Xplore Technologies’ Bobcat and RangerX Tablet PCs Achieve Full ATEX Certification

Dec 17, 2014 • Hardware • News • Xplore • hardware • rugged tablet

Xplore Technologies Corp manufacturer of some of the world's most powerful, longest-lasting and rugged tablets on the market, has announced that both the Windows-based Bobcat and Android-based RangerX models have achieved full ATEX certification.

The certification means that both models are safe to use in explosive atmospheres in the workplace.

This announcement means businesses with potentially explosive atmospheres can now deploy world-leading, fully rugged tablet PCs running either the Windows or Android operating system.

The ATEX Equipment Directive is designed to specify requirements for safe electrical and mechanical equipment and protective systems in potentially explosive atmospheres. Xplore Technologies has met all essential health and safety requirements and undergone full conformity procedures for the BobCat and RangerX models.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 122 workers were killed in workplace explosions in 2012, and a further 5,000 injured. In the UK, fire and explosions at work account for approximately 2 percent of major injuries reported to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).

An explosive atmosphere can be caused by flammable gases, mists or vapours and combustible dusts. That means garages, flour mills, food production units, even timber processing units can all be at risk.

“It is often easy to assume explosive environments are the exclusive concern of the military and energy businesses but there are actually a lot more high risk work places than we might think at first,” said Sandy McCaskie, director, Xplore Technologies. “An explosive atmosphere can be caused by flammable gases, mists or vapours and combustible dusts. That means garages, flour mills, food production units, even timber processing units can all be at risk.

“It is precisely these sorts of businesses that can benefit most from enterprise mobility and the ATEX certification means that they can have full confidence that their electrical equipment is not going to be a weak link in the protective chain,” said McCaskie. “Xplore is not only extending that protection to their fully rugged tablet PCs that can deliver huge productivity benefits, but also offering real choice by securing the certification for both our RangerX and BobCat models. This is confidence without compromise.”