On June 21, forty-nine of Crane Merchandising Systems’ new Media machines with 7-inch touchscreens were installed at the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport as part of its recent vending operations request for proposals (RFP). Seeking to implement a new cutting edge technology program, the Metropolitan Airports Commission (MAC) sought out the most technologically-advanced vending equipment to complement the other innovations that were being incorporated throughout the airport, including digital touchscreen directories, according to the press release.
During the RFP review process, the MAC decided that Crane’s Merchant Media machines best represented the technology they were looking for to meet their needs. The contract was awarded to Theisen Vending Co. in Golden Valley, Minn. who, together with local distributor Lieberman Companies, worked to secure and install 18 of Crane’s new Merchant Media snack machines and 31 BevMAX Media cold beverage machines. Each piece of equipment is completely integrated with Crane’s Currenza™ Navigator telemetry device, credit card swipe, bill validator, coin mechanism and virtual on-screen features including access to nutritional facts and a new virtual shopping cart that enhances the shopping experience.
“We are very excited to be a part of this monumental project,” said Kurk Johnson, sales manager, Lieberman Companies, in a prepared statement. “We’ve been a distributor of Crane’s equipment for many years, and we are familiar with the level of quality they produce. The Media machine has so much to offer not only to the consumer, but the operator, as well; it really is the perfect fit for this location.”
“We were looking for a vending partner that would provide a state-of-the-art vending approach to fulfilling customers’ needs,” said Matt Grimm, MAC concessions and business development manager. “We live in a society where busy travelers value convenience and are used to having the information they want at their fingertips. The Media’s ability to display nutritional facts on a modern touchscreen and accept large bills and credit cards were major selling points for us. Plus, the machines really get people’s attention; their sleek, modern appeal catches people’s eye and invites them to take a closer look at the food and beverage choices available to them.”
To ensure consistency across all of the machines in the airport, and enhance their own efficiencies, Theisen Vending retrofitted several of the remaining installed base of machines with Navigators and Crane’s cashless solution so that one processor and reporting system can be used to monitor cashless transactions for the entire location. Additionally, Theisen Vending is utilizing Crane’s Streamware Vending Management System, VendMAX, to conduct pre-kitting and cashless reconciliation.
“We wanted a streamlined approach to servicing the Minneapolis Airport, and Crane’s vast portfolio of solutions enables that, from equipment, to telemetry, cashless and vending management,” said Dale Lund, general manager, Theisen Vending. “Even when it came to installing and testing the machines, Crane’s approach to field service, coupled with Lieberman’s support, was extremely helpful in implementing this new vending program at this location.”
