China: Vending machine peels, squeezes, pours fresh orange juice on demand
The machine is stocked with whole oranges that are peeled, squeezed, and served in a cup to the customer all in a few seconds. There’s no sugar, preservatives, or other additives involved. The price? A modest RMB 10 (US$1.63).
Founder Zhou Qi spent seven years living in France where he earned his Masters degree in microelectronics. While there, he drank fresh squeezed orange juice nearly every day. This inspired him to veer from a traditional job at a big electronics manufacturer and start Vingoo.
Originally, Zhou made a machine that offered four fruits: bananas, pears, apples, and oranges. The customer would be able choose which combination of fruits he or she wants, along with the option to add milk. But this became unsustainable due to the complexity and higher maintenance required, so the company narrowed it down to the best-selling product: orange juice. The four-fruit machine might make a return at a later date, however. The company has obtained 16 patents on its tech.
Source: techinasia.com
