At PSB GmbH, we understand the critical role that fanless industrial PCs play in ensuring robust and reliable operation within demanding industrial and medical environments. Leveraging over 30 years of engineering expertise, we develop PC-based solutions designed to perform flawlessly even in extreme conditions, where passive cooling, vibration resistance, and minimized maintenance are essential. Our highly adaptable platforms can be tailored to support extended temperature ranges, protection classes such as IP65, and advanced industrial-grade filtering—offering optimal reliability without the need for moving parts. Every PSB system benefits from rigorous burn-in testing, as well as our flexible, manufacturer-neutral approach to hardware selection and system integration. This enables us to create fanless industrial PCs that deliver efficient, silent, and maintenance-friendly performance over extended lifecycles. Our commitment is to deliver solutions that not only meet but anticipate the unique and evolving requirements of our customers’ applications.
What is a Fanless Industrial PC?
A fanless industrial PC (Industrie-PC), also known as a passively cooled IPC or embedded PC, is a robust computing system specifically designed for industrial or harsh environments. Unlike conventional computers, these devices operate without active cooling components such as fans. Instead, they rely on passive cooling mechanisms, which distribute and dissipate heat efficiently through heatsinks and thermally optimized chassis designs. This makes them ideal for use in environments with requirements for dust, dirt, or noise reduction, as well as minimal maintenance.
Fanless industrial PCs are available in various forms, including Box-PCs for space-efficient installations, Panel-PCs with built-in displays for machine interfaces, and specialized embedded PCs for IoT and automation applications. These PCs typically run operating systems such as Windows or Linux and support a wide range of processors, including Intel Atom, AMD Ryzen, and ARM Cortex.
Advantages and Disadvantages of Fanless Systems
Key Benefits
- Maintenance-free operation: No moving parts result in minimal wear and tear, substantially reducing maintenance efforts over the system’s lifecycle.
- Robust and long-lasting: Fanless IPCs are extremely durable, offering high resistance to vibrations, shocks, dust, and moisture, even in demanding industrial or outdoor settings.
- Noise reduction: The absence of fans means silent operation—an important feature in noise-sensitive environments, such as laboratories or cleanrooms. For more specifics on cleanroom requirements, read the Industrial PC for Cleanrooms: Selection & Demands guide.
- Energy efficiency: Passively cooled embedded PCs typically consume less energy since there are no fans or additional cooling hardware drawing power.
- Enhanced system protection: Optimized enclosures with high IP ratings such as IP65 help safeguard internal components from liquids and dust.
Potential Disadvantages
- Limited peak performance: Thermal management through passive cooling can place a cap on the maximum attainable processor performance, compared to actively cooled systems.
- Specific installation requirements: Heat must be dissipated efficiently, so installation space and mounting technique can affect cooling capabilities.
- Cost: High-quality, industrial-grade fanless computers may command a higher initial investment, justified by lower total cost of ownership.
Typical Application Areas in Industry
Fanless industrial PCs are integral to modern industrial automation and digitalization. Here are some important use cases:
- Automation & Manufacturing: Embedded PCs are central to PLC control, robotics, and process management.
- Industrial IoT (IIoT) and Edge Computing: An IoT Edge Computer for industrial environments enables real-time data processing at the source, reducing latency and bandwidth requirements.
- Factory and machine interfaces: Fanless Panel-PCs with touchscreens are widely used as mobile workstations in industrial environments for system monitoring and control.
- Harsh and heavy-duty environments: Rugged IPCs with IP65 protection and excellent shock/vibration resistance thrive in dusty, wet, or high-vibration locations such as warehouses or transport hubs.
- Cleanroom and food industry: Fanless designs eliminate the risk of contamination from moving parts, supporting compliance with stringent hygiene standards.
- Test and measurement systems: Embedded PCs act as data loggers or process controllers in sensor networks and laboratory setups.
For further application scenarios and extended runtime environments, the article on Continuous Operation Computer: Power Use & Run Time Calculator offers practical guidance.
Technical Features and Selection Criteria
Key Technical Features
- Passive Cooling: High-performance heat sinks and thermal designs for continuous, reliable operation.
- Protection Ratings: Enclosures certified to IP65 or even IP67 guard against dust and water ingress.
- Shock and Vibration Resistance: Mechanically reinforced builds with compliance to industry standards (shock/vibration resistance) protect against environmental hazards.
- Long Lifecycle and Availability: Ruggedized components and long-term availability support industrial deployment cycles.
- Flexible Interfaces: Rich connectivity options, including USB, serial ports (RS232/422/485), CAN, GPIO, Ethernet (1-10 Gbit), and optional wireless (Wi-Fi, LTE, 5G) connections.
- Wide Power Input Ranges: Voltage tolerance (e.g., 9–36 VDC), important for fluctuating industrial power supplies.
- Processor Diversity: Availability of Intel Atom, AMD Ryzen, and ARM Cortex options for tailored performance, energy efficiency, or specialized AI/Edge workloads.
How to Select the Right System
The right choice of a lüfterloser Industrie-PC depends on a thorough analysis of operational demands and environmental parameters. Key selection criteria include:
- Required computational performance and memory
- Harshness of the operating environment (e.g., dust, humidity, temperature extremes)
- Protection class (IP65, IP67)
- Mounting and space requirements: Compact Box-PC vs. integrated Panel-PC
- System compatibility (Windows, Linux, real-time OS, Azure IoT integration)
- Expansion options and I/O ports for your application’s connectivity needs
For guidance on selecting systems for highly controlled environments, see Industrial PC for Cleanrooms.
Comparison: Passive vs. Active Cooling
| Attribute | Passive Cooling (Fanless) | Active Cooling (With Fans) |
|---|---|---|
| Maintenance | Virtually maintenance-free; no fans to replace or clean | Requires regular cleaning and fan replacement |
| Noise Level | Completely silent (>0 dB) | Noticeable fan noise |
| Dust/Contaminant Resistance | Sealed, extremely resistant (suitable for IP65/IP67 enclosures) | Vulnerable to dust ingress, can lead to failures |
| Operational Lifetime | Long, since there are no moving parts | Reduced due to mechanical wear of fans |
| Thermal Performance Ceiling | Limited by passive heat dissipation | Higher cooling possible for performance-intensive CPUs/GPUs |
| Suitability | Ideal for harsh, dusty, sensitive, or low-maintenance environments | Best for high-performance applications in controlled environments |
If you are interested in more about system longevity and low-maintenance operation, the article EMC Tested Industrial PC: Importance & Benefits explores these topics in depth.
Important Protection Classes and Certifications
When choosing a fanless industrial PC, protection ratings such as IP65 or IP67 are key indicators of system resilience. These certifications specify the level of protection against dust and liquids:
- IP65: Complete dust protection and protection against low-pressure water jets from any angle.
- IP67: Complete dust protection and protection against immersion in water up to 1 meter deep for up to 30 minutes.
Additionally, certifications for shock and vibration resistance ensure reliable use in transport, production, or mobile installations. For mobile industry environments and safety considerations, read about Mobile Rack Systems Industrial: Space, Efficiency, Safety.
Integration and Connectivity
State-of-the-art fanless IPCs offer extensive connectivity to facilitate their integration into industrial automation, Industry 4.0, and IoT ecosystems. Examples of standard and optional connections include:
- LAN (Ethernet): Industrial-grade connections (Gigabit Ethernet, sometimes 2.5G or 10G) for reliable data transmission.
- USB: Various versions (from USB 2.0 to USB 3.2) for peripheral integration.
- COM ports: RS232/RS485 for machine interfaces and legacy devices.
- Wireless options: Onboard WiFi, Bluetooth, LTE/5G modules for mobile industrial use cases or remote monitoring.
- GPIO & Digital I/O: For custom sensors and actuator integration.
- Expansion slots: miniPCIe, M.2, or PCIe slots for adding specialized cards or storage.
Advanced systems are also designed for Azure IoT and other cloud-edge integrations, enabling smart manufacturing and predictive maintenance solutions as part of Industry 4.0 strategies.
For industries where mobile productivity is key, see the use cases in Mobile Workstation Industrial: Boost Your Productivity.
FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions about Fanless Industrial PCs
- What makes a fanless industrial PC different from conventional PCs?
Fanless industrial PCs use passive cooling with no moving parts, making them resistant to dust and failure due to mechanical wear. Their rugged enclosures and engineering ensure reliable operation in harsh, humid, and vibration-prone environments. - How do I ensure compatibility with my software environment?
Most lüfterlose IPCs support Windows and Linux distributions. For specialized applications, real-time OS and cloud/IoT integrations (such as Azure IoT) are also available. - What are the typical applications in Industry 4.0?
These systems are used for real-time edge computing, machine data acquisition, automation control, predictive maintenance, and smart factory networking. - Can fanless systems be used in mobile applications?
Yes, with appropriate shock/vibration certifications, they excel in mobile rack systems, vehicles, or portable workstations. For more, refer to Mobile Rack Systems Industrial: Space, Efficiency, Safety. - How robust are lüfterlose Industrie-PCs against environmental hazards?
With certifications like IP65/IP67 and built-in shock/vibration protection, these systems are extremely robust—even against heavy industrial contamination or frequent movement. - How do I calculate the required power and runtime needs for my application?
Refer to the Continuous Operation Computer: Power Use & Run Time Calculator for precise planning.
The value of a fanless industrial PC lies in its robustness, resilience, and suitability for mission-critical applications—qualities that PSB GmbH prioritizes in every project. Our extensive experience in designing and manufacturing customized, passively cooled systems allows us to deliver hardware that consistently excels in reliability and long-term serviceability, even under the toughest conditions. By handling the entire process in-house, from conception to serial production, we ensure continuity and trust for our customers. PSB’s success is driven by strong engineering know-how, a flexible mindset, and a passion for solving complex implementation challenges. With each system we build, we reaffirm our commitment to quality, partnership, and the future of industrial computing. Customers can rely on PSB GmbH as a forward-thinking, steadfast partner in delivering dependable fanless PC solutions tailored precisely to their needs.
