South Korean venture company is planning to go after global markets with its window cleaning robots.
RF (CEO Lee Soon-bok), which is a company that specializes in robots, made an announcement on the 19th that it has developed world’s first window cleaning robot called ‘Windowmate’ that does not fall off of windows even when its power is shut off due to built-in permanent magnet and signed off on an export contract that is worth about $4.33 million (5.10 billion KRW) with Japanese distributor called SODC.
By exporting its products to Japan, RF is planning to go after European markets such as Germany, France, and Spain.
RF submitted Windowmate to ‘CES 2017’ that was recently held in Las Vegas and is also planning to participate in ‘MWC’, which is going to be held in Barcelona on the 27th of February, and carry out foreign marketing.
Especially it is planning to sign off on an export contract with German buyer at MWC that will export 2,000 to 3,000 Windowmates. It is also carrying out negotiations with distributors in France and Spain with a goal of signing off on contracts sometime during first half of this year.
Unlike foreign window cleaning robots that mostly use vacuum absorption method, Windowmate has permanent magnet that allows Windowmate not to fall off of windows even when its power is shut off due to external impact.
Its weight is only 900g and one can use it for 150 minutes just by charging it once. RF applied patents regarding mobility control technologies such as magnetic control technology, pattern of movement, and restoration of initial location technology and device that cleans windows in South Korea and foreign countries.
With this product, RF received ‘Innovation Award’ in ‘household electronic device’ and ‘technology for the better future’ areas.
RF is going to export Windowmates and ‘Windowmate WMs’, which were released in 2015, to SODC. It has decided to ship 3,000 Windowmate WMs and 12,000 Windowmates (WM-1000) starting from next month.
At the same time when ‘Windowmate WM’ was released, RF exported about 6,000 ($1.70 million (2.00 billion KRW)) of it to a Japanese distributor.
RF started selling Windowmate at Hyundai Department Store in Pankyo and is planning to sell it at 5 Electro Lands in South Korea starting from next month. It is planning to increase number of stores that sell Windowmate depending on responses from consumers.
“We are going to ensure internal stability by expanding exportation our products based on Japan and Europe and we are also planning to develop products in order to go after Smart Home and IoT markets.” said CEO Lee Soon-bok. “We predict that we are going to make more than $4.24 million (5.00 billion KRW) in sales this year.”
Staff Reporter Jung, Jaehoon | jhoon@etnews.com