23 Apr 2007


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Sielaff's launches super-fast Robimat vending machine at Avex '07

Source : Market-Led Services and Sielaff UK Limited
Sielaff's Robimat 75 robotic glass-fronted can and bottle vending machine dispenses product selections in less than ten seconds. That makes it one of the fastest merchandisers on the market and marks it out from many of its competitors, where product delivery can take 30 seconds or more.
Robimat 75

The Robimat 75 features a "robotic arm" and conveyor belt system to gently lower merchandise to the delivery pocket, which makes it perfectly suited for vending carbonated soft drinks, glass packed products or other, equally delicate, lines. The new range, starting with the Robimat 75, will be available to order following its UK launch at Avex '07.

Robimat is Sielaff's first glass-fronted can and bottle vending machine. It embraces all-new and innovative technology developed and manufactured by Sielaff. The new machine does not use traditional spirals or pusher bars, which drop the goods from shelf to delivery tray, risking breakages and over-fizzy drinks. Instead, product is moved along using a conveyor belt. When a vend is made, the robotic arm moves the collection basket instantly to the product selected and docks with the chosen channel. The conveyor belt automatically transports the product to the collection basket, which then takes it to the delivery carousel. This mechanism ensures products are carefully vended and never dropped. The entire vend process takes place in a class-leading ten seconds.

The delivery carousel is kept locked until the product is in place, when it opens before automatically locking once again when the product has been removed. This is a key built-in security feature to prevent unauthorised access to the machine via the delivery area.

The Robimat has two separate sections, each with its own door. The merchandise section has a traditional hinged door made from multi-layer glass. The other section, which houses the coin mechanism, cash box and PCB, slides out for ease. Both parts of the machine are accessed via the sliding door, which is usually kept closed during machine replenishment to prevent unauthorised access to the cash box. Conversely, whilst an engineer is working on the sliding door area - reprogramming the machine or emptying the cash box, for example - the hinged door can be kept closed to keep the products chilled.

Goods are dispensed on the principle of "first in, first out", so correct stock rotation is observed at all times. This is achieved by means of slide-out shelves that tilt downwards, enabling each channel to be filled from the rear.

The Robimat is a high capacity vending machine with a modular design, which can be configured to suit the needs of individual sites. The standard configuration is five shelves with six different selections. This is ideal for half litre PET bottles. The maximum number of shelves is eight, which is suitable for .33l cans or small Tetrapaks. After each time the machine is refilled, it automatically checks that the shelves have been correctly repositioned.

The Robimat 75 will be in full-scale production from late spring and will be joined later in the year by a larger capacity machine, the Robimat 99.

More information:
Karen Nash, Sielaff UK Limited, 01992 743010, info@sielaff.co.uk

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