iPad suitable for 18X7 environment?
Our iPads in factory settings are less expensive, faster to interact with and break less than all the other hardware we deploy. This includes corrosive atmosphere environments, metallic dust and all manner of things that tend to short out gear. Even if they failed at a rate twice of computers, they’re still cheaper to replace than other options we could use for our application.

The resale value of lightly used iPads is so high I’d start a pilot program immediately if you’re on the fence.