MACHINE


MACHINE &MACHINE REFURBISHMENT


MACHINE REFURBISHMENT


A case for repair


There’s an argument to bemade for either replacement or repair in just about any industry, vending included. Thismonth VI looks at the advantages ofmachine refurbishment, and for thosemore interested in replacement, some of the newestmachine innovations.


Making a refurbishment is a big deal for any business, as it is a sign of success, that the firm is growing and it is willing to invest inwardly. A willingness to give staffff better vending options can have a boosting effffect on morale which could encourage staff to work harder, become more productive and create an environment for businesses to become more profitable.


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It may seem like a small step in the right directio correlation between staff morale and motivation is


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well documented n, but the


and has been the focus of many a study and research paper over the years.


However, keeping staffff in high spirits and highly engaged can come with a cost that not all offffices, educational facilities or leisure facilities can afffford, and in order to achieve the desired results, decision makers need to think outside the box.


One thing’s for sure, whether you are responsible for just a few vending machines or an international fleet, there will come a point in the machine’s lifecycle when a decision needs to be made about whether to refurbish or replace it.


One company that is waving the flag for refurbishment is Abbeychart, a specialist in supplying components to the vending industry including parts for repair and maintenance as well as cleaning and hygiene products to keep machines running at the most efffficient.


According to Mark Ta ff Taylor, Abbeychart’s managing director, the


capital outlay involved in introducing new technology has to be offset against projected productivity, and so a carefully planned refurbishment programme is often a more viable solution that many major vending operators are starting to appreciate Surely it’s a no-brainer that opting for a ‘like new


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’ machine at a .


fraction of the cost might be a much better choice and the right solution for some customers .


Refurbishment can incorporate everything from inspection of mechanics and moving parts; to repairs of faults; to deep cleaning; to re-gassing refrigeration units; to testing; to touching up blemishes to the façade.


It may even include an upgrade to lighting which is a service offffered by Abbeychart.Mark Taylor explains: “However well a


Ta 28 | vendinginternational-online.co m


machine is performing, sub-standard lighting can create a poor user experience which will affffect sales.”


“We are specialists in providing bespoke and ‘off the shelf’ state of the art LED lighting upgrades which are comparable to the standard used in contemporary retail environments offffering lower power consumption and reduced heat output.”


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Following an upgrade “a machine will generally run more efficiently with a reduced eco footprint. The user interfaces will be enhanced for increased impact and readability and snacks or beverages will be displayed for maximum appeal. ” Abbeychart has also recently introduced a refrigeration


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refurbishment service for vending aimed mainly at smaller vending operators liable to overcharging by local refrigeration engineers. Along with kitting, sub-assemblies and refurbishment, it is one of Abbeychart’s key services. ff


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Mark says that efficiency is key, and it is through these services the company is able to make a difference for engineers.


“We see growth potential with these services because it’s how we can make operators and engineers much more ffefficient. Time is money and they want to keep their machines working for as lon g and as efffficiently as possible.”


TOUCH AND GO


The most modern of vending machines are highly likely to incorporate touchscreens offering eye-catching graphics, ease of use and remote monitoring functions. It’s exactly the sort of features you’d want to hear about if you are thinking of replacing outdated vending equipment with new modern versions.


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Martin Verspeak, CTO of Mr Lee’s Pure Foods says: “Since the very first con cept designs of our noodle kiosks, touchscreens have bee n an essential part of our communication strategy with customers, allowing us to communicate on several levels whilst our customers browse the products available.With a product that is so different and so fresh, it’s vital that these communications are simple and


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He co n intuitive.”


tinues: “We’ve spent a substantial amount of time


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