At Unisystem, “solution” is more than just a catchy phrase – it’s a concrete approach to creating complete modules where the display serves as the starting point for building a fully integrated solution. Each concept is driven by an interdisciplinary team from the Solution Department, responsible for design, prototyping, testing, and implementation – always in close cooperation with the client and with a complete understanding of the application context. In this interview, Jacek Marcinkowski, Head of the Solution Department at Unisystem, talks about the idea behind the department, the services offered, and the biggest challenges – both technological and business-related.
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What is the Solution Department at Unisystem?
Jacek Marcinkowski, Head of Solution Department, Unisystem:
The Solution Department at Unisystem is first and foremost a team of people – mechanical and electronics engineers, software developers, and project managers – united by a shared goal: to create comprehensive, client-specific technological solutions. Our strength lies in combining expertise across various disciplines, enabling us to manage the entire project life cycle. In practice, this means a client approaching us with a technological need receives not just components but a full engineering service that includes analysis, design, prototyping, testing, validation, and deployment. From there, we move on to mass production.
What triggered the creation of the Solution Department?
The department initially operated as a traditional R&D unit, focusing primarily on product research and development. However, over time, market expectations evolved. More and more clients approached us not just for a display but for a complete, integrated system. They expected a ready-to-implement solution tailored to a specific work environment.
That’s when the need for change became clear – not just in how we operated, but also in the team’s name. The rebranding to “Solution” better reflects our mission. Our goal is no longer just product research and development, but to deliver clear answers to specific client challenges. We’re a technology partner who understands client needs and can meet even the most demanding requirements in the optoelectronics industry.
What services does Unisystem offer as part of a partnership?
We offer a wide range of services as we approach every project holistically. The starting point is usually the display, which is the centre of a complete system. Depending on the needs, it can involve integrating off-the-shelf components like a touchscreen with protective glass or an industrial computer, or designing the entire system from scratch – including electronics, mechanical construction, and preparing all necessary elements like cables, power supplies, and sensors.
In parallel, we also develop software – from low-level firmware to higher layers such as operating system configuration, graphical user interfaces, and custom applications. It enables us to deliver not just a hardware solution, but one that’s fully operational from the first power-on.
A key stage is touchscreen calibration – which is not only about sensitivity but also performance in real-world environments, including electromagnetic interference, contamination, or dirt. Proper tuning of these parameters directly impacts usability and reliability. One of the cases was a multimedia table which surface functioned as a touchscreen. We had to calibrate the controller to respond only to intended gestures – like touch with one or more fingers – while ignoring accidental interactions like a hand or objects such as drink cans.
Furthermore, we perform functional tests, prepare complete documentation, and support the client through certification and ramp-up to serial production. It allows us to offer not just components, but well-thought-out, fully tailored solutions.
A client approaches Unisystem to create a display-based solution. What happens next?
The first step is always a needs analysis – both technical and contextual. We strive to understand not just what should be built, how it should function, and in what environment, but also time constraints, budget limitations, and functional requirements. Based on this, we develop an initial concept and provide the client with an estimated budget.
Once the estimate is approved, we move into the design phase. Ideally, work progresses in parallel – electronics engineers develop schematics, select components, and design the PCB; mechanical engineers prepare the housing; software developers build the environment and firmware. In reality, the pace and order depend on project complexity, data or component availability, and the client’s progress on their side. Regardless, the outcome is a working prototype.
The prototype is validated in two stages – first internally at Unisystem, then by the client. It is the time for feedback and adjustments. Once both sides agree that the solution is complete and meets all standards, we prepare for production.
Throughout the process, we maintain constant communication – giving the client complete insight and control at every stage.
What environmental conditions have posed the biggest challenges?
Outdoor projects are the most demanding. Devices in such environments are exposed to changing weather, contaminants, extreme temperatures, vibration, and long-term use.
In such cases, it’s not enough to choose suitable display components. The entire system must be protected – through a well-designed housing, appropriate glass thickness, coatings, seals, and other safeguards that ensure durability. Compliance with environmental standards is often required – for example, IP ratings for water and dust resistance or IK ratings for mechanical impact.
A particular challenge is direct sunlight. On hot, sunny days, screen surfaces can reach temperatures above 80°C. These conditions can lead to device malfunction or permanent damage. In LCD-TFT technology, overheating can cause black spots – a result of the liquid crystals shifting from nematic to isotropic phase, losing their ability to modulate light. In sun-exposed outdoor applications, components must resist such stress. That’s why LCD-TFTs use HiTNI technology – High Temperature Twisted Nematic–Isotropic – based on modified liquid crystals with enhanced resistance to solar radiation.
Today, devices are increasingly equipped not only with displays but also with touch panels. However, the touch function does not always work as we would expect. Why is the calibration of touch panels so necessary, and what do we achieve through it?
Touch panels – especially capacitive ones – offer great precision and comfort, but only when they are properly calibrated for the application. Calibration is essential to ensure smooth operation in real environments, which are often harsher than test labs. The process involves fine-tuning the touch controller to maintain performance regardless of nearby interference.
Proper calibration eliminates issues like “ghost touches” – responses triggered by, e.g., droplets on the screen. We’ve all seen smartphones act unpredictably in rain or snow. In industrial settings, this is unacceptable – touch reliability directly affects safety and productivity.
Another critical aspect is glove use. Materials like latex or nitrile don’t conduct electricity, which makes capacitive touch difficult. But in labs, manufacturing, or medical environments, taking gloves off is not an option. With the right controller and calibration, touch detection works even through such materials, improving usability.
Also critical are situations in which other electronics near the screen generate interference. Here, touch panel controller features like noise rejection or frequency hopping adjust the touch panel in real time to maintain performance. These functions are essential where interference changes dynamically.
Proper calibration determines whether interaction with a device is smooth, intuitive, and accurate – in any situation.
What are the most common technical problems clients face?
Ironically, the most significant challenges are often business-related. Clients face time pressure, tight budgets, and the need to go to market quickly. From a technical standpoint, we’re well-equipped – we have the tools, skills, and experience. The real challenge is finding the right balance between quality, cost, availability, and schedule. That’s often the project complexity.
Many technical problems are familiar: mechanical collisions, component assembly, electromagnetic compatibility. We have proven workflows for such issues. We also assist with tasks that seem simple – like display setup – but get complicated due to rare interfaces or unusual integration scenarios. These may be daily tasks for us, but not for the client.
More complex issues involve rare bugs, hard-to-trace interference, or integration issues with no apparent root cause. Sometimes the problem doesn’t appear in our lab – in such cases, we ask the client to send the whole device so we can analyze it as a complete system, not just a development board. In such cases, technical expertise matters, but so does communication – both technically and organizationally.
How does Unisystem outperform Asian suppliers?
Our key advantage is the quality of collaboration. We’re nearby – geographically and organizationally. We can meet with clients, conduct tests together, react quickly, and adjust designs as needed. Communication is smoother – we understand the European business environment, decision-making processes, documentation expectations, and compliance standards.
We don’t offer one-size-fits-all solutions – each project is treated individually. When a client needs something fast, we can deliver a prototype in weeks, not months.
We’ve worked with clients who chose Unisystem after struggling with previous suppliers from Asia. It wasn’t just about quality and delivery time, but also clear communication, engineering precision, thorough documentation, and reliable component availability. What sets us apart is our mindset – we’re not just a supplier. We’re an engaged, attentive technology partner focused on shared goals. That’s why we can successfully deliver even the most complex projects.
