Wisematic brings automation expertise to the secondary smartphone industry

Could you provide a detailed overview of Wisematic’s company history, including its founding vision, earliest projects, and how it established itself within the secondary mobile device industry?

Wisematic was founded in 2005 in Tampere, Finland, when the founding team, still owners of the business today, were working at Tampere University. At the time, a local company approached them with a highly specific automation challenge for its production line. The team designed a solution, and from that success, Wisematic was born.

From its earliest days, Wisematic built a reputation for taking on projects that other automation firms considered too complex, too small in scale, or too specialized to be viable. Over the years, the company has delivered automation solutions for industries as varied as defence, food and beverage, manufacturing, electronics, metals and plastics, textiles, chips and wafers, and component assembly.

One defining characteristic of these projects was their highly customized nature. Wisematic became known for designing systems to handle extremely delicate or miniature parts. For example, one project required building a compass needle assembly system. Another required automation equipment capable of operating flexibly even as customer requirements or production methods evolved. That adaptability remains a cornerstone of Wisematic’s philosophy.

The founding vision was clear: to specialize in miniature automation for highly challenging use cases, delivering uncompromising quality and persistence in problem-solving. The founders prided themselves on never abandoning a challenge halfway but working through it until the solution was complete.

This reputation eventually drew the attention of a refurbishment company struggling to automate part of its smartphone processing line. The problem was one no automation company had yet solved, and Wisematic stepped in. From that breakthrough, the company expanded into the secondary mobile device industry, where it now offers a growing portfolio of automation solutions designed to streamline refurbishing processes and improve operational efficiency.

Where is Wisematic headquartered, and was the location chosen for strategic reasons such as logistics, skilled workforce availability, or proximity to key partners within Europe’s technology ecosystem?

Wisematic is still headquartered in Tampere, Finland. The choice of location was not coincidental. The city is home to Tampere University, which sits just across the street from Wisematic’s offices. That proximity to the academic world provides a continuous flow of cutting-edge knowledge and skilled talent. Many staff members have backgrounds in engineering and automation research fostered by the university, while Wisematic also regularly collaborates with students on research and development.

Tampere is also one of Finland’s most industrially oriented cities. It has a rich heritage in heavy machinery and a deep technology ecosystem shaped by Nokia’s historical presence. This environment has created a strong culture of innovation and machine vision expertise, with many deep-tech companies based locally.

From a logistics standpoint, Tampere may not be the most central location for Europe-wide distribution. However, Wisematic has adapted well to this limitation. Its solutions are designed, tested, and assembled in-house before being shipped to customers, and service arrangements ensure that location has not been a barrier to customer adoption.

Could you please tell our readers a bit more on your special relationship with OptoFidelity? Do you have other partnerships worth mentioning?

Wisematic and OptoFidelity enjoy a long-standing and close partnership. Both companies are based in Tampere, and the collaboration goes beyond the secondary market. OptoFidelity is known for its advanced testers and measuring devices, especially in solving complex optical challenges. Behind the scenes, Wisematic has played a critical role in designing, developing, and assembling components of OptoFidelity’s systems.

This partnership has extended into the secondary smartphone market. By combining OptoFidelity’s Fusion and Score testing systems with Wisematic’s automation for device handling, refurbishers can implement automated cosmetic grading and functional testing solutions. Adding Wisematic’s preconditioning units creates a more complete refurbishment line. In some cases, Wisematic also integrates automated storage systems, offering customers end-to-end flexibility and efficiency.

The partnership underscores Wisematic’s strength as a collaborative innovator. By working with specialized technology partners, the company enhances its own solutions and provides refurbishers with turnkey systems that improve throughput, consistency, and cost efficiency.

Which specific products has Wisematic successfully automated and robotized for the secondary mobile market, and how do these solutions address challenges faced by refurbishers and distributors?

Wisematic’s flagship solution for the secondary market is its preconditioning cell, supported by service-level agreements that ensure system reliability. The systems are really reliable, a customer reported to Wisematic having over 99% system availability, past 12 months. Within the preconditioning cell, smartphones are placed into robotic slots where they are charged automatically. Simultaneously, software runs data wiping and diagnostics processes.

One of the unique features of the cell is a robotic finger capable of interacting with the smartphone interface to perform actions like opening screens or triggering tests. This allows automation to replace repetitive manual tasks that are prone to errors.

The solution directly addresses one of the most tedious challenges in refurbishment: plugging in and unplugging charging cables. Charging is essential because devices must have sufficient battery capacity to complete diagnostics and testing. By automating this step, Wisematic reduces human error, accelerates processing, and ensures consistent throughput.

In addition, discussions are ongoing with customers about automated storage systems that can organize devices mid-process. These storage systems would allow refurbishers to bundle & store phones in the middle of their process, track each smartphone’s location digitally, enabling live process monitoring, fast access, and improved data accuracy.

How many employees currently work at Wisematic, and do you design and produce all machinery in-house while maintaining a dedicated and specialized research and development department?

Wisematic is a relatively small company, employing 16 full-time staff. However, thanks to its close relationship with Tampere University, it can expand its workforce with student support during periods of high intensity. This flexible staffing model allows the company to maintain its commitment to high-quality, customized solutions while scaling resources when needed. Wisematic also has growing partner network to help global support for customers in different timezones.

All systems are designed in-house. Wisematic prioritizes using components that are readily available from industrial suppliers rather than relying on proprietary parts. This approach benefits customers, who can source replacements easily without being locked into a single supplier. It also ensures long-term maintainability and system uptime.

Assembly and testing also take place in-house. Before shipping, each system undergoes full testing to confirm it meets performance requirements. Recent projects have been commissioned and fully operational at customer sites in as little as one week, a timeline that speaks to Wisematic’s precision and preparation.

The Wisematic SOLU RF-PC Preconditioning cell is a critical tool for refurbishment workflows. Could you describe its importance in preparing Apple iPhones and Android devices for diagnostics and resale?

The preconditioning cell plays an essential role in refurbishment workflows because functional testing cannot occur unless smartphones have sufficient battery charge. Manual charging is slow, error-prone, and often disliked by staff tasked with plugging and unplugging hundreds of devices each day.

By automating charging, Wisematic ensures smartphones are consistently prepared for the next stage of processing. At the same time, the system runs data wiping and diagnostics software, identifying stolen, locked, or digitally defective phones early in the process. This early filtering prevents wasted time and resources downstream.

The result is improved process performance, faster turnaround, and fewer errors. Automation also reduces labor costs and ensures operations can run continuously without the interruptions of manual workflows.

The preconditioning cell offers modularity with up to 600 slots per unit and 1200 in dual configuration. What throughput levels are achievable, and how scalable is performance output?

Throughput depends on configuration. The smaller unit processes around 180 smartphones per hour, while the dual configuration handles 300 to 350 per hour. While throughput does not exactly double due to robotic coordination, performance remains among the highest in the industry.

Scalability also depends on charging times. For simplicity, some refurbishers opt to charge every smartphone for 30 minutes to guarantee adequate battery levels. Others maximize throughput by charging only until a device reaches 40% battery. Smartphones already at that level may require no charging at all, leaving them ready for resale once data wiping is complete.

Wisematic continues to refine hardware and process flow. The company has identified that throughput is less dependent on slot numbers beyond a certain point and more on optimizing system flow. As improvements continue, Wisematic expects throughput rates to rise further without requiring major redesigns.

Could you explain how the unique folding robot arm works in handling diverse phone models, and how machine vision technology ensures accurate identification and adaptive processing of devices?

The folding robot arm was specifically designed for Wisematic’s round-shelf environment. Its kinematics and dimensions maximize efficiency while minimizing footprint, allowing the system to process high volumes of smartphones within a compact space.

Handling diverse phone models is largely determined by the gripper design. Wisematic developed a gripper that is strong enough to hold smartphones securely but gentle enough not to cause damage. While differences in thickness and size create challenges, the company achieved a solution capable of handling all mainstream models with a single gripper. Foldable devices have not yet been processed but would likely require a modified gripper.

Machine vision is equally important. Wisematic uses cameras to scan QR codes placed on devices, identifying each smartphone individually. This system is agnostic to brand or model, enabling seamless processing of both Apple iPhones and Android smartphones. The vision system ensures correct placement and provides data integration with customer software platforms.

The system includes integrated USB hubs and server PC racks for seamless connectivity. How do these features improve efficiency and reliability for refurbishers managing thousands of Apple iPhones and Android smartphones daily?

Each slot connects to high-quality USB hubs that manage both charging and data transfer. Ensuring hub performance has been critical, as low-quality components can limit throughput. Wisematic invested significant time in testing and selecting hubs to guarantee reliability and speed.

Server PC racks run diagnostics and data wiping software. The racks are designed for accessibility, allowing service technicians to easily maintain and upgrade components without interfering with operations. This thoughtful design improves uptime and minimizes disruptions.

Together, these features ensure refurbishers processing thousands of Apple iPhones and Android devices daily can achieve consistent performance with reduced system downtime.

You can use your machine for both Apple and Android smartphones. And even mix batches. How does this work in the daily practice?

Yes, Wisematic’s systems support both Apple and Android smartphones, and mixed batches are possible. The slots support both Lightning and USB-C connectors.

In practice, customers often prefer to process devices in batches, but the system is capable of mixing. At the start of the process, cameras capture an image of each device’s connector type. This allows the robot to determine the appropriate slot placement.

From there, the data wiping software identifies the device and applies the correct workflow. While the robot itself does not distinguish between Apple and Android devices during handling, the combination of machine vision and software ensures accurate and reliable processing.

With compact footprints and flexible layouts, how does the SOLU RF-PC system integrate into existing refurbishment facilities, and what advantages does it offer for floor space optimization?

Integration flexibility is one of Wisematic’s strengths. The modular design allows facilities with limited space to configure the system in narrow, elongated layouts connected by conveyors. Where space is more available, the system can be compacted to occupy the smallest possible footprint.

Wisematic also designed the system to operate from either side, or both, giving customers flexibility in how aisles and workflows are organized. This adaptability allows refurbishers to maximize their available floor space without compromising throughput or efficiency.

From your perspective, what future innovations will Wisematic introduce to further automate preconditioning, diagnostics, and testing processes, ensuring sustainability, efficiency, and higher output in the refurbished smartphone industry?

Wisematic’s innovation pipeline is focused on increasing speed, stability, and sustainability. Current developments include automated phone cleaning systems, which would improve efficiency in cosmetic preparation, and expanded automated storage solutions for mid-process devices.

The company is also exploring new machine vision technologies for enhanced quality control. Cameras and other sensors could allow real-time monitoring of cosmetic and functional parameters, creating new opportunities for automation in grading and inspection.

Ultimately, Wisematic’s mission is to maximize the number of smartphones, whether Apple iPhones or Android devices, that can be refurbished and returned to consumers. At the same time, the company is mindful of sustainability. By reducing errors, improving throughput, and recycling devices efficiently, Wisematic aims to minimize energy use and device waste, contributing to a more circular economy.