Pepperl+Fuchs Unveils ThinManager-Ready Tablets for Industry

It’s every plant manager’s dream to have a facility that you walk into, and it seems as though the plant has plenty of room and the floors are clean enough to eat off of. However, in reality, most facilities will never reach that level. Thus, it is important to have the equipment capable of running in hazardous conditions.

Introducing the Tab-IND and Pad-Ex ThinManager-ready tablets from Pepperl+Fuchs and Rockwell Automation. Image used courtesy of Pepperl+Fuchs

For these reasons, Pepperl+Fuchs and ThinManager, a Rockwell Automation technology, have recently partnered together to develop and provide ThinManager customers with a turnkey solution for device management and content delivery platform that can be used by plant operators, technicians, or other frontline workers. These new Thinmanger-ready tablets can be used in hazardous and nonhazardous areas alike.

Introducing the Tab-IND and PAD-Ex Tablets.

The Tab-IND and Pad-Ex ThinManager-Ready devices are engineered to thrive in both non-hazardous and hazardous settings, ensuring that users can carry out their tasks efficiently while maintaining a secure connection to centralized management systems. Designed specifically for industrial applications, the Pad-Ex and Tab-IND can allow users to monitor machine conditions or provide visualization solutions for frontline workers.

The Tab-IND was designed for non-Ex environments but can be used in a variety of industries ranging from logistics to automotive manufacturing. Image used courtesy of Pepperl+Fuchs

Interested In The Tab-IND?

The Tab-IND tablets are slim windows-based devices that will be tailored for non-hazardous areas. They are available in 8” and 10” sizes and feature industrial-grade displays with brightness levels of 700 and 800 cd/m² for optimal outdoor use. The Tab-IND tablets will also include gloves and pens to cater to various operational needs. Fast user authentication is facilitated by a convenient shortcut button and a fingerprint sensor, while the rugged design ensures a life cycle of at least five years, operating in temperatures ranging from -20 °C to 50 °C. The tablet has additional features like SmartBack technology for easy USB accessory integration to add features, an external battery, or ergonomic holders to the tablet. These tablets will also support the latest in communications standards, such as Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3 BLE, 5G, or LTE.

The Pad-Ex was designed specifically for use in harsh industrial environments and will feature an 11” screen. Image used courtesy of Pepperl+Fuchs

Pad-Ex Provides Solutions For Ex Environments.

The Pad-Ex series is crafted for use in hazardous areas, meeting safety standards up to Class I, Div. 2 / Zone 2. These tablets will be available in an 11” field mobile design and a desktop PC configuration. These powerful devices will utilize Intel’s Core i5-1235U processor with 16 GB of RAM, will include 256 GB NVMe solid-state drive (SSD), and will be capable of up to 8.5 hours of use. Charging the Pad-Ex is pretty simple, as it connects to docking stations through a durable Pogo connector. The Pad-Ex will also include various connectivity options, including Thunderbolt 4, USB 3.2, and 4G LTE, that ensure connectivity in almost any environment.

While safety and efficiency in any industry are paramount, it is also important to remember to get equipment that was designed to be used in the types of environments that they are going to be used. With the collaboration between Rockwell’s ThinManager and Pepperl+Fuchs, ThinManger users now have two powerful solutions for the IoT world of device management and visualization platforms with the Tab-IND and Pad-Ex industrial tablets.