DC Velocity - June 2012

technologyreview TRACK AND TRACE

It’s important that the components be manufactured from the right materials for the application, says Khalid Kidari, director of product management and marketing for DAP Technologies, which makes rugged devices. Depending on the product and the application, lightweight alloys and metals are best for some parts, while plastic that flexes when the device is dropped, so that the plastic absorbs the energy of the impact, is best for others. Devices that are frequently exposed to moisture or salt air should be free of metal that could rust and corrode.

Who makes rugged
handhelds?

WHEN SHOULD YOU USE RUGGED DEVICES?

Distribution activities, including transportation, freight yard management, direct store delivery, and field service and repair, are ideal for rugged handhelds, says Intermec’s Stubbs. In fact, any application where the devices will routinely be exposed to heat, cold, rain, wind, dust, dirt, salt air, and so forth calls for rugged devices. Standard commercial or light-duty industrial equipment simply won’t stand up to those conditions. Batteries will quickly run out, screens won’t refresh fast enough, and the inner workings will get clogged up or permanently damaged by contaminants.

But even an ordinary warehouse can be tougher on handhelds than you might think, Kidari warns. “If a warehouse is fairly clean and there’s little or no dust, then you don’t really need full protection and can get away with light industrial devices,” he says. A typical warehouse environment, though, has plenty of dust from cardboard and from unsealed concrete floors, he adds.

There’s also the danger of damage from impact. Consider the likelihood of damage from forklift collisions. And if warehouse associates are picking or putting away items at anything other than floor level, then drops are inevitable.

The degree of risk is also an important consideration, says D’Ambrosio of Glacier Computer. Fixed-mount devices that are attached to a forklift or other vehicle are exposed to tough yet predictable conditions. But mobile devices, he notes, may encounter a variety of potentially damaging environments, and they must be able to withstand all of them.

Physical conditions are not the only factor to consider. “It’s really the business environment that dictates the degree of ruggedness required,” observes Psion’s Wills. Buyers should ask themselves how dependent their business is on the device’s reliable, consistent operation. “The more mission-critical the device is, the more rugged it needs to be,” he says. “What would happen to your business if it were not usable?”

A number of manufacturers design and produce rugged handheld computers for warehouse and transportation applications. The following list, while not exhaustive, includes some of the better-known vendors:

▪ DAP Technologies ( www.daptech.com)

▪ Datalogic ADC ( www.adc.datalogic.com)

▪ Glacier Computer ( www.glaciercomputer.com)

▪ Honeywell (LXE) ( www.honeywellaidc.com)

▪ Intermec ( www.intermec.com)

▪ Juniper Systems ( www.junipersys.com)

▪ Motorola (includes Symbol) ( www.motorola.com)

▪ Psion ( www.psion.com)

▪ Two Technologies Inc. ( www.2t.com)

▪ Wasp Barcode Technologies ( www.waspbarcode.com)

device. For one thing, users will need to buy fewer of them,
rugged equipment makers say. “You have to consider that
with a non-ruggedized device, the first time you drop it
you’ll have to replace it, which means you’ll have to keep
many extra pieces of equipment on hand,” says Wills. “With
rugged handhelds, you’ll just need a few spares.”
For another, rugged handhelds can improve productivity.
According to the manufacturers, they rarely fail, and if they do
break down, their modular design makes most repairs quick
and easy. Their extended battery life also ensures reliable per-
formance throughout the length of a shift and beyond.

In the past, the typical lifespan for ruggedized handheld computers ranged from three to six years, but now it’s not unusual for them to last much longer. The manufacturers consulted for this article reported handhelds that are still running after six years or more of around-the-clock operation, including some that are still going strong after 15 years. This longevity makes rugged handhelds an attractive capital investment. “With most customers buying equipment outright on a three-year depreciation cycle,” says Psion’s Wills, “anything beyond that is free money.”

WHY THEY MAKE ECONOMIC SENSE

Rugged handhelds cost considerably more than standard commercial equipment—often twice as much, depending on the model. In addition to design and materials costs, the amount of testing and certifications required raises manufacturers’ costs, D’Ambrosio says.

But the list price is simply a starting point, and a host of other factors affect the total cost of ownership for a rugged

THE EXOTIC AND THE EVERYDAY

Considering the abuse that rugged handhelds are able to take, it’s not surprising to find them in some unusual applications. Loggers use them with bar-coded tags on trees that are ready to harvest, growers use them to track produce from field to distribution center, and they even see duty in a brewery, where they safely undergo daily washdowns with a hose.

But it’s not necessary to be in some exotic line of business to consider an investment in ruggedized handheld computers. No matter what type of operation you run, if reliability, productivity, and a return on your investment are high priorities, then rugged devices are worth a look. ;