How IP65 Industrial Tablet Protection Boosts Efficiency in Food Manufacturing

Why Are Tablets Used in Food Manufacturing?

The use of tablets in food processing facilities allows computing power to be deployed across the length of the production line, removing the need to complete routine checks from fixed terminals or via paper-based logs at the end of a shift.

Positioning iPads at the point of activity, or allowing them to be carried throughout the factory floor, ensures that KPIs are monitored in real time, allowing operators to take proactive steps that can minimise costly delays.

In modern factory environments, tablets are also used to digitise standard data input, process management and quality control tasks, enhancing the speed and accuracy of these traditionally paper-based duties, as well as ensuring that they are simple to access and review.

Having key information complete and readily available provides confidence over the integrity of a factory’s internal record-keeping, helping to deliver a reliable audit trail that can be easily following during in-house and external inspections.

In terms of hygiene compliance, replacing paper logs with electronic devices is also helpful for removing many significant risks from the production line.

When handled or damaged, paper releases microscopic cellulose fibres that can land in open food products or absorb moisture, creating a porous surface that promotes bacterial growth. This can force a halt to production lines while decontamination procedures take place, resulting in decreased throughput, missed deadlines and wasted ingredients.

By placing digital technology on the shop floor, plant managers empower their staff to access a range of online dashboards and applications that streamline the completion of many key operational tasks, such as:

• KPI and OEE monitoring
• Line equipment cleanliness inspections
• Ingredient barcode scanning
• Packaging and product matching
• Product weight checks
• Sanitation scheduling
• Temperature logging
• Surface swab tracking
• Allergen washdown processes
• Sensory and visual audits

How Do Food Production Facilities Impact Tablet Performance?

To comply with strict hygiene regulations and prevent cross-contamination, food processing plants conduct frequent equipment and wider facility washdowns. Exposure to these aggressive cleaning cycles, as well as the ambient moisture and airborne dusts and residues found in the food production environment, can instantly destroy unprotected tablets or contribute to their gradual degradation.

Common physical impacts can also shorten their lifespan, with fragile components vulnerable to damage from accidental drops and immediate or second-hand contact with plant tools and machinery.

An unsteady grip or poor positioning can result in the tablet falling to the ground, which can significantly affect the performance of its internal hardware over time. In some instances, these issues can become visible much more quickly, such as when a mishandling incident leads to a smashed screen. This type of damage not only impairs software visibility and requires equipment to be replaced, but may also introduce a dangerous high-risk physical hazard (glass) into the production environment.

Elsewhere, constant high-frequency vibrations from surrounding industrial equipment can have a negative impact on an unprotected tablet, leading to significant issues with camera feeds and screen response times.

How Do IP65 Hygienic iPad Protection Cases Protect Tablets in Food Manufacturing Facilities?

Armagard’s IP65 tablet case safeguards tablets from the hazards of the food production line, ensuring uninterrupted access to KPI dashboards and mission-critical software applications.

• Rated to IP65: Reliable protection from daily washdown and production debris. Our durable IP rated enclosure provides a secure barrier against the ingress of moisture and dust, defending shop floor iPads from intensive cleaning procedures and airborne particulates.
• Food-grade 316 stainless steel: The tough, long-lasting 316 stainless steel construction offers proven resistance to corrosive substances. This sanitary, heavy-duty alloy is designed to withstand frequent exposure to harsh acids, chlorides and chemicals, ensuring the enclosure maintains a smooth surface where bacteria struggle to grow.
• ABS composite plastic body: An ABS composite plastic design ensures that the enclosed tablet maintains a stable network connection, allowing operators to complete critical tasks without delay. The inclusion of this material also makes the enclosure lightweight and easy to move, as well as supporting impact resistance in demanding settings.
• 150u explosion-proof screen cover: Robust screen protection defends against the impact of drops and scratches. The shatterproof screen cover is easily operated through gloved hands, allowing frontline workers to access software without removing their PPE, supporting a faster workflow.
• VESA mountable with option for handheld use: VESA mounting allows the iPad enclosure to be installed on a wall, stand or desk for optimal access and visibility. Operators can also carry the device across the factory floor, completing essential performance and quality checks from the most suitable location.
• Syncs with production displays: Use Apple TV to send content straight from the tablet to a shop floor production display and provide frontline staff with instant KPI updates regardless of where they are positioned. Perfect for use with Redzone and other connected workforce software.

Why Should I Invest in a Stainless Steel Tablet Enclosure?

As food manufacturers continue to embrace digital technology, the use of tablet devices throughout production plants is becoming increasingly widespread. Protecting this hardware with dedicated enclosures helps to ensure its longevity, and has a wealth of valuable operational, financial and compliance-based benefits such as:

• Increased uptime: Safeguarding these essential devices from common sources of contamination and physical damage helps to ensure the smooth running of the production line. Protecting operator ability to observe and interact with key software and performance data makes it easier for them to carry out essential tasks and take proactive steps to minimise issues.
• Hygiene adherence: Investing in food-safe equipment ensures that facilities remain compliant with hygiene standards. The enclosure’s non-porous 316 stainless steel body offers reliable corrosion resistance, minimising the risk of bacterial growth in clean environments.
• Prolonged equipment lifespan: Harsh production settings pose significant risks to the safety of consumer-grade tablets. Purpose-built iPad cases help extend the lifespan of enclosed equipment, keeping essential technology fully functional and minimising the frequency at which it needs to be replaced.
• Lower total cost of ownership: Because the enclosure is built to last up to 10 years, it can accommodate multiple generations of iPads over time. This allows plant managers to introduce new tablets onto the shop floor while only needing to update device protection once every decade.

Choose Armagard for Reliable Industrial Tablet Protection

Since 1991, Armagard has helped major food brands boost the safety and efficiency of their production processes by protecting vital IT hardware from shop floor hazards and contaminants. Our solutions are installed in more than 50 countries across the world, with over 100,000 of our enclosures trusted to keep essential equipment safe from harm.

Get in touch today to discover how our IP65 iPad enclosures can help you improve your production workflow and stay compliant with food industry regulations.