Bellshill company creates energy and cost savings device

Automatic Retailing (Scotland) is helping the vending industry to go green with an energy saving innovation. It has launched Vend-Sense, a unique device that uses motion sensors to control a vending machine’s energy consumption.

With millions of vending machines across the world, burning energy 24 hours a day, 365 days a week, Vend-Sense’s motion detectors recognise periods of inactivity when there are no customers in the surrounding area.

Vend-Sense cuts power to the equipment and during the period of inactivity, pulses electricity to ensure that the vending machine remains at the right temperature.

The introduction of Vend-Sense is expected to drastically reduce the energy consumption of the vending industry, lower its impact on the environment and generate a number of significant cost-savings.

Vend-Sense can be fitted to any vending machine, old or new, that does not need a steady flow of electricity. Launched late last year, Automatic Retailing has already taken orders for 500 of the energy efficient devices.

Automatic Retailing is a specialist in the supply and management of vending equipment and employs 42 people in its Lanarkshire base. George McFadden, technical and operations director, Automatic Retailing, said:

“As experts in the vending sector, we identified a need for an energy saving innovation in this area and with Scottish Enterprise's support, used our own research and development capabilities to establish Vend-Sense.

“In Scotland alone, there are thousands of vending machines plugged in and wasting electricity when there are no customers in the vicinity. Vend-Sense is a unique device that is incredibly cost-effective and for businesses like ourselves who take pride in limiting our carbon footprint, Vend-Sense is a massive step forward for the vending industry.”

Scottish Enterprise (SE) has worked closely with the company to support its research and development plans and help it to secure funding through the Small Company Innovation Scheme (SCIS).

SCIS is administered by SE and provides vital financial support for projects for the development and introduction of new products and processes which can improve a company’s competitiveness.

Liz Connolly, senior director operations, SE in Lanarkshire said:

“Automatic Retailing is a superb example of a confident, forward thinking company that has spotted a gap in the market and filled it with a smart solution. Its commitment to research and development and its investment in energy efficiency are now reaping rewards with a busy order book. ”

One of the first customers to use Vend-Sense is DLA Piper (Scotland) LLP. Martin Mclean, facilities supervisor, explains, “When Automatic Retailing first mooted the Vend-Sense idea, we immediately saw the potential for energy savings. A unit was purchased and fitted to one of our vending machines where consumption was estimated to be 1.11 kilo watt per hour, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. This proved to be an instant success with a payback period of three months achieved. Vend-Sense helped us accomplish simple energy savings.”

Vend-Sense is very simple to install and can be programmed to switch off any machine to suit the operational requirements of any business. It can control more than one vending machine at any time.

Although targeted at the vending sector, Vend-Sense’s technology has the potential for use with any electrical appliance and the Automatic Retailing team is now exploring other opportunities for it to exploit.