Introduction
In the high-stakes world of robotic-assisted surgery, where precision, reliability, and real-time data processing are non-negotiable, the technological backbone supporting surgical equipment must be equally advanced. As the demand for smarter, faster, and more flexible surgical systems rises, manufacturers are under pressure to modernize their compute capabilities without disrupting tightly regulated and mission-critical workflows.
One global leader in surgical robotics recently faced a major inflection point. With a growing product portfolio and the shift toward more complex compute workloads, they recognized that their existing infrastructure—built around legacy systems—was limiting innovation and scalability. This case study explores how this company partnered with Premio Inc. to deploy an industrial-grade, future-ready computing solution that aligned with both their current manufacturing needs and long-term vision.
The Company
Headquartered in California, this company is one of the most recognized pioneers in robotic assisted, minimally invasive surgery equipment. Its platforms are deployed in hospitals around the world, helping improve surgical outcomes, reduce recovery times, and increase procedural precision. With an R&D-centric culture and deep integration across the medical device manufacturing lifecycle, the company continuously seeks technological partners that can keep pace with its innovation trajectory.
At the core of its success is an advanced manufacturing process that includes real-time diagnostics, precision assembly, and validation testing for its robotic systems and instruments.
The Challenges
- Outdated systems (10th Gen Intel®) couldn’t keep up with modern workloads.
- Existing vendor had long lead times and high costs.
- No modularity for future GPU upgrades
- Insufficient native USB ports for peripheral-heavy manufacturing setup
The Solution
- Deployed RCO-6000 Series with 13th Gen Intel® Core™ processors
- Modular architecture with EDGEBoost Nodes for future GPU integration
- Added 4-port USB EBIO module to meet USB requirements
- Custom BIOS support and hands-on local engineering (LA/SF)
The Benefits
- Future-proofed with easy GPU upgrade path
- Faster performance and workload handling
- Reduced lead times and total cost of ownership
- Stable USB connectivity without 3rd-party hubs
- Local support for quick engineering and support turnaround
The Challenges
Despite the Company’s cutting-edge product portfolio, its internal compute systems—used for manufacturing automation, test rigs, and quality control—were built on aging hardware platforms, primarily utilizing 10th Gen Intel® Core™ processors. This presented several limitations:
- Performance Bottlenecks: Increasingly complex software applications for testing and validation began to outpace the capabilities of their existing systems.
- Vendor Constraints: Their incumbent compute supplier struggled with long lead times and high per-unit costs, leading to inefficiencies in procurement and deployment.
- Lack of Modularity: Upgrading to GPU acceleration in the future would have required a complete system overhaul, creating unnecessary costs and time delays.
- USB Port Limitations: Their manufacturing processes demanded a high number of simultaneous USB connections, which their current systems couldn’t support without unreliable third-party hubs.
The company needed a strategic hardware refresh—one that would not only solve its immediate needs but also enable long-term scalability and adaptability.
The Solution
After evaluating several alternatives, the company selected Premio’s RCO-6000 Series industrial computer as the foundation for its next-generation compute infrastructure. Powered by 13th Gen Intel® Core™ processors, the system delivered the immediate performance gains required for their manufacturing environment while offering a clear path for future upgrades.
Although GPU acceleration wasn’t part of the initial deployment, the RCO-6000’s modular design allows the Company to easily add GPU capabilities later using EDGEBoost Nodes (EBND)—eliminating the need to reinvest in entirely new systems as workloads evolve. To address the need for extensive USB connectivity, Premio integrated a 4-port USB EDGEBoost I/O (EBIO) module directly into the system, providing native support for peripheral-heavy operations without relying on external hubs.
Premio also delivered custom BIOS support, aligning system behavior with the Company’s unique validation and integration workflows. Backed by localized engineering teams in Los Angeles and San Francisco, Premio offered responsive, on-the-ground technical assistance throughout deployment, helping to accelerate configuration, testing, and production readiness.
The Benefits
By moving forward with Premio’s RCO-6000 modular computing platform, the Company realized several measurable and strategic benefits:
Future-Proof Architecture - The modular design allows the Company to integrate GPUs or other accelerators down the road without replacing the entire compute unit, protecting capital investments and minimizing downtime.
Performance Uplift - The shift to 13th Gen Intel® Core™ processors enabled faster system response times, smoother application performance, and improved parallel task handling.
Shorter Lead Times, Lower TCO - Premio’s U.S.-based integration and flexible supply chain strategy helped reduce lead times compared to the incumbent vendor, while offering more competitive pricing across volume orders.
USB Peripheral Stability - With dedicated USB expansion through EBIO, the Company eliminated bottlenecks and unreliability associated with consumer-grade USB hubs.
Hands-On Local Support - Premio’s proximity allowed for a more agile partnership, including faster testing, firmware adjustments, and rapid deployment, ensuring minimal disruption to existing manufacturing processes.
Conclusion
In the world of surgical innovation, time is life—and compute performance is mission-critical. With Premio’s rugged, modular, and future-ready industrial computing solutions, the Company was able to modernize its internal infrastructure without sacrificing flexibility or budget. More than just solving today’s challenges, the partnership has created a platform for tomorrow’s advancements—whether that means GPU-powered machine vision, AI-driven diagnostics, or deeper automation across its manufacturing lines.