Top 6 Industrial Applications That Push Flash Storage to the Limit
When it comes to performance and durability, industrial flash storage significantly exceeds the requirements of consumer-grade environments. In sectors like manufacturing, energy, transportation, and defense, flash storage must be tough, resilient, and capable of handling 24/7 workloads under harsh conditions.
From intense vibration and heat to data-heavy logging and repeated write cycles, these seven industrial applications are among the most demanding. Below, we have created scenarios illustrating how flash storage can be effectively employed in real-world industrial environments and why rugged storage solutions are crucial.
1. Robotics & Factory Automation
Smart manufacturing and industrial robotics depend on real-time data processing and logging. Flash storage is essential for handling sensor inputs, system startup, and continuous data writing, even in environments filled with vibration, dust, and electrical noise.
Example Use Case: In an automated warehouse, industrial SD cards can be utilized in robotic arms and mobile robots for storing firmware and logging operational data. These cards are perfect for high-reliability, high-vibration environments.
2. Renewable Energy Systems
Solar, wind, and hydroelectric systems depend on integrated storage for data collection, diagnostics, and control firmware. These systems often function in remote, harsh environments with minimal maintenance.
Example Use Case: A wind turbine operator may install industrial CFast cards in turbine control systems to store SCADA data and OS files. With high endurance and conformal coating, these cards support long-term data logging in wet, high-vibration environments.
3. Defense & Aerospace
Defense systems and aerospace platforms operate in harsh, mission-critical environments where secure, reliable storage is crucial. Flash storage must support secure boot, encryption, and withstand shock, altitude, and temperature extremes.
Example Use Case: An unmanned aerial system (UAS) could utilize industrial SATA SSDs for flight data logging and secure communications. SATA drives with AES encryption and military-grade durability are ideal for these conditions.
4. Rail & Transportation Systems
Rail and transit systems generate substantial data, from video surveillance to vehicle diagnostics. These applications demand storage capable of handling motion, vibration, and fluctuating power levels.
Example Use Case: A rail operator might deploy industrial mSATA SSDs in train control units and onboard surveillance systems. High endurance, shock resistance, and locked BOM ensure reliable performance in motion.
5. Industrial IoT (IIoT) Gateways
IIoT devices are essential for collecting, aggregating, and analyzing data at the edge in modern manufacturing and utilities. These gateways require reliable, embedded storage to buffer sensor data and run analytics software.
Example Use Case: An edge computing system in a smart factory might use industrial microSD cards for local data caching and firmware storage. These cards provide low power consumption, support for extended temperatures, and high write endurance.
6. Medical Devices
Medical equipment requires dependable data storage for patient diagnostics, imaging, and device control. Storage must function perfectly in sterile or mobile settings with quick startup and secure data retention.
Example Use Case: A handheld ultrasound machine may use industrial SD cards to store scan data and imaging files. Fast read/write speeds and long-term product availability support the regulatory and longevity needs of healthcare devices.
Why Industrial Flash Storage Matters
The cases mentioned above demonstrate why industrial flash storage is essential in demanding industries. From temperature resistance to data integrity and product durability, these robust solutions are designed to keep your systems running, regardless of the environment.
Delkin’s industrial flash storage solutions offer:
- Wide temperature support (-40°C to +85°C)
- High endurance SLC and MLC flash
- Locked BOM for consistent performance
- Conformal coating for moisture and corrosion protection
- Advanced wear-leveling and error correction
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FAQs About Industrial Flash Storage
1. What is industrial flash storage?
Industrial flash storage is a type of solid-state memory specifically designed for use in harsh environments. It offers higher endurance, a wider temperature range, a locked Bill of Materials (available only from Delkin), and greater reliability compared to consumer-grade flash storage.
2. How does industrial flash storage differ from consumer flash storage?
Industrial flash storage is designed to handle shock, vibration, extreme temperatures, and continuous read/write cycles. It utilizes higher-quality components, offers longer product lifespans, and often features error correction, power failure protection, and conformal coating.
3. Which industries benefit most from industrial flash storage?
Industries that rely on embedded systems in demanding or mission-critical environments, such as manufacturing, transportation, energy, aerospace, defense, and healthcare, derive the most benefits from industrial flash storage.
4. What is a locked BOM, and why does it matter?
A locked BOM (Bill of Materials) means that the components in a storage product won’t change without prior notice. This ensures long-term reliability and compatibility, which are crucial for industrial and OEM applications.
5. What form factors are available for industrial flash storage?
Delkin offers a variety of options, including SD and microSD cards, CFast, CompactFlash, SATA SSDs, mSATA, and USB drives, each designed for specific industrial environments and applications.