Industrial Computer Components includes as all those rugged computers, computer cards, micro controllers and microprocessors, peripherals and software that are used in the industries for the purpose of manufacturing, such as in factory floors, engineering offices, and other industrial sites. As they are intended for factory use hence it is ensured that they are rugged and more durable as compared to the office computers. They are designed in a manner to withstand shock, vibration, humidity, EMI, RFI, dust, mist, and splash. Available in a variety of options and configurations, some of them are CPUs, displays, and I/O interfaces.

Types of Industrial Computer Components

The industrial computer industry components can be categorized in various types as per their functions -

Bus Systems – These are an important element in the computer components industry that perform the task of transferring data from one computer to the other. They are generally a collection of wires and are an indispensable part of the industrial computers and boards that allow an entire network to maintain communication and function as a single unit. Their counterparts are Fibre Channel Products, PCI Products, SCSI Adapters and USB Products.

Computer Peripherals – As suggested by the name itself, these are the types of industrial computer components that supports as well as enhances the function of industrial computers and boards. This is a very broad section that contains devices like CD ROM, CRT Computer Monitors, Cable Assemblies, Cable Assembly Services, Card Guides, Computer Printers Plotters, Data Storage Devices and Data Storage Media.

Data Acquisition – All those equipment in the industrial computer components segment that are into the process and the technology of retrieving data from processes with the purpose of analyzing it are termed as data acquisition.

Embedded Systems – This category in computer industry highlights the equipments that drive micro controller and embedded microprocessor based computer systems. Both chips as well as circuit boards are used for this purpose.

Industrial Computing – Industrial computing refers to that arena of industrial computer components that perform the task of managing disk drives, printers, automated industrial processes or network traffic via powerful servers.

Besides these there are various other bifurcations that are present in the industrial computer industry. Some of the classifications are – Raid Products, Mobile Computing, Industrial Software and Desktop Personal Computers.

Industry Growth

The technological boost all over the world has given an immensely wide platform to the industrial computer components industry to evolve as well as expand. The US industrial computer component industry has been showing a rigorous growth of 3.1 percent since 1993. Canada too is a leading manufacturers and supplier of industrial computer component. Statistics reveal that the estimated sale in industrial computer industry in 1994 was $5.3 billion, up 12% from the previous year. It further grew 22% to reach to $3.5 billion in later years. Presently the world is under going a economic turmoil, but it has not effected the industrial computer industry so bad. The annual growth rate of total expenditure in computer goods and services was 20% during the 1970s, but in recent years it has declined and thus has been closer to 12%.

Applications

Due to the technological advancements, today every human being has become the slave of machinery. Thus it goes without saying that the applications of industrial computer components too is wide and ever expanding. While the computer cards, micro controllers and microprocessors, peripherals and software are extensively used in the industrial sites and floor offices, bus systems are ubiquitous with every computer where data needs to be transferred. Besides, various other scope of these industrial computer components is devised almost everyday.

Major Market Players

US, which has been known to be the fosterer of the computer technology is without doubt the largest exporter and manufacturer of industrial computer component. With a large turn over of $3.5 billion, it is surely the major market for industrial computer component. Canada however, is catching up to become the market leader in the computer components industry.

Industrial Computer Components Publications

Electronic Component News - This trade magazine satisfies the divergent information needs of the electronics market. Claiming to be a resource, educational tool, source guide, the main aim of this engineering publication is to bring electronic solutions to global audiences. They also indulge in tailor marketing package that are aimed at delivering images, increasing exposures, and providing information to the audience.

Technology & Society Magazine – A sister concern of IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electrical Engineers), Technology and Society Magazine is aimed at delivering full text access to the world's highest quality technical literature in electrical engineering, computer science, and electronics. IEEE periodicals includes journals, transactions, letters, and magazines that have implemented a rigorous peer review process to ensure the high quality of its technical material.

Industrial Computer Components Associations

Some of the most renowned associations for industrial computer components world wide are -

ECMA International – ECMA or European Computer Manufacturing Association, was established in the year 1961 and today is one of the most thriving organization in the industrial computer components industry. It facilitates the timely creation of a wide range of global Information and Communications Technology (ICT) and Consumer Electronics (CE) standards.

IEEE Computer Society - IEEE computer Society is the world's largest membership organization catering to the computing professionals. With the aim to foster technological innovation, the association promotes active exchange of information, ideas and innovations. Having a membership of 80,000 people, IEEE computer Society was founded in the year 1946 and serves the information and career-development needs of today’s computing researchers and practitioners with technical journals, magazines, conferences, books, conference publications, and on line courses.

Computing Research Association – Having a membership of more than 200 North American academic departments of computer science, computer engineering, and related fields, Computing Research Association aim is to strengthen research and advanced education in the computing fields, expand opportunities for women and minorities, and improve public and policymaker understanding of the importance of computing and computing research in the society.