The industry’s first self-cleaning system, which eliminates the need for cleaning visits, and an aseptic drink dispenser, which serves non-preserved natural products safely in a vending machine for the first time, are the latest environmental improvements to the PouchLink vending machine.
The ozone cleaning system is fully automated and can be programmed to occur during periods of low activity. No harmful chemicals are required, which offers major environmental benefits over conventional vending machine current cleaning methods.
The PouchLink’s new drink dispensing system also boasts a means of ensuring an aseptic connection to the syrup concentrate, enabling the machine to safely dispense non-preserved natural products such as pure juice concentrates, without the risk of microbiological contamination. Unlike most conventional pure juice dispensers that use chilled concentrates, this is achieved at ambient temperatures, providing huge savings on cooling energy.
The improved PouchLink vending machine, developed by UK-based WaterWerkz, will be launched in Europe and the US in autumn. The PouchLink machine enables a wide choice of water-based, healthy juice drinks to be made and packaged within the vending machine, in front of the consumers’ eyes. Drinks are mixed and filled into resealable, flexible pouches and served chilled to the consumer. This technology, combining post-mix drinks dispensed with an automated point-of-purchase packaging system, is the first of its kind in the world.
“The driver to create this new PouchLink system was based on the inefficiencies of the supply chain model associated with conventional vending machines, and the growth in demand for the vending sector to meet its environmental and corporate and social responsibility goals,” said WaterWerkz MD, Ian Bidmead. “The credentials of the PouchLink machine meet this demand head-on.
“PouchLink also taps into the increasing trend towards healthy and functional drinks. Upon launch, we’ll have a range of branded drinks such as Vimto, Sunkist and Bottlegreen to complement our ‘own branded’ drinks that will include functional waters and schools-compliant juice drinks.
“It has taken extensive research and development to bring the whole PouchLink system to market, and we’ve been hugely encouraged by the positive feedback we’ve received from the market from major drinks brands, food retailers and large operators.”
Source: WaterWerkz
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