this industrial PC provides protection against ingress of dust and high temperature and high pressure water.

The Rugged Mini O is perfect for applications like in food processing plants. There, it can be hit with high pressure hoses without worry of damage. This industrial PC can also find a home on oil rigs where water routinely splashes up to the platform. It features a mounting system to fit it in multiple locations as well.

Extreme Temperature Operation Comes Standard

Extreme weather events are becoming more common with each passing day. One rarely talked about weather event is heat waves. Heat waves have become more common, but are seldom tracked in the same way that other weather occurrences are. Still, as temperatures rise, the industrial sector will need to adapt. Their equipment will need to also.

Most industrial PCs cannot handle high temperatures, and for good reason. Computers in general fail to operate at high temperatures. Too long at these temperatures, and the PC’s CPU can sustain serious long term damage. They need advanced cooling systems in order to fend off extreme heat.

The Rugged Mini O features such a cooling system. It can operate in areas up to 140°F. Most industrial facilities rarely get this hot, but can quickly become far too overheated for standard computers. Other facilities can routinely reach these temperatures. In either case, the Rugged Mini O provides ease of mind in knowing that your facility can function even in extreme heat.

Sometimes however, just the opposite is needed. In refrigerated facilities, extreme cold resistance is needed for computers. Just a dash of humidity in a refrigerated facility can cause ice crystals to form inside a computer. When the computer thaws out, the ice can turn into water and damage the unit.

Mini C1 Industrial Computer


Industrial PCs like the Rugged Mini C1 from Tangent can be used in temperatures as low as -40°F without damage to the unit. This makes it perfect for use in freezing areas in meat or food processing plants. It can be used directly inside these areas and connect directly to in use machinery.

Reduce Down Time

One area that industrial facilities need to be mindful of when purchasing new industrial PCs is their support services. While it may seem trivial, the last thing you want is for your industrial PCs to stop working, and your IT department to be on hold with the supplier for hours. These sorts of delays are only exacerbated by the supply chain crises, and can cost your company in both time and money.

Tangent offers extensive warranties for all of their industrial PCs. This warranty ensures that your computers work as intended and meet our rigorous standards. We also back these industrial PCs up with an extensive support network.

Any time there is an issue with a Tangent industrial PC, your IT department can call Tangent’s support hotline for assistance. Tangent agents are based in California, and are intimately acquainted with all of Tangent’s industrial PCs. They understand the importance of reducing a facility’s downtime, and will work tirelessly with your team to get your system operational.

When there are no crises, this hotline is still available for routine maintenance and care advice, as well as general technical inquiries your IT team may have. The best part? Tangent’s crackshot team of support professionals are available on a 24/7 basis. Tangent knows that an emergency can strike in a moment’s notice, any time of the day. We want to ensure that whenever — and we mean whenever —  there is an issue with one of our industrial PCs, that we take care of it immediately. 

Extensive IO Port Options

Just because Tangent’s lineup of Industrial PCs feature small form factors, doesn’t mean they sacrifice in their usability. Tangent’s industrial computers are designed to be used in a variety of applications. This means that they need to be adaptable and compatible with a range of different peripherals and applications.

Industrial PCs like the Rugged Mini C1 feature a plethora of IO ports for all of your peripheral needs. It features 4 DB9 serial ports that are perfect for all of your legacy equipment needs. Many industrial facilities are making use of technology that is still highly efficient, but features outdated cables. Instead of having to work through a mountain of adapters, the C1 can connect directly to these devices.

The C1 also features 8 USB ports. 4 of these ports are USB 3.0, and can handle high-data transfer cables to provide lightning fast responses. 4 are USB 2.0 and fully compatible with USB 2.0 devices. The C1 also has 2 HDMI ports, making it perfect for situations where dual displays are not just desired, but needed.

Tangent: Here Today And Tomorrow

The challenges facing the global economy are expected to be around a bit longer. As your production lines try to keep up with demand, now is the time to ensure that when the supply chain gets back into shape, you are ready. Tangent’s industrial PCs are perfect for upgrading your oil processing facility, refrigerated warehouse, or general industrial space. For more information, contact Tangent Sales today.

Tangent Medical Grade PCs for Pharmacies

Medical Grade PCs For Pharmacy Use

Pharmacies are one of the most important areas in any hospital. While doctors help diagnose patients and recommend medication, it is the pharmacy where these efforts come to a head. However some pharmacists are still lacking in the tools they need to do their job safely and efficiently. Medical grade PCs can help your pharmacists with reading prescriptions, keeping track of inventory, and more.

Electronic Prescriptions That Prevent Error

A widely cited study in the Journal of the Royal Society Of Medicine found that 15% of studied clinical histories were illegible. Doctors no doubt had the best intentions while writing these clinical histories. However, the fact remains that handwriting leaves room for error. This is especially true for prescriptions. If a patient receives a handwritten prescription and gives it to their hospital pharmacy, there is the chance of the pharmacist misinterpreting it.

Tangent E24B Medical Grade Computer
Tangent E24B Medical Computer

This can have disastrous consequences for both patients and hospitals. Doctors and Pharmacists can cut down on this margin of error by using medical grade PCs to transfer prescriptions. Doctors can use medical grade PCs like the E24B from Tangent to safely send medication recommendations to their hospital’s pharmacy. After that, Pharmacy technicians receive the prescription through their own computer in a completely legible format.

Easy Access To Patient Medical Information

Your doctors have access to their patient’s medical history, and so should your pharmacy technicians. Pharmacy technicians can access relevant medical information from their medical grade PCs. The M24T from Tangent features a touchscreen. Technicians can use this touchscreen to quickly view patient information, making sure that they are giving their patients relevant advice.

m24t medical grade computer bioengineering
Tangent M24T Medical Computer

All medical grade PCs from Tangent feature these touchscreens. These touchscreens are fully sanitizable, and can be cleaned with regular detergents found in the hospital.

Medical PCs That Work With POS Devices

Inventory tracking can be a hassle, especially in the pharmacy. Nowhere else is the level of precision expected as high as it is in the pharmacy, and for good reason. One small mistake can lead to potentially monumental consequences for a patient. Pharmacy technicians perform pill counting and inventory management, but their medical grade PC can help.

T-13 Medical Tablet from Tangent

Medical grade PCs like the T13 from Tangent are designed to interact with POS systems. The T13 comes with an optional barcode scanner, and can even act as a POS system with the right software. This computer can help keep track of inventory, keep track of payments, and keep a digital record of patient drug usage.

Handling Drug Information With Medical PCs

Knowing Drug information is one of the primary tasks of a pharmacy technician. They need to be able to tell patients the ins and outs of a medication, including how to use it and the possible side effects. While the information that regularly comes with medication can provide knowledge to your technicians, the use of medical grade PCs offers entirely new insights for them. 

medical tablet
Tangent Medix M8

Medical grade PCs like the M8 tablet can be a great tool for your pharmacy technicians. This handheld medical device displays information while being able to fit in the palms of your technicians. 

Bring Your Pharmacy Into The Future

Medical grade PCs are revolutionizing healthcare by making hospital staff more efficient and giving them access to the medical information they need. Don’t neglect any department in your hospital’s digital revolution, including your pharmacy. For more information, contact Tangent Sales today.

Medical grade computer for operating room

Best Medical Grade Computer For Operating Room Use

Operating rooms need to be sterile. While all areas of the hospital benefit from sanitary conditions, Operating rooms demand them. There is no room for error when your surgeons are at work. The wrong medical computer can pose serious risks in the operating room. From harboring bacteria to circulating dust, a non-operating designed medical grade computer can easily cause more harm than good. 

Tangent has designed the optimal medical grade computer for use in operating rooms, with features that help keep patients safe.

Fanless Medical Computer For Hospital Use

One of the biggest reasons why your surgeons may not want a medical grade computer in their operating room is their fans. Most computers rely on a fan to cool off the computer’s components. This fan, while vital, has the negative side effect of circulating air throughout the body of the computer and room it is in.

The result of this is that the medical computer becomes a dumping ground for the operating room’s dust. This dust not only reduces the efficacy of the medical grade computer’s fan, and can lead to overheating and long term damage. But this heated-up dust also acts as a breeding ground for bacteria.

The fan then circulates the new bacteria throughout the air in the room. For obvious reasons, this simply cannot happen in an operating room. Bacteria can find its way into a patient’s body and negatively affect their recovery, potentially leading to a re-hospitalization.

m24t medical grade computer
Tangent M24T Medical Computer

Tangent has solved this issue by using a fanless cooling system to cool every medical grade computer they create. The M24T medical grade computer utilizes a passive cooling system that keeps the unit cool without using outside air. The lack of a fan means the M24T also has a solid body, and does not circulate air whatsoever. This helps reduce dust build up in the unit, keeping your operating rooms cleaner and safer.

Antibacterial Medical Computer

On top of having a fanless cooling system, each medical grade computer from Tangent also has an antimicrobial casing. This casing reduces the risk of cross contamination in the operating room by mitigating the growth of bacteria on its surfaces. Surgeons can feel safer while performing a surgery knowing that their medical computer is not causing massive bacteria growth.

Tangent E24B Medical Grade Computer
Tangent E24B Medical Computer

The E24B from Tangent is one such medical grade computer that utilizes this antimicrobial casing. The E24B also features hot-swap battery technology. In the event of a power failure, the E24B is capable of running off its hot-swap batteries, allowing your doctors to finish their delicate work without worrying about a time crunch from a UPS system.

The Best Medical Grade Computer From Tangent

Your surgeons need the best equipment in their operating rooms. Don’t let them use a medical computer that could potentially cause problems. Tangent has designed their medical computers for safety and efficiency. For more information, contact Tangent Sales today.

tangent medical computers for communications

Improving Medical Communications With Medical Tablets

Hospitals have adapted to the challenges brought on by the pandemic. Constant face mask usage, plexiglass barriers, and social distancing guidelines are just a few of the adjustments that hospitals had to enact. The pandemic is nearing an end, but the medical advancements made during this time will continue to help hospitals in their work to create healthy communities. Still, these medical advancements did not affect every area of the hospital equally. Hospital communications remain in a virtual stone age, where archaic technology is holding back the potential of medical staff.

Medical communications are too important for hospitals to put off upgrading. Tangent medical tablets allow hospital staff a secure and convenient way to communicate throughout the hospital.

Communications, Pagers, And BYOD Replaced With Medical Computers

Communications have always been a challenge in the medical setting, so much so that 90% of hospitals still employ ole reliable: the pager. Hospitals cite all the normal reasons to continue using this outdated technology; pagers have a long battery life, no dead zones, and are used solely in the medical setting. 

These advantages are nearly impossible to replicate with policies such as Bring Your Own Device (BYOD). BYOD requires medical professionals use their own cell phones for work. BYOD also has numerous HIPAA complications in addition to being unreliable. Even if hospitals provided phones for their employees, their short battery life and potential to drop calls makes them too risky.

Medical computer tablets can alleviate your hospital’s dependence on pagers. While in the hospital, medical computer tablets like the T13 can be your doctor’s perfect pager replacement. Medical computer tablets have all the advantages of a pager. These include a long battery life, direct connection to your hospital’s wifi network with no dead zones, and their use is limited to the hospital. In addition, doctors can check on their emails, view patient information, and browse medical data from anywhere in the hospital.

T-13 Medical Tablet from Tangent

The T13 from Tangent is custom-built with hospitals in mind. Its touchscreen is fully sanitiziable and IP rated for water resistance. The custom built chassis features an antimicrobial coating which mitigates the growth of bacteria on it, allowing doctors to use it throughout the day without worrying about the potential of disease spread. Doctors can also use its convenient carrying handle to easily transport the T13 throughout the hospital.

Ready To Upgrade With Tangent?

This pandemic has caused a massive and rapid digitization of our daily lives, and the hospital setting is no exception to this. Make sure that your hospital is at the forefront of technology, and not reliant on medical equipment from the 1950s. Employ medical tablets from Tangent in your hospital today. Learn more by contacting Tangent Sales.

Medical Computer

medical computer
Medical Computer on cart

The pandemic has affected workplaces around the country in many different ways. The medical industry in particular has seen numerous shifts. Hospitals have learned to adapt to the challenges that the pandemic has brought on, overcoming many obstacles in the process. In order to provide the quality care that their patients rely on during these times, hospitals have turned to the medical computer.

Hospitals have incorporated computers in their workflow nearly since their creation, but not every computer is built for hospital use. The pandemic has shown how vital medical computers are to medical facilities. The differences between a commercial and medical computer may seem subtle, but in practice medical computers are faster, cleaner, and more useful.

What Is A Medical Computer?

Medical computer on cart arm
Medical Computer on cart

As the name suggests, a medical computer is a computer that is designed for use in the medical setting. While there is no formal definition of what a medical computer is, there are some industry standards to look out for when exploring your options. Tangent meets and exceeds these industry standards, ensuring their customers receive reliable and safe equipment.

Medical Computer Standards

While there are no formal standards for computers in the hospital, every medical computer needs to comply with the Medical Design Standards for Power Supplies. Generally referred to as either an IEC 60601 or UL 60601certification, these standards ensure that all electronic equipment in hospitals is safe for use around other medical equipment and patient medical devices.

These standards ensure that no electrical leakage or other potential hazards are present in every medical device. For devices that can potentially be in-use or on for extended periods of time like a medical computer, these standards are crucial. Every Tangent medical computer is UL 60601 certified for medical use, but that’s only the beginning.

Features of A Medical Computer

Medical computer features
Medical Computer features

Ensuring that your other medical devices are safe around a medical computer is one thing, but what about your medical staff and patients? A medical computer can potentially become a breeding ground for bacteria if being used by multiple nurses, doctors, and medical assistants throughout the day. The pandemic has taught us better than to allow this.

Antimicrobial coatings are a solution to this. Each medical computer from Tangent with an antimicrobial coating mitigates the growth of harmful pathogens on its surfaces. This means that your computers can go longer in-between cleanings. These computers can also help mitigate the risk of nosocomial infections throughout the hospital.

Even Cleaner

Medical Computer for Operation Rooms
Medical Computer for Operation Rooms

Tangent’s antimicrobial coating is only the first line of defense against pathogens in the hospital. Each medical computer from Tangent is IP rated for water resistance. This means that your cleaning staff can make use of traditional cleaning agents on their screens and other surfaces without worry of damage. 

This resistance also extends to dust mitigation. Traditional computers feature fan-based cooling systems that quickly fill up with dust, leading to them needing maintenance. Tangent’s fanless cooling system creates a fully sealed housing for their computers, minimizing the amount of required maintenance needed.

Which Medical Computer Is Right For My Hospital?

Medical Computers by Tangent
Medical Computers by Tangent

The medical field is not uniform, and neither are its problems. Each situation in the hospital requires a unique approach to solving it. That’s why Tangent has designed numerous computers to meet the needs of various departments in the hospital. Here are just a few of the situations that Tangent computers can be customized for.

Electronic Medical Records

Doctors are spending more and more time filling out paperwork. Electronic medical records have thankfully digitized part of this paperwork. These records have greatly sped up the process of patient intaking, but the process can still be slow.

Pulling up and altering electronic medical records with older or faulty computers can be a frustrating and time-wasting experience for doctors. The Medix M24T medical computer goes above and beyond when displaying electronic medical records. The Medix M24T features a powerfully fast NVMe storage device. Unlike disk-based storage, NVMe makes use of solid-state memory technology to deliver lightning quick speeds up to 35 times faster.

With your hospital’s electronic medical record software stored on the M24t’s NVMe storage, your doctors can pull up patient records as fast as is currently possible. 

Medical Cart Use

medical computer Tangent
Tangent Medical Computer

Medical carts are some of the most useful applications of computers in the hospital. They allow nurses to shift vital resources around the hospital with ease. But one of the hassles that comes with medical cart use is their downtime.

It can seem as though for every medical cart being used in the hospital, there’s another out of service while it charges. While necessary, putting your entire medical cart out of commission while waiting for a battery to charge seems counterintuitive. This process effectively halves the number of available medical carts at any given time. 

Tangent has alleviated this issue with their line of computers featuring hot-swap battery technology. The E22B medical computer is one such device. The E22B comes standard with three rechargeable batteries. When equipped on a medical cart, the E22B allows for constant use. Simply plug two batteries into the medical computer, and have the third one charge on the charging dock.

With a simple battery rotation, your medical cart rotation ceases to exist. 

General Use

Hospitals do sometimes need general computer platforms. Your hospital may need fully customizable computers. Hospitals are versatile places after all. Tangent has multiple medical computers built for customization and to be deployed throughout the hospital.

Take the T13 medical computer for instance. This sleek medical device features an RFID reader and barcode scanner. With these tools equipped, operations like medication witnessing can become a breeze. Instead of having to remember long and complex passwords, nurses can simply assign their passcode to their badge and scan in their code.

Human milk workflows can benefit from the T13’s barcode scanner. Nurses can keep track of expressed milk with convenient barcodes, from the mother to fridge and eventually to the baby.

Upgrade Your Hospital Today

Your hospital has no doubt gone through numerous changes brought on by the pandemic. Your medical staff have learned to adapt to new challenges daily, and have come to depend on their medical equipment. The world will forever be changed even after vaccine distribution brings us back to a semblance of normality. The medical industry’s reliance on computers won’t subside, but rather increase.

The backbone of your hospital is its medical computer infrastructure; make sure it’s built with your hospital in mind. For more information, contact Tangent Sales today.