Today, industry is facing its fourth technological revolution. Following mechanisation, mass production and electronic automation, Industry 4.0 is now about to begin. The new age will be one of wireless communications and digital networks. With its i.roc Ci70-Ex handheld computer and various other products, Ecom instruments has demonstrated its ability to be a ground-breaking pioneer in the field of digital mobile communication systems for installation in hazardous areas.
The author: Christian Uhl Head of International Marketing, Ecom instruments
Cyber-physical systems that make use of digital networks to establish wireless connections between products and production processes are already employed in many sectors of industry. The ever-increasing number of digital communication systems, however, also means that greater demands are being made on mobile devices – devices that need to be equipped with RFID, WWAN or WLAN technology and that must be able to communicate online. Ecom instruments meets these demands with innovative developments for mobile communication and identification systems as well as mobile computers for hazardous areas, in other words in the chemical, petrochemical, pharmaceutical and oil & gas industries.
“We’re now facing a major shift in industry in which the virtual world, distributed processing intelligence and the creation of highly flexible and efficient production facilities will reach entirely new levels. Ecom instruments delivers pioneering, handheld technologies that can be employed in areas with a risk of explosion and are also adapted to the requirements of tomorrow’s smart factories. In the segment for explosion protected systems, which generally lags behind the cutting edge, this constitutes a revolution”, said Thorsten Cyrol, Sales Manager DACH at Ecom instruments GmbH.
The i.roc Ci70 -Ex is the latest innovation in the field of Atex mobile computing. This PDA uses the Windows Embedded 6.5.3 operating system along with the Intermec CN70e platform and has been approved both for Zone 1/21 in compliance with Atex or IEC and for Class I, Division 1 in compliance with NEC.
The PDA’s modular design allows it to be equipped with different attachments for functionalities ranging from barcode scanning to RFID applications utilising LF and HF frequencies (with VHF to come later). Retrofitting and replacements will likewise be possible, so that customers‘ investments are secure, for example if they wish to switch from 1D barcodes to RFID HF.
The i.roc Ci70-Ex is the first handheld computer to be approved for Zone 1. Apart from all the major WLAN standards (802.11 a/b/g/n), it also features a UMTS module. The growing demand for online communications can thus be met in future without having to invest heavily in suitable WLAN infrastructures.
The i.roc Ci70 -Ex with UMTS additionally boasts a GPS module, opening up new options for telematic and safety applications. The electronic systems integrated in the i.roc Ci70 -Ex were developed specifically to protect against explosion and hence guarantee maximum availability, quality and service. The need for manual intervention in the sensitive electronic components has consequently been reduced to a minimum.
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