Case Study 5

Client Background

Our client is a major US retail chain, offering products across electronics, office supplies, photography gear, and everyday consumer goods. The client noticed a clear gap in their photography accessories section as the content creator and photography enthusiast market grew: existing card readers lacked any card storage functionality. The client wanted to launch their own branded card reader capable of simultaneously reading CFexpress Type B, SD, and TF cards, with built-in card storage and high-speed transfer – to enhance their photography accessory category competitiveness.

The Challenge

As a large retailer, the client set the following requirements for this product:

• Multi-card reading: End users (photographers, vloggers, families) need to read multiple card types simultaneously. The product must support CFexpress Type B, SD, and TF cards inserted and accessed independently – eliminating the need to buy multiple readers.
• High-speed transfer: With 4K/8K video and high-resolution RAW photos becoming mainstream, users demand faster transfer speeds. The product needed USB 3.2 Gen 2 (10Gbps) support, with real-world read speeds meeting professional needs.
• Card storage functionality: Users often carry several spare cards on shoots. The product needed built-in secure slots for 2 CFexpress B cards, 3 SD cards, 4 TF cards, and 2 Nano SIM cards, plus a SIM eject tool.
• Retail shelf requirements: The product required FCC, CE, and RoHS certifications. Packaging had to meet retail shelving standards, with multi-language instructions (English, Spanish). Plug-and-play, driverless operation to reduce support costs.

Our Solution

• Rocketek designed a 11-in-1 high-speed card reader with integrated storage tailored to the client’s needs:
• Independent read/write channels for three cards: A dedicated controller provides separate channels for CFexpress Type B (PCIe 3.0 x1), SD, and TF (USB 3.2 Gen 2). All three cards can read/write simultaneously without interference.
• High-speed transfer interface: USB 3.2 Gen 2 controller with Type-C output delivering 10Gbps bandwidth. Sustained large-file read/write speeds remained above 950MB/s, meeting professional user requirements.
• Integrated storage compartment: Waterproof non-slip rubber + ABS enclosure. Hidden slots store 2×CFexpress B, 3×SD, 4×TF, 2×Nano SIM. Card slots feature retention clips, and the sliding sealed cover achieves IP54 water resistance. A stainless steel SIM eject tool is embedded on the side.
• Compatibility and Certifications: Compatibility with Windows and macOS. Completed FCC, CE, and RoHS certifications.

The Result

• The product quickly became a top seller in the client’s photography accessories category after hitting shelves.
• “One device reads all my cards” and “the storage feature is incredibly useful” became the most frequent positive feedback. The product maintains a 4.7/5 rating on the retailer’s website.
• The retail chain has named Rocketek as a preferred supplier for the card reader category, and discussions are underway for additional private-label digital accessory collaborations.

This case demonstrates Rocketek‘s proven capability in high-speed card reader retail customization – from technical specifications to retail shelves, we deliver turnkey solutions.