Cold storage environments pose challenges for mobile computers and their ability to perform in harsh conditions. Three specific elements of the cold storage environment cause problems to arise, these are; cold air, frost and condensation.

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Cold air can reduce the quality of the wireless infrastructure, as radio waves travelling through cold air can deviate, causing connectivity issues and preventing the battery from releasing power. Frost obscures screen visibility and causes keys to stick, making accurate data input challenging and as a result reduce worker productivity and efficiency. Condensation can also decrease the quality of the barcode scanner by obstructing the scan window making workers resort to manual data entry.

Standard mobile computers deliver less than average performance if they are constantly used in freezers or exposed to frequent temperature changes. This has a detrimental effect on workflow and worker performance. The deployment of IT solutions for cold store applications is important for the smooth running of any warehouse operation. The correct mobile device needs to be deployed in order to ensure constant performance and productivity in cold storage environments where workers may be wearing gloves or other protective equipment that could become an obstruction when using handheld computers.

Varlink offer a range of cold storage solutions from Honeywell and Zebra Technologies that are specifically manufactured to overcome the challenges associated with cold storage environments.

Honeywell’s TectonCS mobile computer is designed with low-temperature batteries and specialised heated screens, and can move from the freezer to the dock and back again condensation free. The TectonCS battery is designed to hold charge longer in cold storage environments, ensuring there is little to no downtime associated with the device’s performance.

VL-finalHoneywell’s Thor series of vehicle mount computers equip the user with the same level of cold storage features as the TectonCS, alongside the additional benefit of docking and removing the computer as and when the job requires.

Zebra Technologies also offer freezer-compliant devices, engineered to provide reliable operation, regardless of the dramatic temperature swings that the devices are subjected to.

The VH10f vehicle mounted computer is freezer ready and offers true frost and condensation free operation in freezer environments. Its heated touchscreen and board as well as smart temperature sensors automatically control the heaters and heating speed, and the elastomeric keyboard works despite icing, ensuring inputted data is done with efficiency and accuracy.

Zebra’s cold storage handheld computer, the Omnii XT15f, delivers flawless fulfilment for supply chains, providing the user with full efficiency in Arctic temperatures as low as -30° while still maintaining worker productivity.

By using devices that are specifically designed for cold environments, businesses ensure operating costs are kept to a minimum and productivity and on-time performance is enhanced.

Tel: 01904 717180

Email: varlinksales@varlink.co.uk

www.varlink.co.uk

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