What's the Difference Between Industrial PCs and Standard PCs?

Industrial PCs are a huge part of manufacturing, logistics, construction, and a wealth of other environments. But what exactly are these computing systems, and what are their defining features and characteristics?

In this guide, we're going to be looking at the key differences between standard PCs and industrial PCs, as well as different types of industrial systems.

The main differences between an industrial PC and a standard PC system are found in the durability and deployment of the devices themselves.

A standard PC is robust up to a point. It's designed to withstand years of regular usage – but it is not considered a particularly durable device. Instead, it can only be used in a highly controlled environment.

An industrial PC, on the other hand, is designed to work even in difficult conditions. It's a reliable machine, which supports teams in the field, even in environments such as warehouses, factory floors, manufacturing facilities, and other industrial spaces.

This means an industrial PC is designed to withstand environmental hazards in a way that normal PCs are not. These include:

• Humidity and moisture – Computing systems are electronic devices, and so they are at particular risk of water damage. Industrial PC may need to be deployed outdoors, or in areas where steam and water vapor is a genuine issue, necessitating reliable waterproofing.
• Extreme temperature – Industrial environments can be extremely hot or extremely cold, depending on the specific industrial process taking place. The PC will need to deal with these temperature fluctuations without experiencing damage or wear and tear.
• Dusty environments – Dust can clog vents, causing devices to overheat. It can also get sensitive components, causing damage. An industrial PC should be able to keep on operating even when dust levels pick up.
• Shock and trauma – PC devices may find themselves experiencing shock and trauma. A forklift truck colliding with the device or a team member dropping it on the floor are just a couple of examples of what can happen to a device in the line of duty.
• Other hazards – Industrial environments are diverse and wide-ranging. There may be other hazards too, such as contact with corrosive or flammable substances. Industrial PCs will be designed to withstand application-specific issues.

Another difference between standard PC systems and industrial PCs is less definitive but still needs mentioning. Generally, personal computers and laptops are pretty general-purpose devices. We use them for a wide variety of different tasks across our working and personal lives, and their very reason for being is that they can help us out in almost any situation.

While an industrial PC may be like this, usually it won't be. Often, industrial hardware is going to be designed with a specific purpose in mind.

This might be an interface to allow teams to gain IoT data from a supply chain or manufacturing process – using an ARTEMIS-RTLS solution for asset tracking, for instance. Or it might be something more simple, like a temperature control system built on something like the EZX-EHLP 1.8-inch embedded motherboard.

Both of these devices are classed as industrial PCs, but you're not going to check your emails on them. They are designed for singular, highly specialized tasks.

An industrial PC doesn't necessarily need to be much different from a typical PC system. It may feature all of the standard hardware – such as drives, monitors, keyboards, and other components. The only difference is that this hardware will be designed for a more challenging environment.

For example, an industrial PC terminal may be fitted with seals and filters to prevent water or dust from entering the machine. Or it may be built using materials and techniques specifically designed to resist high temperatures or extreme conditions.

Mobility is a common thread right across the tech world, and industrial PCs are no exception. The devices have become portable and mobile in recent years, as laptop computers, tablets, and handheld terminals are designed with industrial applications in mind.

Just like with the regular computing system, there may be some overlap here between standard handheld devices and industrial ones. The industrial device is likely to be more robust.

A panel system is similar to an interactive display. It features a touchscreen or a similar interface, and it is mounted into a fixed position. While it may operate like a tablet, it is not portable.

Industrial panel PCs may be designed specifically to withstand extreme atmospheric conditions. However, semi-industrial PCs may need some additional protection. For instance, they may be able to operate outdoors but may not be equipped to handle the more extreme conditions of a factory floor. The ARM-based SID-10WR1 semi-industrial system is an example of a panel PC in the Avalue range.

With an embedded computer system, the computer is built into a wider unit. This unit may be fitted with a computer interface or a monitoring screen, but the system itself will be relatively simple and will be geared towards a single, specialized set of actions.

The AIB-3588 ARM-based system is an example of an embedded industrial PC in the Avalue range. Other systems may be built according to specific requirements, using components like the EPX-ASLP Pico single-board computer.

Avalue provides you with one of the leading ranges of industrial PC components, as well as components for other computing systems and embedded technology. Explore our range today and find what you need, or reach out to our team directly if you have any questions or queries.