Custom-made nut vending machine for ECON

Technicom Group developed and built the Fresh Nuts nut cabinet for ECON: a self-service vending machine that dispenses heated nuts in portions. Customers choose from four varieties via a touchscreen, pay, and receive the nuts warm in a tray.

The request

ECON wanted to sell warm nuts without staff behind the counter. The vending machine had to look well-presented at the point of sale, offer multiple varieties, dispense accurate portions, and be easy to refill.

Our solution

• Four dispensing units with transparent storage containers and stainless steel dispensing mechanisms, ensuring that every portion is the same
• One central hopper that guides the selected nuts to the dispensing chute
• Heating of the nuts: [how and where: in the hopper, dispensing chute or storage, temperature]
• Touchscreen with product selection, prices and product images
• Coin validator and card payment
• Viewing windows in the front, so customers can see the nuts
• Illuminated Fresh Nuts logo on top of the cabinet
• Lockable doors for refilling and maintenance, with the electronics protected in the lower compartment

What Technicom does

• Design of the cabinet, dispensing units and hopper
• Development of the electronics and the control of motors, payment, screen and heating
• Software for product selection and dispensing
• Production, assembly and testing