As an Industrial solution provider for nearly a decade, I have found that there are several benefits to utilizing Industrial PCs for Test and Measurement over any other PCs on the market.
The biggest differentiator between an Industrial PC and standard PC is durability. Most Test and Measurement applications require PCs that run 24/7, 365 days a year. These computers need to successfully operate in confined spaces and deal with increased temperatures, flying particles and rugged use. I have found that the Advantech Industrial PCs that we provide allow for sufficient cooling in tight spaces and are supplied with a chassis built to withstand the harshest environments.
Another factor most customers find to be crucial is longevity. Most standard PCs include Motherboards that have a shelf life of six months at best. Industrial PCs, on the other hand, offer ATX Motherboard and Single Board Solutions that are supported for up to four years. I have seen how a longer lifespan allows the implementation of one configuration for several years, which has made many of our customers’ jobs a lot easier.
The final factor that I believe to be important is flexibility. I have found that the ability to provide rack mount, wall mount and desktop solutions has its appeal. Some of our customers have minimal space, while others might need to mount a system on a wall in a closet at the end of a hallway. There is also still a need for legacy ISA and PCI slots. I find that more and more customers utilize the systems we provide for that reason.
In short, I believe that the three biggest differences between an Industrial PCs and standard PCs are:
- Durability
- Longevity
- Flexibility
If you want to read up more on this area, our corporate website has more information on Industrial PCs.
