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Friday, October 24, 2014
Bartrans, a leader in on premise and off premise scanning solutions is providing a host of intrinsically safe scanning devices designed for use in ex-areas.
Up until now mobile computers that have been approved for use in hazardous areas remain far behind the technologies that have become standard in other fields. The explosion-prevention experts at ecom together with Intermec by Honeywell – one of the leaders for ruggedized PDAs have developed a platform that right from the start meets the demands set out in the requirements for ex-certification. For this reason the new PDA is unique because mobile devices for ex-areas have to date only been made safe for use in hazardous environments by retroactively adapting them to comply with current standards.
This would require a lot of effort and would not produce entirely reliable devices because manual interventions into sensitive components mean that the equipment modified in this manner frequently become likely to fail. However developing a device “from scratch” allows the latest technologies – for instance the support of current WLAN standards and UMTS to be built in from the start. Any required peripherals, such as RFID readers, barcode scanners and HART modems, can also be integrated into the mobile ex-computer thanks to the modular head concept which means that it is also possible to produce generally ergonomic designs.
Devices that are deployed in ex-areas must meet certain criteria. The expertise acquired by ecom over its almost 30 years in providing protection against explosions during everyday industrial work in potentially explosive environments has been incorporated in the production of devices and equipment for use in a range of sectors including oil, gas, chemicals, petrochemicals, mining, pharmaceuticals and energy.
The i.roc® Ci70-Ex mobile computer has been designed to be safe in Zone 1 and Zone 2 areas. The device uses Windows Mobile 6.5 operating system and is the only device on the market to support all WLAN standards (IEEE 802.11 a,b,g and n). A 3G module is also an option available to enable data to be transmitted via the GSM, UMTS/HSDPA and CDMA networks. The integrated GPS feature also permits the device’s exact location to be pinpointed. The PDA also comes with a 2.1+EDR Bluetooth interface. Ecom also provides the same platform for Zone 2 areas such as the Cx7x series amongst the Intermec basic non-ex devices. The cost savings not only in terms of the devices but also in operational costs by incorporating the use of these devices should be considered as a definite advantage to any organization where intrinsic safety is a concern.
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