Washlink Systems

What Washlink Systems does

Washlink Systems (Washlink LLC) is a privately held U.S. company specializing in car wash automation and control systems, founded by Steve Homan in 1989 and incorporated as Washlink LLC in 2001 with co-founder Jason Van Curen. The company designs, manufactures, and services industrial PLC-based equipment controllers, gate controllers, motor control centers (MCCs), and the Saleslink family of point-of-sale (PC-based, Microsoft SQL-backed) and payment solutions, including the All Pay kiosks, Voyager II portable terminal, and branded mobile apps for iOS and Android. Its controllers integrate with all major brands of car wash equipment, enabling both new builds and retrofits for express tunnel, in-bay automatic, and self-service operators across North America, Europe, Australia, New Zealand, China, Chile, and Hawaii.

The company generates revenue through four streams: hardware sales (controllers, MCCs, pay stations, sensors), subscription/recurring revenue (Saleslink POS licensing, mobile app services, Premium Support annual plans), usage-based support (Pay-As-You-Go incident billing at $150 per 30 minutes), and professional services for on-site installation, training, and commissioning. Go-to-market combines direct enterprise field sales with on-site installation, international distribution partners (GPS Services in Europe, Solar Group in Chile, Shiners in Australia, ICWSNW in Hawaii), and a regional service subsidiary (Steve's Car Wash Services, covering the Western US and Hawaii). Customer base spans independent express car wash chains, multi-location operators, a military base installation, and an automotive manufacturing deployment (Mercedes Benz Alabama factory).

Strategically, Washlink has steadily expanded its product surface since 2016, adding EMV payment processing via OpenEdge (2016), Unitec pay station integration (2018), Saleslink Mobile App (2018), and the All Pay Kiosk (2021), while formalizing international distributor relationships from 2017 onward. Its competitive positioning relies on reliability of Siemens industrial PLC components, integrated POS-to-equipment software, and deep operator-side domain expertise held by a team with nearly 190 years of combined car wash experience.

Name

Washlink Systems

Legal name

Washlink LLC

Website

https://washlinksystems.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1989

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Washlink Systems designs and services PLC-based car wash automation controllers, Saleslink POS software, pay stations, and motor control centers for express tunnel, in-bay automatic, and self-service car wash operators globally.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Morgan Hill

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Hardware Sales: Sale of car wash controllers (equipment, gate, motor control), MCCs, pay stations, sensors, and related hardware components.
2. Software/SaaS: Saleslink POS software licensing, mobile app services, and recurring billing module subscriptions.
3. Support Services: Premium Support plan (annual), Pay As You Go support, and Basic Support (included with purchase).
4. Installation Services: On-site installation, training, and commissioning services for car wash automation systems worldwide.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Washlink Systems designs, manufactures, and integrates car wash automation hardware and software for tunnel and in-bay car wash operators. Its portfolio includes PLC-based equipment controllers, Motor Control Centers (MCCs), and the Saleslink point-of-sale (POS) family, complemented by unattended pay stations, license plate recognition, RFID, hydraulic pulse detection, mobile apps, and on-site installation and support services. The company sells turnkey retrofit and new-build automation solutions globally through direct enterprise sales and regional distributors.

Product overview

Washlink Systems offers a comprehensive car wash automation portfolio centered on two core product lines: Saleslink point-of-sale systems and equipment/functional controllers. The Saleslink family includes the core POS system, Saleslink Express all-in-one terminal, Voyager II portable terminal, Saleslink Mobile App, All Pay Pay Stations, Displayer for tunnel marketing, and LPR/RFID for license plate recognition and fleet programs. The controller portfolio includes the Traditional Equipment Controller (16-96 functions), Gate Controller, Self Service Controller, Vacuum Controller, Car Count Controller, Collision Avoidance Controller, Tire Protectant Controller, and Microlink add-on controller. Supporting products include AccuPulse, Open Bed Detector, and Motor Control Centers (MCC). All products are designed to integrate seamlessly with each other and with third-party equipment.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Saleslink: Point-of-sale (POS) system and sales management solution for car washes, including touch PC terminals, receipt printers, barcode scanners, and optional modules for credit card processing, gift cards, recurring billing, and mobile app integration.
• Voyager II
• Microlink
• AccuPulse
• All Pay
• Open Bed Detector

Products and services

• Saleslink Point of Sale (POS) Full-featured PC-based programmable sales management system providing cash accountability, employee management control, and integration with all Washlink equipment controllers for car wash operators; supports multiple terminals, cash drawers, and optional modules including credit card clearing, gift cards, recurring billing, and multi-site replication.
• Traditional Equipment Controller PLC-based car wash equipment controller with HMI interface offering 16 to 96 functions per enclosure with unlimited expansion. Controls all brands of car wash equipment with features including collision avoidance, tire functionality, wet down scheduling, and conveyor controls.
• Microlink Equipment Controller Add-on controller that adds six functions to any brand equipment controller with multiple modes including programmable, sequential, full-length car, front-only, rear-only, and look-back functionality.
• Gate Controller Controller that operates up to 8 pay stations and gates with integration to all brands of gates, pay stations, and equipment controllers, featuring real-time system status, remote control, override screens, and adjustable on-the-fly settings.
• Self Service Controller Timer control system for self-service car wash equipment with Windows interface, equipment setup screens, car counts, fault alerts, and PLC-based control for coin/card-accepting self-serve bays.
• Saleslink Voyager II Portable handheld POS terminal with IP54 rating for dust and splash resistance, 10-inch outdoor-rated LCD, integrated card reader, barcode scanner, EMV reader, and 6-8 hour battery life for pre-sales or complete outdoor car wash transactions.
• Saleslink Mobile App Fully personalized branded mobile app for iOS and Android offering sales through app stores, loyalty rewards, push notifications, location-based marketing, and customer engagement features for car wash operators.
• All Pay Pay Stations Unattended payment stations accepting cash, credit cards, and mobile payments with full Saleslink integration supporting prepaid wash cards, cash cards, recurring billing, and multi-site replication.
• Saleslink Displayer 32-inch LCD HD display for tunnel marketing showing custom messages, promotional content, safety messages, and purchase-based graphics integrated with Washlink tunnel controllers.
• Saleslink LPR & RFID License Plate Recognition (LPR) using industrial cameras with OCR and AI software for accurate read rates and automatic day/night mode adjustments, paired with RFID readers for fleet and unlimited membership programs.
• AccuPulse Hydraulic pulse detection system using conveyor motor return flow, remotely mounted with stainless steel construction and proximity switches for inch-level accuracy without magnets or pit-mounted components.
• Open Bed Detector Automatic open truck bed detection system that controls top washers, air dryers, and chemical application to prevent damage and minimize damage claims, with 10 functions per enclosure.
• Saleslink Tag Management Module RFID fleet management module for the Saleslink POS system, enabling tag-based tracking and management of fleet and unlimited wash customers.

Quantifiable outcome

• Locations with properly marketed unlimited wash programs can achieve 40%+ of customers on unlimited plans
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers14 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration10 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• GPS Services GmbH & Co KGcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2019European distributor for Washlink Systems products. Also serves as Coleman Hanna Carwash Systems distributor in Germany. Located in Germany with presence at European car wash events.
• Shiners Car Wash SystemscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2018Australian car wash distributor and service provider. Washlink visited Shiners HQ in Melbourne, Victoria. Part of network including Coleman Hanna, STI Conveyor Systems, and GPS Service.
• UniteccoreTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2018Integration partnership for Unitec Sentinel and Portal Ti+ pay stations with Saleslink POS system. Provides complete unattended pay station solutions.
• Coleman Hanna Carwash SystemscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018Equipment partnership at international car wash events and installations. Coleman Hanna equipment frequently installed alongside Washlink controls.
• STI Conveyor SystemsminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018Part of international car wash industry network. Appeared together at Car Wash Show Australia 2018.
• Aerodry SystemsminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018Partnership for Mercedes Benz Alabama factory installation. Washlink provided custom MCCs to work with Aerodry vehicle dryers.
• Solar GroupcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2017Premier car wash distributor in Chile. Washlink team members Steve Homan and Andrew Davies visited Solar Group's new headquarters in Santiago, Chile.
• ICWSNW (Independent Car Wash Services of the Northwest)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2017Car wash consultant, builder and service provider. Installed Washlink equipment at Sudz car wash locations in Hawaii.
• OpenEdgecoreTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2016EMV credit card processing integration with Saleslink POS. Provides secure payment processing for car wash transactions.
• National Car Wash Installation ServicesminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 January 2016Installation partner for various US car wash projects including Wizard Car Wash (Tennessee) and Wash Park Car Wash (Missouri).
• AutoMateminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 January 2016Installation partner for Quicky Express Car Wash in Las Vegas, Nevada.
• H20 SolutionsminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 January 2016Installation partner for Tietgens Turbo Wash in Tennessee. First installation of Washlink equipment for H20 Solutions.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• DRB Systems: Largest US car wash POS, tunnel controller, and automation vendor. Directly competes with Washlink across the same product categories — POS, pay stations, RFID, and tunnel controls — for the same express and in-bay operators.
• Innovative Control Systems (ICS): Car wash controls and POS specialist with tunnel controllers, gate systems, and site-management software. Competes head-to-head with Washlink in mid-market and enterprise express tunnel accounts.
• Unitec: Italian manufacturer of unattended pay stations widely deployed in car washes globally. Partners with Washlink for Saleslink POS integration but also competes as a stand-alone payment-station vendor in the same accounts.
• Coleman Hanna Carwash Systems: US car wash equipment manufacturer and Washlink strategic partner that bundles tunnel equipment with automation controls. Competes in the same express tunnel RFPs and is a co-marketing ally at industry events.
• Mark VII Equipment: Manufacturer of in-bay automatic and tunnel car wash equipment including proprietary controls and pay stations. Directly comparable to Washlink's in-bay and tunnel controller product lines.
• Ryko Solutions: Provider of car wash equipment, controls, and chemical solutions with national service coverage in North America. Competes with Washlink in tunnel automation and offers an integrated controls-plus-equipment bundle.
• D&S Car Wash Equipment: Regional US distributor and installer of car wash equipment, controls, and POS. Overlaps with Washlink's Steve's Car Wash Services division and competes for express tunnel build-outs in the Midwest.
• Washworld: US manufacturer of touchless and soft-touch in-bay automatic car wash equipment with integrated controls and pay stations. Competes with Washlink's in-bay and self-service controller lines for the same operator customers.
• PDQ Manufacturing: US vehicle wash equipment manufacturer covering in-bay automatic, self-service, and conveyor tunnel systems. Comparable to Washlink as a full-stack car wash equipment provider serving operators in the same verticals.

Broad incumbents

• Sonny's Enterprises: The dominant US car wash equipment manufacturer, offering tunnel equipment alongside its own controls, POS, and chemical packages. Overlaps with Washlink in tunnel controls and car wash automation but is much larger and broader in scope.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/WashlinkSystems
• Facebookfacebook.com/WashlinkSystems

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Washlink Systems