Dixie-Narco
| Company type | Brand |
|---|---|
| Industry | Vending machines |
| Fate | Brand discontinued in 2017 and consolidated under Crane Merchandising Systems |
| Headquarters | Williston , United States |
| Owner | Crane Payment Innovations |
Dixie-Narco was an American brand specializing in soda vending machines, headquartered in Williston, South Carolina, and owned by Crane Payment Innovations.
History and overview
Originally established in Ranson, West Virginia, the company moved its manufacturing operations to Williston in 1989. Once a division of Maytag, Dixie-Narco later became part of Crane Payment Innovations, which also manages the Crane National, Glasco Polyvend Lektrovend (GPL), and Automatic Products (APi) brands.
During the 1960s, Dixie-Narco was a pioneer in implementing employee-driven cost reduction strategies, notably adopting the Rucker "share of production" system to lower manufacturing expenses.
In 2017, the Dixie-Narco brand was discontinued along with National, GPL, and Automatic Products as they were consolidated under the Crane Merchandising Systems (CMS) brand. Glass-front vending machines originally branded as Dixie-Narco continue to be manufactured under CMS.
Legal conflict with Donald Trump
In 1991, Dixie-Narco engaged in litigation involving Donald Trump concerning his Taj Mahal Casino located in Atlantic City. The company asserted that $6 million was owed for supplying 1,350 bill-changing machines and challenged the bond-holder approval process during Trump's Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing. Trump responded by claiming that many of the machines were prone to frequent malfunctions. The matter was resolved through a settlement involving a $2.4 million payment arrangement and the return of 500 machines to Dixie-Narco, which led to the withdrawal of their opposition to Trump's debt restructuring plan.
Glass front vending machines
- DN 3800 (compact capacity)/DN 5800 (extended capacity) - these glass-front vending units utilize a robotic cup mechanism to select and dispense products. Launched in 2006 as the Bevmax 2EP, they were upgraded in 2008 to the Bevmax 3, featuring a taller delivery cup and increased speed. The Bevmax 4, introduced in 2009, enhanced vend speed and energy efficiency with optional LED illumination, complying with Tier 2 (and later Tier 3) Energy Star criteria. In 2012, the Bevmax Media variant incorporated a color touchscreen LCD alongside an integrated payment system supporting credit/debit cards, large bills, coins, and mobile wallet transactions. The Bevmax 4 is offered either unbranded or through select Coca-Cola, Pepsi, and Keurig Dr. Pepper distributors.
Traditional (stack) vending machines
Dixie-Narco's stack-type vendors are identified by can capacity and series designation (for example, 501E refers to an E-series machine holding 501 cans).
- DNCB series - current ADA-compliant multiprice stack vending machines available in small (448-7) or large (640-10) configurations.
- P-series - multiprice stack vendors manufactured until 2013 when updated ADA regulations came into effect; offered in small (504P) or large (720P) sizes.
- E-series - produced from the mid-1990s through late 2000s; available in small (276E), medium (501E), or large (600E) capacities; featured an extended cabinet design accommodating two rows of 20oz sodas.
- ER/R-Series - single-price stack vendors sharing components with the E-series, primarily used for Tropicana and Veryfine Juice products.
- T-series - smaller single-price stack vending machines mainly designed for cans.
- Single price - earlier generation single-price stack vendors that evolved from flat-front designs with protruding ports to rounded bubble-front styles.
Glass-front vending machines
- DN 3500/DN 5500 Beveragemax - earlier generation free-fall style glass-front vending machines dating back to the late 1990s.
- DN 3000/DN 5000 - elevator-type glass-front vending units produced for specific Coca-Cola bottlers; phased out by 2009 and succeeded by the Bevmax 4 series.
- DN 3591, 5591, 2145, 2045 - bottle drop style glass-front vendors; the DN 3591 was marketed as "Babybev," while the DN 5591 carried the name "Bevmax1."
- DN 3/5800-2, -3 - Bevmax models 2 and 3 incorporating robotic retrieval systems, which later advanced into the current Bevmax 4 design.