Superoperator has been granted a US patent ‘System for controlling a service station related to a vehicle’ in the United States. In Finland, the corresponding patent became legally valid already in 2019.

“Only very few foreign companies have succeeded in getting a patent for their product in the United States, which is why this is a very important step for us in digitalising the car wash industry,” says Erkki Aminoff, CEO of the Finnish technology company and service provider Superoperator Oy.

Iiro Nurminen, Head of IP of the Dottir Law Firm which represents Superoperator internationally in intellectual property matters, comments on the importance: “by utilising the intellectual property system, it is possible for a company to achieve a key competitive advantage in international trade. The US patent granted to Superoperator gives them a strong right to prevent others from professionally using their invention, and I would see that this will further enhance the company’s chances of success in the international market. Typically, the economic value of an intellectual property right is only realised in connection with commercialization. This requires demand – and at the moment there very much seems to be that internationally for Superoperator’s product. Patents and other intellectual property registrations are generally an excellent way to increase the value of a company.”

Car identification

Superoperator’s car service platform is used in Finland, Sweden, Norway, Germany, the Czech Republic, the USA, and Australia. In 2015, Superoperator Oy registered an application that patents the invention for car identification and mobile launch of car services. The patent became final in Finland as of 16 January 2019 after Finnish Patent and Registration Office rejected the filed oppositions making it remain valid in the granted form.

Mobile apps

Superoperator’s technology, used for the digitalisation of car washes, allows drivers to select, pay, and wash their cars using a mobile app without getting out of the vehicle. These contactless events provide safety and comfort during the COVID-19 pandemic and social distancing requirements.

The system not only enables the start and payment of a car wash program, but also controls other various services such as vending machines, vacuum cleaners, and jet washers. In addition, it includes a calendar feature that can be used to book an appointment for interior cleaning, tire change, or even a test drive, to name but a few.

Superoperator licenses their patented technology to various operators for whom they are building a customised network of digital car-related services. In addition, one of the service models is Superoperator’s own virtual network which operates brand-independently.

About Superoperator

Superoperator is a globally operating technology company and service provider helping car wash operators grow through digitalisation. Superoperator’s unique, patented solution includes everything that is needed to turn any car wash into a modern, digitally operating facility. The company’s customers include e.g. Axel Springer / Clever Waschen (Germany), Tommy’s Express (the United States), Juhlapesu (Finland), St1/Dirt and Tvätta (Sweden), Unipetrol/Benzina, and MOL (the Czech Republic) and EezyWash (Australia).