With the most advanced and robust solutions, Winmate is revamping the industry with rugged mobile devices

It might be surprising for a few people that rugged mobile devices work just like any other consumer device, but with an extra perk of being designed for extreme scenarios. Rugged mobile devices are built to tolerate hazards like drops, vibrations, and fluid containment exposure that are usually encountered by transportation, manufacturing, construction, and utility industry workers. Rugged devices will show resilience against a variety of environmental conditions via both field and lab testing. The rugged devices often maintain an excellent standard of durability and operability. Over the last decade, modern rugged mobile devices have evolved to possess more features, tools, and IP expertise than ever before.

As a leading industrial computing vendor, Winmate is devoted to providing the most rugged solutions to help users complete their tasks even in the most extreme conditions. Winmate's ground-breaking solutions have been adopted by numerous Fortune Global 500 companies, as well as entire governments, with industrial applications in every corner of the world. The company has earned the trust of industry leaders with our best-in-class rugged solutions that are tailored to meet the needs of global applications.

Founded in 1996, Winmate Inc. is a pioneer in rugged computing technology. For over two decades, Winmate has provided business leaders worldwide with reliable, rugged solutions made for the most challenging industrial conditions. As one of the first companies to start manufacturing industrial displays and touch screen devices, the company has continued to refine its signature 'rugged' technology and engineering expertise to create high-performance products, including Rugged Tablet PCs, Panel PCs, Embedded Applications, Industrial Display Solutions, Vehicle Mounted Computers, Military/Marine Grade Solutions, and Ultra-Rugged Tablet PCs. Asides from developing hardware for ODM/OEM and system integrators worldwide, Winmate Inc. also specializes in customized solutions for unique industrial applications as per customer requirements.

In conversation with Ken Lu, CEO of Winmate

Q. How does Winmate create intelligent systems that advance the Internet of Everythings (IOE) and communications throughout enterprise around the globe?

Today, Winmate Inc. is at the forefront of Industry 4.0 with its technological innovations, offering a wide range of Rugged Smart Solutions aimed at revolutionizing the manufacturing sector by integrating intelligent systems that advance the Internet of Everything (IoE). From R&D to manufacturing to in-house testing, Winmate Inc. manages the entire product development process with ready-made products available for quick deployment. Winmate's innovative approach has helped countless enterprises at every level with equipment automation and seamless Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) integration.

Q. From research and development to manufacturing and in-house testing, how do you manage the entire product development process to ensure clients have access to the most robust, current, safe, and rugged mobile technologies available?

Winmate's rugged computing solutions fulfill market criteria with its sturdy designs and rigid screening tests. Each product is made to function normally in any industrial environment, whether it's wet conditions, extreme temperatures, or incredibly dusty locations, Winmate's rugged solutions are renowned for being tough and reliable. Hence, every step of the manufacturing process is aimed at developing the most efficient rugged solution for specific industrial conditions.

Innovation is one of our core competencies, and we are dedicated to providing customized solutions as per customer requests. For example, we are one of the first companies to develop advanced technology with clear sunlight readability and anti-reflection illumination panels for military applications, in addition to the long battery life, hot-swappable batteries, and filter-free night vision technology that complies with stringent military standards (MIL-STD-3009).

Q. There are several enterprises out there in the market vying for the top position. What are the strategies employed by Winmate to thwart this competition, and what, according to you, are the unique features of Winmate that have helped in staying different and ahead of your competitors?

The idea of co-production is extremely important and plays an essential role in helping us deliver brand-new solutions to meet the needs of businesses in different sectors. Winmate is also devoted to supplying resources that can meet the everchanging demands of the market, in addition to staying ahead of the curve when it comes to technological innovations. For example, our company spends around 15% of its profits, plus 25% of the company's labor resources on R&D alone. Throughout the years, we have accumulated numerous patents and over 50 licenses, which results in 30 newly-developed products every year. To prioritize technological ingenuity, Winmate's R&D network span across four major geo-locations (Europe, U.S, Asia, and the Pacific) to meet the demands of each specific region.

Q. Where do you see your company a couple of years from now?

In the last 12 months, our business has more than doubled, and we plan to keep that level of growth going as we approach Q3 and Q4. With double-digit percentage growth every month, there is quite a lot of pressure for us to maintain a high level of productive output; but with such a tightly-knit team, we have been able to continuously reach new heights in a sustainable way. Winmate was founded about 24 years ago, and we look forward to adding even more value to the industry by focusing our contributions on sustainable technological development, environmental protection, and improved social welfare with our automated solutions. Our goal is to grow at a pace where the interests of our customers are never compromised, meaning we must do everything we can to overcome the challenges of a saturated market and to propel the company towards further success in the coming decades.

Looking towards the future, Winmate will continue to develop innovative products in order to sustain the company's competitiveness – all while investing more in environmental sustainability, corporate social responsibility, and labor welfare.

Meet the leader behind the success of Winmate

Ken Lu, Chief Executive Officer, is a strategic leader in rugged computing innovation and is also recognized for adding value to the industry through positive social makeovers and successful systematic implementations. With nearly 25 years of experience in the rugged computing industry, as well as having held vital administrative positions in a range of companies, his experiences have helped him develop a keen vision for result-driven success.