Nutritional Trends in Vending

Consumers today are focusing more attention on the popularity of low carbohydrate diets, organic foods, and overall nutrition and health. These days you will find an increasing selection of nutritional products. In fact, several leading snack manufactures have announced a commitment to healthier product options. Nutritional trends will make you want to stock only healthy foods in your Antares vending machine so that you will always continue to have a profitable running business.

Vending machines are a key source of meals for many people. With your Antares vending machines you can cater to the health conscious population by vending healthy foods. Offering healthier vending options will drive sales from these consumers.

According to The Institute for Food Technology, the top five trends for the shift to healthier food are as follows:

Eating better: Many consumers are eating better to promote a healthier lifestyle and longer life.

Carb counting: Consumers are seeking vending products that are low in carbohydrates, low in calorie or high in protein

Healthier children: families, school officials and legislators are looking for healthier vending options to fight against child obesity which has become a major problem.

Change: Consumers want to make changes in their lives through food. They look for food that will reduce the risk of certain health related problems.

“Must have” ingredients: Nearly half of the American population recognizes that functional foods are beneficial to overall health.

Since we know that vending machines will always be a better option for those who want a quick meal, rather than going to a store, we should vend health foods so that you can cater to the consumers who are interested in that. As an Antares vending operator you should always pay attention to what the customer needs are, because this is what will bring in business in for you. In the years to come these nutritional trends will have a bigger impact on the vending industry.

Technical Trends for Vending machines

Technological advances made in vending have made the operation of vending machines more reliable and profitable. Cashless vending systems are some of the advances that have been made in the industry. Many consumers prefer the convenience of electronic payment to inserting cash into the machine. In fact according to the Federal Reserve Board, electronic transactions far exceed payments made by check or cash. In the future vending machines will be equipped with this new cashless payment technology, which has become more affordable.

Antares Corporation have vending machines that have advanced technology features like for instance a programmable talking unit, low temperature refrigeration, locking option of coin tray, glass door and highly impressive graphics. They have a great capacity, are easy to use and have a menu planner so that the clients can choose the most desired items. Vending companies have come up with advanced technology for their vending machines to bring in more profitability.

Not only are cashless payment systems more convenient to the consumer, but also operators are reporting higher sales, increased traffic and customer satisfaction. As a result of this advancement, operators are able to offer vending products at a higher price level.

Cashless transactions have helped prevent vandalism and vending machine theft. A recent survey disclosed that vending machine operators reported an immediate halt in vandalism and theft once an electronic debit and credit card system was installed. All vending companies are expected to take up this form of payment.

Vending companies are using e-commerce and v-commerce for their vending operations. As for Antares Corporation, Natural Choice distributors create, manage and access their account through a secure website. This will allow the distributor to edit and review their distributor accounts as well as place orders for parts and merchandise

Antares Corporation has selected one ecommerce web site that will allow Natural Choice distributors to create, manage and access their account through a secure web site. This will allow the distributor to edit and review their distributor accounts as well as place orders for parts and merchandise.

Cashless vending would not be much success in certain environments such as schools. This is because students do no have access to a credit card or debit card. Overall cashless vending is one of the prominent advances that have been made in technical trends.

The Manufacturing Process

The manufacture of a can soda Antares vending machine is usually accomplished on several automated, concurrently running assembly lines. The cabinet is made from a roll of galvanized steel. At the start of the assembly line, the raw steel passes through automated presses that flatten it and cut it into sheets. Cabinets are usually made of two or more separate pieces. Other presses then punch and notch the sheets. This process creates holes in the cabinets for bolts and fasteners, openings for electrical cords, slits for vents and other openings.

Corners and edges of the sheets of steel are notched where necessary to accommodate the fittings of components onto the cabinet of the Antares vending machine. Sheets of steel automatically enter and exit heavy duty air and hydraulics presses. The presses crimp the edges to create bends in the metal. The seams are secured using resistance welding also known as spot welding. Finally the cabinet undergoes powder finishing and awaits installation of the tank.

While the cabinet of the Antares vending machine is being made, another line forms the tank using a similar process. Mechanisms are punched in the sheets and the corners are notched so that tank can fit into the cabinet. Presses provide any necessary bending and forming after which separate pieces are welded together to form a unit.

Before powder coatings, the cabinet undergoes an eight stage pre treatment. The cabinet undergoes an alkaline bath to clean the surface and is then rinsed, after which it gets a zinc phosphate coating. It is then rinsed again. Later it is applied a chromic acid then rinsed with deionized water. The units then go into a drying oven, after which it begins the powder finish coating. Finished cabinets and tanks are then united for the process of foaming and application of polyurethane foam insulation to the interior of the machine. The tank is then fitted into the cabinet and both are pre-heated while waiting to form. When that is complete refrigeration units are installed in the bottom of the cabinet.

The basic door shell of the Antares machine is created and finished in the same way as cabinets and tanks, with just additional punching necessary accommodate the controls on exterior doors. Components of doors are often assembled in one area rather than on an assembly line. The correct door has to fit into the right cabinet, so door assembly is centralized to reduce the possibility of errors.

External controls of the Antares vending machine are fitted in appropriate spots and are attached with bolts or screws. When the machine is complete it is then ready for quality checking and testing.

Vending Machine Design

The basic design of an Antares vending machine begins with the cabinet, the steel outer shell that holds all the internal components which will determine the overall shape and size of the vending machine. Inside the cabinet is an inner steel lining called the tank which fits closely together with the cabinet leaving enough room in between for a layer of polyurethane foam insulation. The tank and foam insulation regulates internal temperatures and protects the products from exposure to extreme outside temperatures.

The outer surfaces of the cabinet are coated with acrylic powder finish. The coatings enable the Antares vending machines to withstand extreme external temperatures, salt or sand, abuse and other conditions.

Products are contained in the cabinet but stored within the tank. To dispense the products can feeder stack columns or feeder trays are stored in the machine. Each tray has a large rotating wire spiral that keeps the products in place. Feeder trays slide in and out of the Antares vending machine to allow restocking of the machine. They have motor controls that push out the products for their release.

Some vending machines especially cold drink machines like an Antares vending machines, have two doors. The internal door seals the inside of the machine and provides insulation. The outer door contains the electrical controls that allow the customer to purchase and receive products. The outer door includes heavy duty hasps, hinges and locks.

Coin and bill validators have been inserted in the Antares vending machines to ensure that the cash is genuine and of the proper amount. Change makers hold quantities of coins that are released the correct amount of change after a purchase has been made. Recent machines include credit and debit card validators.

Design changes occur when frequently in the mechanisms for handling and dispensing different types of products. For example when plastic soda bottles were first introduced in vending, they tended to jam the machine. Constant changes in product packaging have ensured that designers must always look for practical and efficient ways to vend products.

Raw Materials used for Vending Machines

Vending machines such as those provided by Antares Corporation are constructed using four major raw materials: galvanized steel, lexan or other plastic, acrylic powder coatings, and polyurethane insulation.

The larger part of the machine is manufactured from galvanized steel ranging from 10 gauges to 22 gauges in thickness. For the outside cabinets, external doors and internal tank the thicker gauges are used. These areas require gauges with such thickness. The inner gauges are used for internal doors and plates, can stacks, and mechanisms such as coin validators and product trays.

Lexan, a tough polycarbonate plastic is used in the front panels of the Antares vending machine. When it comes to thickness sheets of lexan in the vending machine can range from 0. 13 (3. 18mm) in to 0.25in (6.35mm). When performance counts, you can count on lexan sheets for durability. Lexan is very difficult to break, flame retardant, relatively easy to shape, and can be treated to restrict UV rays, light, and heat transmission. Product logos, names and illustrations are silk screened on lexan sheets, which are installed in channels on the doors of the Antares vending machine. Lexan sheets products save you money by lowering energy and replacement costs year after year. This is why your vending machine would have a long life.

Acrylic powder coatings are colored powders used to “paint” the surfaces the surfaces of vending machines. It offers the best overall exterior durability and can be formulated into products with excellent chemical, corrosion, detergent, and stain resistance. Acrylic powder coatings offers excellent hardness and scratch resistance for your Antares vending machine. It also gives a smooth and high gloss finish for your machine. In addition acrylic powders meet governmental environmental standards.

Polyurethane foam provides the insulation for the inside of the Antares vending machine. Its application process creates a seamless, water proof, durable building envelope. It also eliminates drafts in your Antares vending machine by completely filling seams, cracks and crevices. The foam is blown between the outer cabinet and internal tank of the machine. In addition to thermal insulation, the foam adds structural stability to both the cabinet and the tank of the machine. Overall it will add tothe structural strength to your Antares vending machine