Blog - Intelligent Vending Ltd

Live Crab Vending Machines

A vending machine selling live crabs has been installed in a shopping centre in Nanjing, China.

The Chinese Mitten Crab – also known as the Shanghai Hairy Crab – is considered a delicacy in the region and needs to be served fresh. In an attempt to take advantage of its high demand, one unnamed businessman has found a way to conveniently and cheaply sell the crab, while also keeping them pretty much as fresh as possible: by keeping them alive and supplying them through a vending machine.

The vending machine is kept refrigerated to a chilly 5 degrees Celsius; a temperature low enough to coerce the crabs in to a state of hibernation. This helps to stop them from moving around too much, and apparently eases the discomfort of being trapped inside a box [inside a bigger box].

Additionally, the low overheads of operating vending machines compared with that of staff managed retail mean the crabs can be sold approximately one third cheaper than in shops.

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Posted in: Vending Machine News, Vending Overseas
Tags: crab vending, Vending Machine News

Vending Machine Swallows Boy

Last Sunday, fire-fighters had to rescue a 9 year old boy from a vending machine in Wisconsin, USA.

The vending machine was a typical claw machine, commonly found in amusement arcades. For those who are unfamiliar with the machines, the aim is to try and manipulate a grabbing arm to pick up prizes and drop them down a chute.

The usual trick is to accurately position the arm over a well positioned item, so it doesn’t prematurely slip and drop from the notoriously feeble grip of the claw, back to the pile of prizes below.

However, in this instance the boy decided not to bother actually playing the machine, but instead to just go straight to the prizes – by crawling inside the machine through the 1 x 1 foot prize collection door.

It is unclear exactly how the boy managed such an act of contortion, as he was not in view of his parents at the time, but it didn’t seem to cause him any discomfort. Sun Prairie Fire Department’s Lt. Dan Cotter was quoted:

“We actually tried to get his attention a few times because he was playing. So I mean he was happy to be in there, but I don’t think mom and dad were too happy”

The story had a happy ending though. Fire-fighters said they were quickly able to get the child out of the vending machine, despite a lack of training for such an unusual event.

There was further good news for the boy, who was reportedly allowed to take two toys home with him at the end of the ordeal – which is almost certainly more of a reward than most receive from such vending machines.

Posted in: Vending Machine News, Vending Overseas
Tags: toy vending machines, vending accidents, vending news

Wine Vending Machines en France

The French are well known for their love of wine. Back in 2008, wine enthusiast Astrid Terzian developed the idea of wine vending machines (or ‘distributeurs automatiques de vin’) for use in French supermarkets. The vending machines store a large quantity of wine (up to 1000 litres), which can be dispensed – or pumped – in to containers supplied by the consumer.

The motivations behind the concept are both environmental and economical. By removing the need for individually packaged bottles, wine can be transported more efficiently and cost-effectively. This of course helps to bring costs down – and combined with the fact that consumers use their own packaging; the carbon footprint which results from traditional wine distribution processes is significantly reduced. The savings are passed on to the consumer too, with a litre of wine said to cost as little as around 1.5 Euros.

While some connoisseurs may turn their noses up at the idea of DIY wine storage, it doesn’t appear as if it will see the end of the concept. Apparently there are eight supermarkets in France which have adopted the vending machines so far, and there are rumours the machines will hit the USA in the next year. Others have reported the existence of these vending machines in Quebec, Canada for some time too.

This method differs somewhat to the wine vending machines recently incorporated in Pennsylvania (see our blog post on this: Wine Vending Machines) which dispense full bottles, but in a way which complies with the strict laws governing the sale of alcohol in the heavily controlled state. It is unclear how (or if) the French style wine vending machines attempt to restrict the sale of alcohol to underage users.

Posted in: Vending Machine News, Vending Overseas
Tags: vending machines, vending news, wine vending

Prejudiced Vending Machines

A new interactive touch screen vending machine has been developed in Japan which recommends drinks based on the appearance of consumers.

Two of the vending machines currently live in a train station in Shinagawa, Japan, and at the moment are the only ones of their kind. However, the manufacturers intend to install a further 500 units of the interactive touch screen vending machine around the country in the next two years.

When the drinks vending machines are not in use, the large 47 inch built-in touch screens display adverts and promotional material based on factors including time, season and temperature. However, when a customer approaches, images are shown of the drinks available from the vending machines, with personal product recommendations instantly highlighted.

Drink recommendations come from sensors integrated within the machines which attempt to recognise the age and gender of the user. With apparent 75% accuracy, this information is then used to suggest different products based on presupposed buying trends. It is hoped this method of targeted advertising will increase sales through the vending machines, which has proven successful for other sectors, such as targeted marketing through sponsored advertising on internet search engines.

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Posted in: Vending Machine News, Vending Overseas
Tags: drinks vending machines, japan, touch screen

Touch Screen Gaming Vending Machines

One of Europe’s best known leading soft drinks companies, Britvic Plc, have launched a new touch screen vending machine which will be installed around numerous UK cities, beginning this month.

Britvic Soft Drinks have worked together with Juicy Drench spring water to create vending machines which reward customers with a free drink, providing they successfully beat one of the touch-screen mind games developed for the machines.

The idea is to demonstrate that a properly hydrated brain has a greater capacity for completing tests of mental agility, while of course entertaining the user at the same time.

Similar recent vending machine marketing initiatives include the ‘Share Happy’ vending machine, which uses facial recognition technology to determine the emotional state of the user – and rewards ice cream if they are deemed ‘happy enough’. More on this story can be found in our blog post here: Smile, you’re on [a vending machine] camera!

This new ‘intelligent vending machine’ from Britvic will feature around 40 different games – which can also be played online – the games range from mathematically based challenges to traditional ‘spot the difference’ types. Train stations and shopping centres in Bristol, Birmingham, Manchester and London will be the first locations to see these new vending machines.

Posted in: Customised Vending, Vending Machine News
Tags: gaming, touch screen, Vending Machine News

Condom Vending Machines at Commonwealth Games

Condom vending machines are likely to be installed in various places around the Commonwealth Games Village in New Delhi, India. The National AIDS Control Organisation (NACO) is responsible for the plans, and intends to offer free condoms in an effort to reduce the risk of a potential influx in the spread of HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases and infections during the fortnight of the competitions.

The plans result from the vast numbers of tourists expected to be brought to the area by the Commonwealth Games. Free condoms are expected to be handed out to athletes competing in the games, as well as to support and administrative staff who will be located at the site.

For others, condoms will be available free of charge from chosen venues around the Games village, and also for a low cost from condom vending machines which are to be installed at selected locations around the village and stadia. About 200 condom machines are expected to be installed in the area – the campaign is part of a larger government initiative to distribute condoms over the country, in continued attempts to reduce the impact and spread of HIV/AIDS.

Posted in: Vending Machine News, Vending Overseas
Tags: condom vending, Vending Machine News

Prescription Medication Vending Machines Come to the UK

A first for the UK – Sainsbury’s have begun trials of prescription medication vending machines in two Sussex branches of the superstore.

Upon registering with the vending machine, customers are given a unique ID and PIN number to be later used to collect prescriptions. Before stocking machines with the required medication, a trained pharmacist manually ensures the validity of prescriptions as a preventative measure against potential abuse; the medication is then placed in to the kiosk along with any applicable usage instructions.

To collect prescriptions, customers simply sign in to the vending machine using their ID and PIN code. A list of their prescriptions is then provided on screen, along with any relevant payment information; medicines are then dispensed through the collection point.

The automated kiosk is not intended to replace the existing pharmacy service. Both services will run side-by-side so customers are still able to ask advice from qualified pharmacists if desired. The idea is the vending machines will provide an extra level of convenience and flexibility for the consumer – allowing prescriptions to be collected quickly and at a time that better suits their schedules. It is even possible for a family to group prescriptions together, so they can all be collected at the same time.

The vending machines themselves have a storage capacity of up to 450 packs of medicines and each pack is uniquely identifiable by the kiosk, thanks to a barcode system.

Sainsbury’s currently has a total of 236 in-store pharmacies. If the trials of the prescription vending machines are successful and well received by customers, they are likely to be featured in more stores over the country in the future.

Posted in: Vending Machine News
Tags: medication, prescription, Vending Machine News

Cigarette Vending Machine Ban Cancer Research UK Survey

Results from a recent survey commissioned by Cancer Research UK suggest around three quarters of the public support the ban on cigarette vending machines and the removal of tobacco displays from shops. The vending machine ban is due to be implemented in October 2011, while the removal of tobacco displays is set for total implementation by the end of 2013. However, both campaigns still rely on the government to commit to the regulations which are already in place.

The survey was conducted online and sampled more than 1100 adults, 73% of which favoured the ban on cigarette vending machines, and 77% were for the removal of tobacco displays from retail outlets.

A June 2009 survey found 76% backed the vending machine ban – which is actually 3% higher than the latest survey – while 70% approved of removing tobacco displays from shops. Compared with the latest survey results, this shows that popularity for removing tobacco displays from shops has increased by 7%.

It is thought the motivation behind this survey is to keep the pressure on the government to see the plans through.

Though, some are not entirely convinced by the results, suggesting that surveys from Cancer Research UK are slanted and that the results are inconsistent with the opinions of many people they ask.

Posted in: Public Vending, Vending Machine News
Tags: ban, cigarette, vending machines

Vending Machines Help Endangered Bird

Soft drinks giant, Coca-Cola, has partnered up with a non-profit organisation in Japan to assist environmentalists protect an endangered species of bird, the Okinawa Rail.

With a currently estimated population of around just 720 – down from 1,800 in 1986 – the Okinawa Rail is exclusive to a northern area of Okinawa Island called Yambaru, and is a legally protected species (which has also been declared ‘Natural Monument’).

Coca-Cola have agreed to mount IC audio recorders and microphones to the top of two vending machines in the region. The equipment will record noises and calls from the Okinawa Rail, which when analyzed, should provide researchers with vital data relating to the population and activity of the endangered bird. By using vending machines as the hub for the equipment, additional installation costs are avoided and power can be supplied directly by the existing feed to the machines.

The decline of the Okinawa Rail is thought to be a result of threats to their habitat, including tree felling, farming and building. Also, introduced predators such as cats and dogs are partially responsible for their drop in numbers.

In 1996 Yambaru became a national park and a number of additional nature reserves were created in the area by conservationists.

By using vending machines as the hub for the equipment, additional installation costs are avoided and power can be supplied directly by the existing feed to the machines.

Posted in: Vending Machine News, Vending Overseas

Book (Cigarette) Vending Machines

A German publishing company has found a new purpose for cigarette vending machines – book vending!

As the laws on smoking and tobacco retail steadily get more restrictive for many countries over the world, cigarette vending machines are increasingly under threat. They have already been banished from a number of places including the American state of Wisconsin and the European island of Guernsey. A date of October 2011 has also been set for a ban on cigarette vending machines in England, Wales and probably Scotland too.

Of course, this means there are thousands of vending machines out there which are now (or soon to be) void of purpose and likely to be destined for the scrap heap. But now this might not have to be the case…

German publishers, Hamburger Automatenverlag have found a novel use for the cigarette machines – adapting them to dispense condensed books. Novels, poetry and comics are among the selection of literature on offer, which is authored locally and available at a cost of 4 Euros per vend.

Posted in: Vending Machine News, Vending Overseas