According to Bevi, a company that manufactures innovative and sustainable beverage dispensers, over 8 million tonnes of plastic waste is estimated to be dumped into our oceans each year. In response to this, the company is on a mission to keep single-use bottles and cans from landfill and help reduce carbon footprint. Not only that, Bevi’s beverage dispensers combine filtered water with flavours and fizz, all whilst saving the planet. But how did they manage this?
Why Did They Need Taoglas’ Help?
Taoglas uses the latest high-performance materials to develop leading antenna and RF components. Using these materials enables the company to deliver performance and reliability customers can trust. The portfolio includes embedded & internal antennas, magnetics, cable assemblies, and connectors. Taoglas has unique knowledge in integrating, certifying, and commercialising highly complex technology solutions.
Discover Taoglas’s antenna solutions…
The Challenge
Bevi dispensers need a dependable internet connection in order for Bevi and its partners to guarantee that they are constantly fully stocked and operating as intended. “Maintaining connectivity to the machines is a key part of the value proposition that we offer,” says David Skocypec, Vice President of Hardware Engineering at Bevi. First-generation Bevi dispensers typically use Wi-Fi, such as the customer’s office network, Ethernet, or an external cellular modem.
For its second generation, Bevi wanted to offer embedded cellular connectivity, which would allow for greater flexibility and lower cost and ensure all machines are connected to their cloud service. The company required an antenna that could continue to provide a dependable cellular connection even in situations where dispensers are positioned far inside buildings, where signals are weakened by steel, drywall, and concrete. In addition, the antenna needed to be simple to install and have a flush design rather than protruding from the dispenser.
The Solution
Bevi decided on the Taoglas FXUB66, a flexible wideband antenna that can operate in the 600–6000 MHz range and is compatible with all cellular, NB-IoT, Cat-M, and Wi-Fi bands. The FXP810, a flexible, highly efficient dual-band Wi-Fi antenna, was selected for independent Wi-Fi connectivity. Because of this flexibility, Bevi can select a mobile provider that offers the best rates and coverage in all of the US and Canadian markets that it serves.
Bevi initially considered other antenna vendors but chose Taoglas for several reasons. One was that the other vendors couldn’t meet Bevi’s integration requirements, such as adhesive mounting and in the ideal location while maintaining optimum performance. Another reason was Skocypec’s positive experiences with Taoglas solutions at his previous company, where he got immediate answers to questions about mobile operator certification and other implementation aspects.
Within a week, we had samples that we could prototype and test. Another advantage of Taoglas is that we were able to order customised antennas directly. They were built with cables to length, and with our connectors, which is a huge benefit [compared to] off-the-shelf products. Taoglas is very flexible.
David Skocypec, Vice President of Hardware Engineering at Bevi.
The Outcome
With Taoglas’ FXUB66 and FXP810, Bevi has successfully introduced its next-generation Bevi 2.0 Stand Up dispenser. “It was quite simple,” David Skocypec remarks. “No surprises were encountered. Taoglas gave our manufacturing partner mounting instructions and timely supply of antennas. It happened fast and smoothly. Bevi 2.0 systems never run out of flavours or bubbles because they are always online. Bevi and Taoglas take pride in their efforts to reduce the initial production of single-use bottles and cans and to keep them out of landfills.
Since 2014, the company has helped businesses and their employees keep over 200 million single-use bottles and cans out of landfills.
