Smart pickup station for gas cylinders
Easy transfer of LPG cylinders to residential and commercial customers.
Almost everyone who uses gas cylinders knows that the gas always runs out at the most inconvenient times, especially outside opening hours or on Sundays. A smart pick-up station for gas cylinders offers a solution here.
But also on the dealer side, the sale of gas cylinders can often represent a significant additional expense. Customers often arrive at off-peak times, or in the worst case, only one employee is in the store and has to lock it to fetch a cylinder.
A smart pick-up station for gas cylinders from Variocube is ideal for precisely these scenarios:
Fully digitalised, linked to your ERP systems or as an independent system with an online shop. Payment can be made at the checkout via the online shop or at the terminal. Your customers will receive the right gas cylinder at any time. Even on the weekend, just in time for the barbecue.
Meets safety standards
Our cabinet systems meet all current standards for the storage of gas cylinders, and the locks used are explosion-proof.
Output from vending machine
The new bottle(s) is issued directly at the vending machine using an access code or after completion of the purchase process at the terminal.
Returns are also possible
The empty bottle can also be returned via the system. The bottle insert can be refunded after the inspection.
Interfaces to your systems
Using the API, the gas cylinder pickup station can work with your ERP or webshop system.
Challenges for the trade in dealing with gas cylinders
Gas bottles are not allowed in the sales room!
Due to safety regulations, gas cylinders may not be stored in the sales room. Therefore, they are often stored locked away in outdoor areas.
Business premises are unattended during this time.
To retrieve the required gas cylinder from an outside area, an employee must leave the shop and lock it if necessary.
Simple assembly - craneable unit
The Variocube automatic gas bottle dispenser can be supplied as a ready-made, craneable unit. Assembly and commissioning on site are therefore possible very quickly. Even subsequent changes of location can be carried out easily and cost-effectively; all that is required is a suitable base and a 230V power connection.
Integration into your ERP system
With more than 20 years of experience in we can offer you an optimal solution for the connection of your connection of your IT systems. Due to the fact that the systems are cloud-based cloud-based, all you need is a connection to our VC-Core system and you can control all your control all your systems. Scaling your business model, which involves a larger rollout, is therefore child's play after the first system has been commissioned!
How can the transfer of gas cylinders proceed?
- The gas cylinders are kept in stock at the plant.
- The customer pays for the gas cylinder in the store at the checkout or in the online store.
- A collection code is issued with which the corresponding compartment can be opened. (*)
- The gas cylinder is removed and deducted from the storage level in the system.
(*) In case of payment at the terminal of the facility, the corresponding compartment will open after completion of the purchase process.
Available payment options for your gas cylinder pick-up station.
To offer all customer groups the greatest possible shopping convenience, you have the option of using a wide variety of payment systems or combining them freely.
In this way, a suitable customer journey can be offered to every customer. Whether it is the classic purchase with subsequent payment at the checkout or the spontaneous purchase decision after closing time directly at the terminal.
Online in webshop
Variocube offers you a complete gas cylinder webshop, which only has to be website, which only needs to be linked. The shop can be adapted to your CI so that your customers are in "their online world" when they buy! Payment is made with nowadays common payment options (credit card, debit card, Paypal, Apple Pay, etc.)
Directly at the vending machine
We install Valina payment terminals (contactless payment, chip cards, magnetic cards). SIX Payment is our partner, with whom you directly conclude the payment contract, so that the sales land directly with them.
Payment at the checkout in the store
A connection of your merchandise management system and/or your cash register system can be made centrally to our VC-Core system via the Variocube WEB-API. With one connection, all your systems are connected centrally; the VC-Core System takes care of the communication with the individual systems.
Specially adapted hardware.
Maximum safety - electronics separated from gas.
Special attention had to be paid to the safety of the installation with regard to explosion and fire hazards:
- The operating terminal was designed as a separate unit in order to realise a spatial separation of the current-carrying system parts from the stored gas cylinders.
- Special locks are used to exclude the possibility of sparks.
- Variocube automatic gas cylinder dispensers therefore meet all safety standards and specifications.
Cabinet system with adapted dimensions.
In order to make optimal use of the available space, the dimensions of the lockers have been adapted. Since gas cylinders do not require the ProLine standard depth of 650mm, a new compartment depth of 350mm was produced. The units are therefore narrower, which means that the available space can be used better and the required installation area is reduced overall.
Specifications
Variocube ProLine Module
10 x VC-3S-G
1 x VC-T-G
Compartment interior sizes [W x H x D mm]
10 x 3U: 320 x 430 x 350
10 x 4U: 320 x 580 x 350
10 x 5U: 320 x 730 x 350
Frame construction
Quality product - Made in Austria,
exceptionally stable executed in metal.
FAQ: Why do customers and operators benefit from using a smart pick-up station as a gas cylinder vending machine?
What is a smart pick-up station for gas cylinders?
A smart gas cylinder pick-up station is a vending machine that allows customers to buy or exchange gas cylinders by picking them up at a secure station and completing the purchase process via an electronic system.
How does an intelligent collection station for gas cylinders work?
The customer selects the desired gas cylinder size and pays the purchase price via an electronic payment method directly on the system or pays in the shop and receives a pick-up voucher there. The corresponding compartment then opens from which the gas cylinder can be removed. After the cylinder has been removed, the pick-up station closes automatically.
What advantages do customers have from a smart pick-up station for gas cylinders?
Customers can buy or exchange gas cylinders around the clock without having to rely on staffing. Operating the pick-up station is simple and convenient. Customers save time as the purchase process can be completed quickly and is also possible at the weekend.
How do operators benefit from a smart pick-up station for gas cylinders?
Operators can offer their customers an additional service and extend their business hours without having to hire additional staff. The collection station enables efficient inventory management and monitoring of the gas cylinders.
Are the gas cylinders safe in the smart pick-up station?
Yes, the gas cylinders are safely stored in the pick-up station. The collection station is robust and protected against unauthorised access. The operator has control over access and can monitor the status of the collection station.
What happens if a gas cylinder is damaged or empty?
In case of a damaged or empty gas cylinder, the customer can leave it at the collection station and notify the customer service or the operator. The customer service can check the cylinder and replace it if necessary.
Why is the control unit in a separate unit without gas cylinders?
For safety reasons, the control unit is placed in a separate module to minimise any risk of gas leakage or accident. This ensures that the pick-up station and the control unit are separated for maximum safety.
Which payment methods are accepted?
The smart pick-up station accepts various electronic payment methods such as credit cards, debit cards or mobile payment apps.
Is there a way to check the current stock of gas cylinders at the collection station?
Yes, operators can monitor the current stock of gas cylinders in the collection station and refill them in time if necessary. This minimises bottlenecks and ensures continuous availability for customers.
Is there a way to report feedback or problems with the gas cylinder pick-up station?
Yes, customers can report feedback or problems with the smart pick-up station to the operator. There is usually a contact number or email address to get assistance.
