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.