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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. Motorola Solutions, for example, took over Symbol Technologies and Psion just to later sell them to Zebra, which then also bought Xplore Technologies. Honeywell took over Metrologic and Intermec, and Dell offers rugged versions of 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

Rugged tablets

Rugged Notebooks and Vehicle Mounts

Mounting Hardware

Rugged Systems Components and Boards

Touch/digitizer/etc OEMS

Rugged Computing Hardware Distributors and Consultants

OEMs/ODMs

Comparison Tools >>
Rugged handhelds
Rugged tablets
Rugged notebooks
Rugged Android devices
Industry Sponsor Profiles
Cincoze
Dell Rugged
DT Research
Durabook
Getac
Handheld Group
Havis
Janam Technologies
Juniper Systems
MobileDemand
RuggON
Teguar
Trimble
Winmate
Zebra
Select company Profiles
ACER
Arbor Technology
DATALOGIC
DELL RUGGED
DT Research
Emdoor Info
Estone Technology
GETAC
Handheld Group
Logic Instrument
MOBILEDEMAND
Panasonic
RAM Mounts
RuggON
TEGUAR
Trimble
WINMATE INC
Mergers & Acquisitions

Sep 2022: MilDef buys Handheld Group


Mar 2022: Zebra acquires Matrox Imaging


Aug 2021: Zebra acquires Antuit


Jul 2021: Zebra acquires Fetch Robotics


Mar 2021: Datalogic buys Micro Detectors


Mar 2022: Zebra acquires Reflexis


Jul 2018: Zebra buys Xplore


Jul 2017: Comark buys DataLtd/DLI


Mar 2017: Ubiqconn buys RuggON


Dec 2014: Honeywell buys DataMax-O'Neil


Oct 2014: Zebra buys Motorola Solutions Enterprise


Oct 2013: Eurotech sells Parvus to Curtis-Wright


Dec 2012: Honeywell buys Intermec


Jun 2012: Motorola Solutions buys Psion


Oct 2011: Solid State PLC buys Blazepoint


Jun 2011: Honeywell buys EMS (and LXE)


Oct 2010: Beijer buys QSI


Mar 2010: Advantec buys DLoG


Jul 2008: Honeywell buys Metrologic


May 2008: Finmeccanica buys DRS


Mar 2007: DAP and JLT merge into Roper


Jan 2007: Motorola's Symbol acquisition


Aug 2005: General Dynamics buys Itronix


Jun 2005: DRS Technologies buys WalkAbout


Jul 2000: Psion acquires Teklogix


Feb 2000: Itronix acquires Husky


Apr 1998: Symbol acquires Telxon


1997: Intermec acquires Norand