Zeeuwse Verwarmings Unie (ZVU)

Terneuzen, 6 September 2025 – The Zeeland Heating Union (ZVU), a specialist in the field of sustainable energy, proves that comfortable living does not have to be at the expense of the environment and your wallet. Like many modern installation companies, ZVU is constantly looking for ways to improve the efficiency of its services, including through digital transformation. For example, ZVU decided to equip its engineers with modern, robust tablets for use on site. These ruggedised devices not only meet the functional requirements for process improvement, but can also withstand the harsh conditions at construction and installation sites. This allows engineers to carry out their work – such as inspections and reporting – digitally and reliably on site, regardless of weather conditions or rough handling of the equipment.

‘The RugGear tablets from Jenson ATEX Depot proved to be extremely robust and suitable for outdoor use – exactly what we needed. The expert advice and the opportunity to test the devices in our own working environment beforehand were decisive factors in our choice of this solution.’ – Leo de Buck, HR/MIO Manager at ZVU

Orientation

Leo de Buck, who is responsible for innovation and ICT at ZVU, among other things, determined that the field service needed durable mobile equipment. ZVU technicians regularly work on site in all weather conditions, where standard tablets are not suitable due to breakage or shorter service life. According to ZVU, a new generation of rugged tablets offered the best all-round option for digitising and improving work processes. The chosen tablets had to be sturdy enough for construction sites and installation environments, but also offer sufficient performance and a large screen for digital checklists, for example. In addition, compatibility with existing software and future applications was important, so that the investment would be future-proof.

Visit to Hacktic Experience Centre

In order to properly assess the possibilities of robust tablets, ZVU made an appointment with Hacktic (Jenson ATEX Depot). At the Experience Centre, representatives of ZVU were given a hands-on demonstration of various certified rugged devices. They were able to experience the build quality and functionalities of the tablets for themselves, ranging from shock resistance to the ease of use of the touchscreen. Thanks to this orientation visit, ZVU learned how such devices could support its technicians in their daily work. Hacktic's expertise and wide range of equipment made it possible to make an informed choice that suited ZVU's specific needs.

Test phase in practice

After the orientation, ZVU started a small-scale test phase to try out the intended tablet in practice. Two RugGear RG935 tablets were purchased as a pilot, which technicians took with them to various work locations. During this trial period, ZVU was able to verify that the tablets met expectations in terms of robustness, battery life and compatibility with their digital forms and reporting systems. The RG935 passed the practical test with flying colours: the devices functioned flawlessly during outdoor work and in technical areas, and proved easy to integrate with the necessary software. This test phase was essential to create internal support and ensure that the final rollout would not encounter any unexpected problems.

Purchase and Implementation

After the successful pilot phase, ZVU decided to deploy the RugGear RG935 more widely within the company. An order was placed to gradually equip all technicians with these robust tablets. The implementation went smoothly; thanks to the preliminary tests, there were few surprises and the new devices could be put into use quickly. Hacktic ensured smooth delivery and was on hand to provide support, although extensive after-sales support was hardly necessary because the rollout went without a hitch. ZVU found the collaboration with Hacktic to be very pleasant – agreements were honoured and any questions during implementation were answered adequately. ZVU is now continuously expanding the number of RugGear tablets as the organisation grows, because the product has proven itself in practice.

Impact

This initiative has led to several important benefits for ZVU:

• Robustness and practical useThe new tablets are extremely well built and easy to use. Thanks to their military-standard housing and water and dust resistance, they can withstand a fall of 1.5 metres and function reliably in rain and dust. Engineers no longer have to worry about damaged equipment, which makes their daily work a lot smoother. In addition, the RG935's screen is easy to read in bright daylight and can even be operated with wet hands or work gloves, which is ideal for ZVU's outdoor work.
• Operational efficiencyInspections and reports are now considerably more efficient. Whereas previously data might have been noted down on paper and entered manually later, engineers can now fill in digital forms and add photos on the spot. Thanks to the tablets' 4G connection, reports can be sent directly from the work site to the office, providing real-time insight into the progress of the work. This saves time and reduces errors, as data no longer needs to be processed twice.
• Long-term cost savingsThanks to the high durability of the RugGear tablets, ZVU needs to replace devices less often. The longer service life of the RG935 – partly thanks to the replaceable dual batteries – ensures a favourable total cost of ownership. Engineers can work throughout the day without interruption, as the HotSwap function allows batteries to be changed without turning off the device. This increases productivity and reduces the need to have spare equipment on hand. Over the lifetime of the tablets, this results in significant savings compared to having to regularly replace less robust consumer models.

Conclusion

In this use case, ZVU used the RugGear RG935, a rugged 10.1" Android tablet designed specifically for demanding environments. The RG935 is equipped with two 4000 mAh batteries that together offer 8000 mAh capacity and support HotSwap, allowing continuous work during long working days without charging breaks. The large full-HD display is bright and easy to read even outdoors, which is useful when filling in digital checklists. What's more, the touchscreen can be operated with wet fingers or gloves, which is no luxury in the wet Dutch climate. The tablet meets strict sustainability standards (IP68 and MIL-STD 810H), which means it is completely dustproof and waterproof as well as resistant to shocks and vibrations. This makes the RugGear RG935 ideally suited for ZVU's work in installation technology, where reliability and robustness of equipment are crucial.