What are IPCs (Industrial PCs)?
An IPC or Industrial PC is a robust computer specifically designed for use in industrial environments where vibration, temperature variations, dust or humidity are normal.
IPCs are the “backbone” of industrial automation and Edge Computing.
They are used for local data analysis, machine control, visualisation and running critical OT software such as SCADA, HMI or AI applications.
🎯 Examples of IPC applications
| Application | Example |
|---|---|
| Machine control | An IPC drives motors, actuators or production lines via PLC integration |
| Visualisation | Serves as an HMI platform for operators with industrial touchscreens |
| Data acquisition | Collects measurement data from sensors for analysis or storage in Historian |
| Edge AI | Runs local AI models for quality control or predictive maintenance |
| Gateway functionality | Connects OT systems to IT or cloud via protocols such as OPC UA, MQTT |
🧯 Why use an IPC?
- Robust design for harsh conditions (temperature, vibration, dust)
- Long-term availability (often 5–10 years of hardware and driver support)
- Real-time performance for critical processes
- Flexible mounting: DIN-rail, rackmount, panel-mount or embedded
- Securable with write protection, physical locks or hardened OS
🔁 IPC vs. ordinary PC
| Consumer PC | Industrial PC (IPC) |
|---|---|
| Not designed for industrial environments | Robust, suitable for 24/7 and extreme conditions |
| Shorter service life and support | Long lifecycle and often replaceable parts |
| Not optimised for real-time | Often suitable for real-time applications (e.g. with RTOS) |
| Not designed for integration | Often equipped with serial ports, fieldbus interfaces, etc. |
🏭 Specifically in OT environments
- Often deployed as a local SCADA server or operator interface
- Can run standalone in case of network outage (air-gapped operations)
- Part of Edge Computing architectures for data filtering and analysis
- Certified for use in explosive or hygienic environments
📌 In summary
IPCs are industrial computers that combine reliability, ruggedness and performance — essential for any modern OT environment.