| Have you ever wondered what sort of keyboard | | | | 2. Laboratories |
| people use in harsh environments...we are all too | | | | 3. Chemical Manufacture |
| familiar with the plastic case keyboards that come | | | | 4. Cement Works |
| with our home PC. | | | | 5. Swimming pools |
| There are several types of keyboards, some are | | | | 7. The bathroom! |
| manufactured in mild steel and powder coated for | | | | 8. Hospitals |
| Industrial applications, such as in glass manufacturing | | | | 9. Food manufacturing |
| plants and packaging manufacturers facilities, were | | | | There are several types of keyboard, including: |
| dust is present in large quantities, (a standard plastic | | | | Flexible keyboards, that can be rolled up and put in a |
| cased keyboard would only last a matter of days in | | | | pocket. |
| these environments.) These are normally IP56 rated, | | | | Rigid keyboards, these as the name suggests has a |
| meaning they can cope with the riggers of dust and | | | | rigid case around the keyboard, used for more |
| are also splash proof. | | | | robust areas in factories. |
| Then there are the waterproof Keyboards, now | | | | Illuminated keyboards, for use in command centers, |
| these tend to be manufactured in stainless steel, | | | | were light is an issue. |
| however some are manufactured form mild steel and | | | | Advantages of having one of these keyboards, is |
| coated with a rubber coating, these are a truly | | | | that they are silent, easy to clean and very robust. |
| resilient industrial keyboard specifically designed for | | | | Some of the keyboards have pointing devices, |
| use in hazardous environments, were fluid and | | | | eliminating a mouse. However 99% of the trackball |
| chemicals are present. These are IP66 (washed down | | | | and pointing devices on the market are only |
| with a high pressure water jet IP66 or NEMA X4) | | | | categorized to IP56, while the keyboard is IP65, |
| These keyboards are used in factories, mining, | | | | causing a little dilemma. However one manufacture |
| construction sites, chemical workshops, laboratories, | | | | has created a keyboard that features an optic |
| any were water is present in large quantities. | | | | trackball, this has an IP rating of IP68 making it the |
| The keyboards can be cleaned with household | | | | ideal choice for food manufacturers such as Nestle, |
| detergents and after cleaning, the letters are | | | | Northern Foods, Tyson Foods and Campbell Foods. |
| guaranteed not to rub off or fade. | | | | As they wash down the factory after each shift |
| They are suitable for using in the following places; | | | | with chemicals, killing any potential bacteria sources |
| 1. Marine applications | | | | that could infect their product range. |