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Industry Leaders
The major players in the rugged computing industry
(by Conrad H. Blickenstorfer)
The rugged computing industry is very different from the consumer market computer industry. Most of the hardware, software, peripherals, and services come from companies whose names are generally all but unknown to anyone outside the industry. The big names in rugged computing traditionally have not been Dell, Hewlett Packard or IBM. Those giants of the consumer and business computing market generally aren't in the rugged computing game to a meaningful extent. That's been changing in recent years to some extent as some large companies have entered the market via acquisitions. For example, Itronix became part of General Dynamics, Motorola took over Symbol Technologies and Psion, Honeywell Metrologic and Intermec, and Dell offers rugged versions their commercial notebooks.
The primary reason why the consumer computing giants do not also dominate the rugged and vertical computing markets is because those markets are so different. Consumer markets are all about volume, low price, and the latest features. Rugged and vertical markets are about meeting very special needs and requirements at generally much lower sales volumes. In addition, whereas consumer markets are almost exclusively hardware sales, rugged and vertical markets are often about turnkey solutions that may include custom software application development, service agreements, and systems integration. As a result, the sales cycle can be long, and equipment service and maintenance assumes a much more important role.
The following companies are leaders in the rugged and industrial computing field:
Ruggedized handheld terminals and PDAs
Tablet PCs and slates
Rugged Notebooks and Vehicle Mounts
Mounting hardware
Rugged systems components and boards
Touch/digitizer/etc OEMS
- Apex Material Technology Corp. (resistive, procap -- Taiwan)
- Atmel (touch controllers -- CA, USA)
- Cambrios Technologies (touch screen coatings -- CA, USA)
- Cando Technologies (touch panels, color filters -- Taiwan)
- ELO (various touch - CA, USA)
- FlatFrog (multi-touch systems - Sweden)
- HannsTouch Solution (procap - Taiwan)
- Morgan Touch Technology (sensors, pens, touch - China)
- N-trig (active, procap, multi - Israel)
- Northpoint Technologies (resistive, capacitive -- TX, USA)
- Ocular (procap -- TX, USA)
- Shenzen Laibao Hi-Technology (touch panels -- China)
- Touch International (resistive, cap, procap -- TX, USA)
- TPK (multi-touch, panels -- Taiwan)
- UICO (procap - IL, USA)
- UniPixel (optical films - TX, USA)
- Wacom (active, other -- WA, USA)
- WinTek (touch panels -- Taiwan)
- Wuhu Token Sciences (glass, touch sensors -- China)
Rugged Computing Hardware Distributors
- ACME Portable (US, Germany, Taiwan)
- Broadax Systems
- BuyTough (GA, USA)
- Cardinal Mobile (TX, USA)
- Cyberchron Rugged Systems
- DataSource Mobility (TN, USA)
- Electronic Data Solutions (ID, USA)
- GroupMobile
- IBI Systems
- Industrial Computing
- Logic Supply (VT, USA)
- Maxatec (Europe)
- MaxVision
- Miles Data Technologies (WI)
- MobEx (UK)
- OC Rugged
- Paradise Computers (USA)
- Paradigm System Solutions (MN, USA)
- PCS Mobile (CO, USA)
- Rugged & Mobility Prospects (GR)
- Nova Mobile Systems (CA, USA)
- Rugged Mobile (UK)
- Rugged Notebooks
- Solzon
- Steatite Rugged Systems (UK)
- Technology Advancement Group
- Toughbook Depot (CA, USA)
- TOUGHOnline.com (NE, USA)
- TransCOR (MA, USA)
- Varlink (UK)
OEMs
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