Advantech has launched a new compact industrial computer designed to deliver desktop-class processing power in environments where space is at a premium, as manufacturers increasingly look to combine higher performance with smaller footprints on the factory floor.
The Taiwan-based industrial computing group said that its new IPC-221 compact industrial computer chassis brings support for 65W desktop CPUs into a box PC measuring 240 x 233 x 93 mm. The system features a single-sided I/O layout, aimed at simplifying installation in machinery or control cabinets where access and space are limited.
The IPC-221 replaces an earlier generation of compact systems and is intended to meet more demanding industrial control workloads, including motion control and human-machine interface data visualisation, while maintaining stable, real-time performance.
According to Advantech, the chassis supports its PCE-2x series motherboards and a broad range of Intel processors, from Celeron and Pentium through to Core i3, i5, and i7 chips spanning the 10th to 14th generations, as well as Intel’s latest Core Ultra Series 2 processors. When paired with newer CPU modules, such as the PCE-2134 or PCE-2034, the system can also make use of an integrated neural processing unit to run lightweight artificial intelligence workloads at the edge.
The company said this capability positions the IPC-221 for use in smart manufacturing and automation, where AI-based inspection, data processing, and decision-making are increasingly being pushed closer to machines.
In addition to computing performance, the IPC-221 offers expanded connectivity, including two full-height PCIe slots for add-in cards and multiple serial ports for linking to external equipment. A remote switch function allows the system to be powered on or off from a distance, supporting more flexible deployment across production lines.
Advantech said the new design is aimed at compact device integration, smart factories, and industrial automation more broadly. In typical deployments, the IPC-221 can act as an Edge controller, coordinating motion control, data acquisition, and vision systems into a closed-loop architecture, or supporting online coding and data collection on production lines to improve efficiency.
