Recently, we sat down with our co-founder, Piotr, to talk about one of our core areas of expertise—modernizing electronics. In this interview, Piotr shares insights into what modernization really means, why it’s becoming increasingly important across industries, and how collaboration with our team typically unfolds. If you’re curious about how we approach outdated or unsupported devices and turn them into reliable, up-to-date products, this conversation is a must-read.
What is the advantage of Polish hardware teams when looking at the whole world?
Competitive pricing is one thing (including full teams and management structures), but people and their skills is what is most important – highly motivated engineers who are not only passionate but also actively involved in scientific and technical communities. Most of engineers in our team graduate from top technical universities and gain industry experience early through internships and university-led research groups, making them both skilled and innovation-oriented.
What is our billing model with the client, and how do we verify it so the client knows what they’re paying for?
We use several billing models, depending on the project type and client needs:
- Fixed Lump Sum
We determine a lump sum internally based on a framework agreement that covers modernization, R&D, and maintenance. This model is tailored for companies that require ongoing engineering support but don’t want to invest effort and money into creating their own internal engineering department – then we can become extension of their structures. The number of hours per engineer is estimated and agreed upon upfront. In this approach our Client is in the driving seat and decides how fast and in which direction the team should deliver – whether it should be steady pace of product development or we should add another engineering team member to speed up the process. We can adjust this pace monthly, quarterly or annually. - Hybrid Model: Lump Sum + Project-Based
- Lump Sum is used for services like maintenance, ongoing support, and continuous development of specific products.
- Project-Based – when our client comes up with a new idea within our on-going cooperation we can separate the entire scope of the project – then the pricing is applied to initiatives where we define the client’s business and functional requirements, propose a solution, estimate the scope of work, and then set a project rate accordingly.
- Per-Inquiry Pricing: Fixed Price + Time and Material
When we receive a specific inquiry from the client, we prepare a detailed quote and establish a fixed price approach plus the cost of materials. In the end it is a kind of hybrid between Fixed Price and Time and Material approach – our clients know beforehand what costs can be expected during development but there are some margins for additional expenses like costs of prototyping, PCB manufacturing and electronics assembly.
Transparency & Verification:
We maintain hourly reports for each task in YouTrack. These reports can be attached to invoices and are always available to our clients. We also hold weekly meetings with each client and ensure continuous visibility into the project status, budget and resources.
What happens after an inquiry is submitted to us (what are the next steps to ensure the client receives a quote as quickly as possible)?
We conduct a series of meetings to thoroughly understand the project requirements. Based on these discussions, we summarize the project and prepare a detailed proposal that outlines the tasks needed to meet the client’s business goals, along with the estimated number of hours for each task and the expected timeline.
We apply a fixed hourly rate that includes all costs—engineering, project management, and any additional expenses such as certification, laboratory testing, and prototype development.
When should a company contact us (or when do they most often contact us) for modernization services?
Companies typically reach out to us when they face challenges related to production continuity—such as a lack of documentation, the need to ensure manufacturability of their devices, or situations where electronic components are reaching End of Life or becoming too expensive, prompting the need for a product redesign or reverse engineering.
Another common reason is the desire to add new functionalities, such as IoT capabilities or telemetry features—for example, enabling devices like coffee machines to report usage data (e.g., how many brews have been made, how much electric current is drawn by the machine), which supports order prediction, predictive maintenance or helps to optimize the supply chain by the end clients.
We had multiple projects when our clients desired to modernize only part of their device or solution – leave most of electronics as is but polish the way users interact with the device – update the HMI (Human-Machine-Interface) part of their devices which became dated. Replace the membrane buttons into slick touchscreen solution – we are here and ready to help.
Clients also contact us when they want to introduce connectivity features, such as controlling device parameters via mobile applications.
What does our collaboration look like for modernization services (step by step)?
The process begins when the client contacts us and sends the device to be modernized. We organize workshops to understand how the device functions and analyze any available documentation—such as production files (if available)—to assess what can be done. If no documentation exists, we proceed with reverse engineering. Depending on the project’s complexity, we then set up a dedicated test and development environment by creating a testbed we can work on.
It also depends on whether we’re modernizing:
- Software: We first check whether there is access to the source code. If it’s available, we analyze how the system works or is intended to work. If not, we proceed with reverse engineering. In both cases, we schedule workshops with the client to understand the goals and desired outcomes. By working for over a decade in this industry we know how to put ourselves in the client’s shoes and understand what to expect from our engineering team.
- Hardware: We verify whether the Altium design files are available and define the scope of modernization. This may involve adding connectivity support (which could mean designing a new board or updating the existing one) or replacing outdated electronic components. Our approach is tailored to the specific needs and technical challenges of the hardware.
What areas or industries are we experts in?
We specialize in projects across a range of sectors, particularly where reliability and precision matter most. Our core expertise includes:
- IoT
- Foodtech
- Medtech
- Critical infrastructure
What sets us apart from other companies?
We bring over a decade of experience in delivering complex engineering solutions. Our presence in the U.S. market and experience in working with multiple high-profile companies from U.S. which trusted in our expertise surely gives us a unique edge. We enjoy working with U.S. based companies – we believe that working in partnerships based on mutual trust and respect between organizations gives the best effects – we are motivated and happy to be part of our clients’ success.
On the other hand we have strong foundation in academic and R&D environments – both founders were involved in academic research resulting in multiple scientific articles – this is where we learned how to conduct experiments and R&D efforts in methodical and specific manner toward achieving clearly defined goals. We apply this experience to every project, backed by broad, cross-sector competencies.
What specific modernization services do we offer?
We provide a wide range of modernization services to help companies keep their products up to date and competitive. These include adding connectivity features, upgrading outdated components, and ensuring compliance with new industry standards. We also enable cloud integration, implement telemetry solutions for real-time data collection, and develop remote control and monitoring capabilities to give clients full visibility and control over their devices.
We are open and ready to help retrofit older devices with newer technological stack. Change old-fashioned buttons into streamlined touchscreen with animation? Add over-the-air programming capabilities? Develop mobile application that understands your device to broaden your customer base? We will gladly listen to our customers’ requirements and propose solution that will most likely fit their needs.
A word from the founder
I’m deeply frustrated by how many electronics today are designed to be disposable—impossible to repair and destined to become waste. That’s not the path we follow. I’m proud that our designs are made to be repairable, maintainable, and built to last. It brings real peace of mind knowing that we’re not contributing to the growing pile of electronic waste, but creating useful, sustainable technology that serves people longer. – Piotr Bratoszewski
If your product needs an update—whether it’s to lower production costs, meet new standards, or add new features—we’re here to help. You don’t have to start from scratch. Contact us to see how we can modernize your product and make it ready for the future.
Read more about modernization electronics and products.
