Able Instruments introduces Pepperl+Fuchs Tab-IND rugged industrial tablets

For industrial mobile workflows, rugged tablet selection depends on the operating environment and how the device will be used, including platform, form factor and connectivity requirements.

Able Instruments has expanded its industrial mobile computing capability with Pepperl+Fuchs Tab-IND, a dedicated range of rugged industrial tablets for use in non-hazardous industrial environments.

Available through Able Instruments’ long-term relationship with Ecom Instruments, a Pepperl+Fuchs brand, the Tab-IND range provides Windows 11 LTSC, Android 15 and ThinManager Ready deployment routes across a choice of configurations for industrial mobile workflows.

As the Official UK Technical Partner for Pepperl+Fuchs Enterprise Mobility, Able can support application qualification, platform and configuration selection, accessory compatibility and ongoing technical support alongside the hardware itself.

Operational context for Non-Ex industrial mobile computing

Industrial mobile computing is used across manufacturing and production, warehousing and intralogistics, field service and maintenance, and industrial IT / OT workflows.

In these environments, a tablet may be used for digital work instructions, barcode scanning and data capture, transport tracking or mobile access to digital applications. The appropriate specification therefore depends on how and where the device will be used rather than simply selecting a rugged version of conventional IT hardware.

Tab-IND is designed for these Non-Ex industrial applications, with rugged construction, IP65 protection and industrial touchscreen operation among the shared range-level characteristics.

Rugged construction and IP protection do not make a device intrinsically safe. Where ATEX or IECEx hazardous-area certification is required, an appropriately certified intrinsically safe tablet should be selected instead.

Selecting the Tab-IND configuration around the workflow

The Tab-IND range is structured around different deployment requirements rather than six arbitrary variants.

The first decision is the platform architecture:

• Windows 11 LTSC as the Windows deployment route.
• Android 15 as the Android deployment route.
• ThinManager Ready for Rockwell Automation ThinManager environments.

From there, selection can be narrowed by form factor, memory and storage, connectivity and compatible accessories. The current family includes 8.4-inch and 10.1-inch devices, with 5G RedCap available on the relevant Android configuration.

The ThinManager Ready configuration is a distinct deployment route. It is supplied with a ThinManager-ready BIOS rather than a conventional pre-installed operating system and should not be treated simply as another Windows tablet variant.

This allows the device specification to follow the industrial workflow rather than treating platform, form factor and connectivity as isolated product features.

Rugged tablet capability across industrial applications

Across the current Tab-IND mobile tablet range, verified family-level characteristics include rugged industrial construction, IP65 protection, specified drop resistance, industrial touchscreen operation and support for use with gloves.

Relevant models also provide options for Wi-Fi connectivity, mobile connectivity and compatible industrial accessories covering scanning, docking, charging, protection and device handling.

The range can support applications including manufacturing and production, warehousing and intralogistics, field service and maintenance, barcode scanning and data capture, transport tracking, digital work instructions and wider industrial IT / OT workflows.

Individual product specifications remain configuration-specific. Features such as 5G connectivity, positioning capability and other hardware functions should therefore be confirmed against the selected model rather than assumed across the complete range.

What this means for UK customers

Able Instruments is the Official UK Technical Partner for Pepperl+Fuchs Enterprise Mobility.

This supports a specification approach that considers the device, platform, connectivity and compatible accessories together rather than hardware selection in isolation.

Able’s mobile-device specialists can support application qualification, device and configuration selection, accessory compatibility and ongoing technical support.

Able’s industrial mobile-device capability

Tab-IND adds a dedicated Non-Ex rugged industrial tablet route to Able’s established industrial mobile-device portfolio.

For non-hazardous environments, this provides Windows, Android and ThinManager Ready options within one mobile tablet family. Where ATEX or IECEx hazardous-area certification is required, Able can instead qualify the requirement against its dedicated intrinsically safe tablet range.

The operating environment and workflow therefore remain the starting point before an individual tablet configuration is selected.

Frequently asked questions

Is the Pepperl+Fuchs Tab-IND range ATEX or IECEx certified?

No. The Tab-IND mobile tablet range covered by Able is Non-Ex and does not carry ATEX or IECEx hazardous-area certification.

IP65 protection and rugged construction describe environmental and physical protection characteristics. They do not make a tablet intrinsically safe.

Where ATEX or IECEx hazardous-area certification is required, an appropriately certified intrinsically safe tablet should be selected.

What platform options are available in the Pepperl+Fuchs Tab-IND range?

The current Able Tab-IND mobile tablet range includes Windows 11 LTSC, Android 15 and ThinManager Ready deployment routes. The ThinManager Ready configuration is supplied with a ThinManager-ready BIOS rather than a conventional pre-installed operating system, so individual product specifications should be checked against the intended deployment.

What this means for engineers

Tab-IND adds a dedicated Non-Ex route to Able’s industrial mobile computing portfolio, with platform, form factor, connectivity and configuration choices that can be matched to the application.

For specification purposes, the starting point should remain the operating environment and workflow. Establishing whether the application is hazardous or non-hazardous, followed by the required software platform, physical format, connectivity and accessory requirements, provides a clear basis for selecting the appropriate tablet configuration.

Next steps

Selecting the appropriate rugged industrial tablet starts with understanding the operating environment, software platform, connectivity and device-format requirements of the application.

Where these requirements need to be qualified, Able Instruments can support application and configuration selection across the current Tab-IND range.

Explore the range: Rugged Industrial Tablets

Email: [email protected]

Telephone: 01189 311 188