Since 1989, DDIFO Sponsor R.F. Technologies, Inc. (RFT) has provided the quick-serve restaurant industry with drive-thru systems sales and repair services. To date, the company has handled over four million repairs, ranking it the largest independent service center for drive-thru communication systems in North America.
While that ranking and the volume of repairs are impressive, there’s something even more notable about R.F. Technologies’ repair services: the proven quality and product innovation. Through results of independent, third-party testing and ongoing response of customers, it’s clear that R.F. Technologies has advanced its capabilities beyond basic repair services; the company offers significant OEM improvements that are of measurable benefit to restaurant operators.
“We have a full research and development team in-house,” explains Bob Noorian, President of R.F. Technologies, Inc. “We actively develop solutions and improvements for the equipment we sell and service. Many of our customers don’t realize just how proactive we are in creating real product innovations.”
RFT’s R&D team, comprised of engineers and repair experts, is perpetually testing, investigating and creating prototypes and operational solutions to combat issues of product functionality and durability. Working in tandem with the company’s sales and customer service teams, the R&D professionals identify equipment issues, assess functionality concerns and find better ways to fix what breaks.
With its unique position in the marketplace, RFT is able to both quickly respond to known product repair issues and preempt potential issues before certain equipment filters into the general market.
Noorian offers insight. “We closely track all repair services. Thanks to the immense volume processed daily, we’re able to quickly identify recurring problems and respond to with equipment improvements and repair solutions.”
Through broad-reaching, closely knit partnerships with various franchise communities, RFT often gets early knowledge of potential issues and is able to innovate practical repair solutions before concerns hit restaurant operations en masse.
“This forward-thinking approach really sets us apart and heightens not only the quality and value of our repair service, but of the OEM equipment as well.”
Excellent examples of RFT’s OEM improvements include solutions created for two commonly used headsets in QSR environments—3M’s C1060 and XT-1 models.
Such headsets are subjected to harsh treatment in the demanding restaurant work environment. With insider insights about product use as well as well-documented accounts of recurring issues, RFT’s R&D team created an array of practical improvements to address areas proven weak through daily wear and tear. RFT’s custom tooling, perfected with in-house and field testing, allowed the following improvements to be achieved and successfully implemented, dramatically improving the performance and longevity of the headsets.
· support jacket for mic boom
· support sleeve for headband
· thicker case parts
· stronger headband
· operator-friendly tactile feel buttons vs. OEM non-click buttons
A third-party material testing and engineering firm conducted comprehensive performance tests on components of each of these products, comparing OEM standard headsets to RFT-enhanced models. RFT-enhanced products outperformed the OEM models on all counts.
1. TWIST & PULL
RFT design tested at 47.4% longer durability when a “Twist and Pull” load was applied. The OEM failed at an average of 35.6 lbs releasing the metal band and wires RFT’s enhancement held up to 67.8 lbs and only twisted internally.
2. RESISTANCE TO TORSIONAL LOAD
RFT’s design showed higher tolerance at 270º of rotation versus the OEM which failed at 180º of rotation. The RFT version suffered only a metal band fracture when failing at 270º, compared to a complete case split for the OEM product.
3. MOUTHPIECE
The RFT mouthpiece design was slightly stronger when subjected to a straight pull—42 lbs versus 33.0 lbs respectively.
Other products, including the HME Odyssey IQ, have also outperformed OEM models in third-party testing. According to Noorian, RFT is able to achieve such high performing product improvements because of the company’s investment in custom tooling and the expertise of the staff.
“No one else in this industry has this level of repair solutions, as we custom tool—literally remake—the parts that require improvements,” Noorian says.
He also points out that the RFT advantages don’t end with the physical enhancements of the products. “We provide same day service, while OEM’s offer 2-week turnaround times, and we don’t charge for inbound shipping. Our cost value is $120 per headset while the OEM’s is $200 per headset, and we back our products with free, live, 24-hour professional support.”
Suffice to say, RFT customers reap the benefits of this proactive, progressive approach. The RFT team frequently receives testimonials documenting the in-field results of RFT’s innovations, including the minimizing of operational interruptions and downtime and the extension of equipment’s life.
Committed to meeting customer needs, RFT’s position is to continuously conduct field testing and analysis for all products, striving to find and correct issues before customers ever have a problem.
“We go the extra mile so that our customers’ equipment can perform that much longer….to keep their business up and running,” Noorian summarizes.
For copies of R.F. Technologies’ third-party testing results or for specific product information, visit www.rftechno.com.
