ID :
55282
Tue, 04/14/2009 - 05:59
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/55282
The shortlink copeid
FOCUS: Machines dispensing free drinks after natural disasters increasing+
TOKYO, April 13 Kyodo - A growing number of municipalities across Japan are installing vending machines designed to dispense drinks free of charge in the event of major earthquakes or
other disasters such as storms and floods.
The machines carry a notice on the front saying they can dispense drinks for
free in times of emergencies, and could prove useful for people in need of
liquids in areas where waterworks and transport routes have been cut off.
Marketing and consultation firm Fuji Keizai said the market for such vending
machines rose 35 percent from 2007 to about 3 billion yen last year, and
predicted further expansion to about 7 billion yen in 2013.
The Kyoto municipal transportation bureau set up 35 such vending machines in
all 31 subway stations in Kyoto in September last year. Each machine is
equipped with built-in batteries that start to function through a simple
operation by a station staffer so that passengers can just take a can or bottle
of water or juice.
Each machine installed at the stations can store up to about 600 bottles. The
idea is that such machines will bring relief to people if water supply trucks
are unable to operate due to cuts in water supplies.
The agreement signed between the Kyoto city office and the beverage maker
called for the latter to shoulder the cost of the free drinks. In addition, the
transportation bureau will earn about 60 million yen a year as its share of
sales of drinks from the machines, which operate as ordinary dispensers in
normal times.
In return, the sales company will benefit from an enhanced image as a firm that
contributes to society.
Kyoto's subway stations were subject to restrictions imposed by the nation's
road law because they run beneath a network on numerous roads. In the past,
beverage manufacturers could not get permission from the state and the city
office to install vending machines underground.
Permission was given this time because such vending machines conformed to the
municipality's policy on measures to cope with disasters and because they will
be under the full management of the transportation bureau, according to the
city's construction bureau.
A staff member of a drinks company said, ''We can expect increases in sales in
the future if we open channels with government and municipal offices on setting
up such disaster-adaptable dispensers in halls and gymnasiums they own where
many people gather.''
Shipments of beverage vending machines have been on the decrease as a result of
rises in the number of convenience stores. The dispenser industry maintained a
level of 130 billion yen in shipments a year until fiscal 2005 but the value
dropped to about 120 billion yen and 115 billion yen in fiscal 2006 and 2007,
respectively.
But Fuji Keizai said the growing trend in the market for such dispensers is
likely to continue since local governments have become aware of the need to
better deal with disasters.
==Kyodo
other disasters such as storms and floods.
The machines carry a notice on the front saying they can dispense drinks for
free in times of emergencies, and could prove useful for people in need of
liquids in areas where waterworks and transport routes have been cut off.
Marketing and consultation firm Fuji Keizai said the market for such vending
machines rose 35 percent from 2007 to about 3 billion yen last year, and
predicted further expansion to about 7 billion yen in 2013.
The Kyoto municipal transportation bureau set up 35 such vending machines in
all 31 subway stations in Kyoto in September last year. Each machine is
equipped with built-in batteries that start to function through a simple
operation by a station staffer so that passengers can just take a can or bottle
of water or juice.
Each machine installed at the stations can store up to about 600 bottles. The
idea is that such machines will bring relief to people if water supply trucks
are unable to operate due to cuts in water supplies.
The agreement signed between the Kyoto city office and the beverage maker
called for the latter to shoulder the cost of the free drinks. In addition, the
transportation bureau will earn about 60 million yen a year as its share of
sales of drinks from the machines, which operate as ordinary dispensers in
normal times.
In return, the sales company will benefit from an enhanced image as a firm that
contributes to society.
Kyoto's subway stations were subject to restrictions imposed by the nation's
road law because they run beneath a network on numerous roads. In the past,
beverage manufacturers could not get permission from the state and the city
office to install vending machines underground.
Permission was given this time because such vending machines conformed to the
municipality's policy on measures to cope with disasters and because they will
be under the full management of the transportation bureau, according to the
city's construction bureau.
A staff member of a drinks company said, ''We can expect increases in sales in
the future if we open channels with government and municipal offices on setting
up such disaster-adaptable dispensers in halls and gymnasiums they own where
many people gather.''
Shipments of beverage vending machines have been on the decrease as a result of
rises in the number of convenience stores. The dispenser industry maintained a
level of 130 billion yen in shipments a year until fiscal 2005 but the value
dropped to about 120 billion yen and 115 billion yen in fiscal 2006 and 2007,
respectively.
But Fuji Keizai said the growing trend in the market for such dispensers is
likely to continue since local governments have become aware of the need to
better deal with disasters.
==Kyodo
