NON FOOD VENDING


A go-to source for PPE


The COVID-19 pandemic has exposed new and important uses for vending machines which have quickly been adopted across the globe. Here VI looks at how vending is becoming the go-to source for protective equipment.


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ending machines can go far beyond their traditional purpose of dispensing snacks and drinks. The technology is successfully used to vend any number of products ranging from cigarettes,


electronics, feminine hygiene products, baby wipes and pharmaceuticals. In the past couple of years Vending International has carried stories


where machine innovation has been extended to speciality products such as flowers and even to the most luxurious of products such as cars. It’s perhaps not surprising then that the role of vending has become even


more important during the pandemic in dispensing essential items such as PPE, face masks, hand sanitiser and gloves. The European Vending and Coffee Service Association (EVA) paved the


way even further in June when it declared that vending was not only open for business, but it was safe and that operators were going to great lengths to make hygiene a priority. Vending machine supplier EVOCA UK, has reported a brisk trade in machines


destined for use as dispensers of face masks and other anti-COVID equipment. Additionally, many clients have customised existing Evoca machines to


address the demand for the safe, 24/7 availability of PPE in a wide variety of locations including public spaces such as shopping centres, educational institutions and workplaces. Evoca has joined forces with Maskey, the mask manufacturer founded by


Adam Freeman who formed a company in April setting up pop-up vending machines across London to capitalise on a demand for sustainable, convenient and fashionable face masks.


Adam created a media storm when he set about having these machines


installed in high-profile locations with this leading to wider deployment of unattended sales points to dispense PPE products. EVOCA sales director Craig Jukes said: “Vending machines eliminate the


need for face-to-face, over-the-counter transactions, adding an insulating layer of safety and security to the process of acquiring PPE. Hence, a new market for vending machines has emerged and with it, a new cohort of vending machine users. “Their positive experiences of using a vending machine can only benefit


the wider industry going forward but for now, vending has emerged as a reliable and cost-effective way to provide people with the protective products they need, where and when they need them.” In June Mr Jukes revealed that Necta, the vending machine brand had


developed a simple and reliable solution to help companies improve their safety standards in the workplace. “The idea is as simple as it is effective: to offer vending systems for the


distribution of masks and other PPE equipment at strategic locations in the workplace. We’re offering four machines that are suitable for PPE distribution, they’re all easy to use and to maintain and they can all be customised to accommodate the specific dimensions of the package to be dispensed during the COVID-19 emergency.” The machines were set up giving each employee a unique key or card to


allow them to take their PPE allocation and once the COVID crisis is over, they can easily be converted back to distributing consumables. “Clearly, we didn’t design these machines specifically for the present


COVID-19 emergency, but sometimes the solution for unforeseen problems is staring you in the face and this is one of those occasions,” said Mr Jukes.


In conclusIon…


At a time when vending is in crisis with up to one in five jobs at risk as a result of the economic crisis created by the pandemic, finding ways to adapt will be critical if we are to emerge intact on the other side. Using traditional food and drink vending machines to dispense PPE is an


example of this. It satisfies a significant public demand and gives vending route to remain viable and robust.


26 | vendinginternational-online.com


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