Blog - Intelligent Vending Ltd

How Secure Are Your Vending Machines?

A drinks vending machine in Kaua’i, Honolulu was reportedly dragged from outside a convenience store early last Saturday morning, before being discarded on a nearby road. Following this, local police have apparently urged businesses to review the security of their vending machines.

Though, had the owners taken advantage of our superior security equipment, we have no doubt those thieves would still be at the scene; perspiring in futility as the vending machine diligently stood its ground, thwarting enemy attacks.

Properly considering any risks or security issues which may threaten a site’s vending machines may seem obvious, but it can be overlooked – sometimes with great detriment to the operator. As with many problems, prevention is the best cure – spending a little extra money early on can save lots of time and money in the future, should the unthinkable occur.

Of course, for sites with outdoor vending machines, security is that much more important. If you are concerned about the security of your vending machines, or would like more information on our products and services, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Posted in: Vending Machine News, Vending Security
Tags: Vending Machine News, Vending Security

Perpetual Vending

The owner of a convenience store in Kentucky recently disconnected the power from a vending machine, only to find it “come back to life”.

While cleaning the store one evening, the owner Aaron Fowell, was shocked when the soft drinks vending machine continued to operate after it was unplugged.

“I needed to clean the area around the vending machine, which meant pushing it away from the wall. I unplugged it and moved it out so I could get behind it. I didn’t see the front [of the machine] until I was done cleaning – about 20 minutes later! I couldn’t understand it – I checked over and over again – there was definitely no power, yet the lights were all on … it even still functioned properly!”

More than a week later, the vending machine is still running – free of cords or any direct power source. The vending machine is a common model which can be found all over the world (and has been confirmed to be without batteries).

There are numerous theories being offered to explain the strange-goings-on; some of the more exotic ideas include supernatural beings, alien intervention and even the reincarnation of a previous shop owner.

However, the hypothesis with the most substance according to many scientists is that rogue waves of electricity from a nearby power station are affecting an unshielded circuit board within the machine which is allowing it to ‘absorb power from the air’.

Whether this is an act of God, or a mere scientific phenomenon – perhaps it holds the key to solving climate change. We always knew vending would change the world!

Posted in: Vending Machine News
Tags: Vending Machine News, vending machines

Eco Vending on a Roll

Ever thought about throwing your work down the toilet? Well now you can, and save the planet at the same time!

As you may already know, the Japanese are infamous for their strange and unusual vending machines, but this may raise the bar to new levels.

A new type of vending machine was unveiled a number of weeks ago at Tokyo’s Eco Products trade fair which feeds on waste office paper and outputs rolls of toilet paper! It is said that 40 sheets of A4 office paper is the amount required for a roll, and takes around 30 minutes from beginning to end (this process comprises of: shredding, mixing with water, pulping, flattening, drying and rolling).

Contrary to many gadgets born in Japan, this machine is far from compact – standing proud at 6ft tall and weighing just under 600 Kg – so don’t expect to tuck it away nicely in the corner of the bathroom!

Apparently, the White Goat, as the machine is named, costs about 6 pence to create a roll. Comparing this with the typical 40p per roll for a premium brand, it seems a substantial saving; but unfortunately the quality leaves a little to be desired when compared to its luxury brothers.

However, the factor most likely to hinder wide-spread adoption of this machine is probably its price. At a whopping $100,000 (around the £65,000 mark), toilet paper would need to be in extremely high demand in the office for this expense to be a viable purchase and realise any savings.

Posted in: Vending Machine News
Tags: toilet roll vending, vending, Vending Machine News, washroom vending

Cigarette Vending Machine Ban

Cigarette vending machines in England, Northern Ireland and Wales are close to being banned, following recent legislation changes approved by MPs. While Scotland has their own bill regarding this situation, both systems share similarities in their details.

If passed, both intend to first remove cigarette machines from larger stores in 2011, while smaller shops will have until 2013; the decision to implement the changes so far in the future is a result of the current economic climate.

Although welcomed by many, this plan has faced opposition from the tobacco industry and some retailers, who deny the validity of the arguments against them and protest that it will result in substantial loss of sales.

Proposed by Ian McCartney, the former Labour minister, the ban on cigarette vending machines is largely a consequence of suggestions that they are partly responsible for the uptake of smoking by new generations. It is thought cigarette vending machines are too appealing and accessible for children and also help to normalise attitudes towards cigarettes and smoking through brand familiarity.

Posted in: Vending Machine News
Tags: cigarette vending machines, vending machine information, Vending Machine News

US Beverage Industry to Include Calorie Information on Vending Machines

The subject of our last article was Barack Obama’s plans to attempt to reduce childhood obesity by removing sugary snack and drink vending machines from America’s schools. In a related effort, First Lady Michelle Obama has called for action from the beverage industry to help with her healthy families campaign.

It seems this call may now have been answered by the non-alcoholic beverage companies which are members of the American Beverage Association (including The Coca-Cola Company, Dr Pepper Snapple Group, Kraft Foods, PepsiCo, Red Bull North America, Inc. and many other major brands). The ABA has volunteered a new initiative which intends to present calorie information on their products in a more clear and useable manner.

Vending machines and product labels are two main areas which will be focussed on by this initiative. Vending machine beverage selection buttons are set to contain details of product calorie counts, while information on products themselves will be improved by additions such as per-serving calorie totals on the labels of items with higher volumes.

Only vending machines controlled by respective beverage companies will be affected by these changes, but perhaps it may prompt other operators to follow suit if the idea is welcomed by consumers.

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

Obama for Healthy Vending Machines

Last week the Obama administration announced plans to set new legislation in place to remove sugary snacks and drinks from school vending machines. The motivation behind the campaign has arisen from America’s increasing levels of child obesity and diabetes.

Barack is not alone in this war on weight, either. Last month, the first lady, Michelle Obama, also declared plans to lead an initiative aimed at reducing obesity levels amongst their younger population. The ‘Let’s Move’ campaign has been created to try and encourage healthier and more active lifestyles.

The response to this initiative has been generally positive and has received a great deal of support. However, for many American citizens, Obama’s plans to regulate vending machines in schools have not been met with such enthusiasm.

It won’t really come as a surprise to anyone that the food industry is particularly unhappy about this idea, some retaliating with counter-campaigns to try and keep the junk food in the vending machines.

Some other people argue that it will be too expensive and also that the majority will be unfairly disadvantaged as a result of problems among the minority.

Results from the American National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) conducted in 1971-1974 showed obesity levels among school-aged adolescents, aged 12-19 years was at 6.1%. The latest figures from the 2003-2006 data set showed this figure had increased to 17.6%.

Read More …

Posted in: Vending Machine News
Tags: healthy vending, snack vending machines, Vending Machine News

Introducing Insect-a-clear Solo Fly Killers

We all love summer, but not many of us care for the flying pests it brings. Insects can put off customers, spread bacteria and damage your company’s image – and when at home they can cause major disruption to your well-earned relaxation time.

For those who like to keep their environment clean and free of airborne irritants, we have the perfect solution.

Ideal for the home or the workplace, the stylish and versatile Insect-a-clear Solo fly-killers are available at a price so outstandingly low they are certain to appeal to everyone.

Purchase a Solo fly killer from Intelligent Vending Ltd today for just £38.50 + VAT including free delivery! This amazing price also includes 6 replacement glue-boards.

We are only able to offer these great units at this price for a very limited time, so it is important to act fast if you are interested.

This is a truly special offer and we are confident you will not find a lower price anywhere else!

For more information on the Insect-a-clear Solo fly killer, please visit our fly-killers page or call us on +44 (0) 1629 825555.

Posted in: Fly Killers, Product News
Tags: Fly Killers, flying insect control, Intelligent Vending, pest control, Vending Machine News

Post: AVEX 2009 International Vending and Water Exhibition

Last month, the 2009 AVEX vending exhibition was held at the Birmingham NEC. The AVEX exhibition has always been a great opportunity for sneaking an insightful preview of all the latest vending innovations, and this year was no exception. In between all the hand shaking and coffee drinking, we got a chance to look close in to the not-so-distant future of vending.

As we are always on the look-out for new things to offer our customers, we were excited to see what products were going to be featured – hoping to find potential additions for our own catalogue. Numerous interesting displays caught our attention during our time at the exhibition; however, there were a few in particular that stood out from the crowd.

Read More …

Posted in: Intelligent Vending Ltd, Vending Machine News
Tags: avex, Intelligent Vending, vending and water exhibition, Vending Machine News

Pre: AVEX 2009 International Vending and Water Exhibition

The AVEX International Vending and Water Exhibition has arrived again. It will be running from Wednesday 10^th – Thursday 11^th June at the NEC in Birmingham. The AVEX exhibition provides a unique opportunity to see the latest vending innovations and technologies as well as offering a chance to network and do business with key suppliers.

AVEX is only held every two years and attracts visitors from all over the world. Over 100 different stands will be on display, exhibiting some of the most exciting new and existing vending products and services. For anyone involved in vending, this is an event not to be missed.

No matter which vending sector you are in, there will be plenty of displays related to your area. Whether you are a vendor or an operator there are stands to cater for everyone.

In addition to the many new innovations to be seen, there will be a number of useful seminars offering help, tips and ideas on concepts including optimising sales and effective cost management. Other more specific topics will also be covered such as sustainability, telemetry, IT and scale control.

Entry to AVEX is free, subject to prior web or phone registration. More details on the AVEX exhibition can be found on the AVEX website.

We look forward to seeing you there!

Posted in: Intelligent Vending Ltd, Vending Help & Advice, Vending Machine News
Tags: avex, Intelligent Vending, vending and water exhibition, Vending Machine News

G-Drink Cold Drink Vending Machines

We have added a new cold drinks vending machine to our website. The G-Drink vending machine has some very advanced features. One such feature is the ‘drink catcher’ delivery system: this innovation helps reduce the unwanted build up of fizz often generated from carbonated drinks falling from higher shelves in the vending machine. The product remains standing up and is carefully delivered to the consumer quickly and reliably (total vending time is less than 8 seconds).The G-Drink also has a built in optical sensor to monitor correct product delivery, increasing reliability and consumer satisfaction.

These economical cold drinks vending machines are insulated and come fitted with LED lighting as standard to reduce power consumption. With diverse branding options and great security features this drinks vending machine meets most demands, making it perfect for a wide variety of locations.

For more information on the G-Drink soft drinks vending machine, including a brochure will full technical specification, please use the following link:

G-Drink Soft Drinks Vending Machine

Posted in: Intelligent Vending Ltd, Product News
Tags: drink vending, Intelligent Vending, soft drink vending machines, Vending Machine News