The Mentor Group
Modernizing vending machine
payment systems
Project Overview
The Mentor Group (TMG) was an leader in the custom vending machine space, but faced a critical industry limitation: vending machines were restricted to cash payments.
In 2008, they predicted the transition from cash to card and wanted to create a debit/credit payment system for their custom vending machines.
Project Overview
The Mentor Group (TMG) was an leader in the custom vending machine space, but faced a critical industry limitation: vending machines were restricted to cash payments.
In 2008, they predicted the transition from cash to card and wanted to create a debit/credit payment system for their custom vending machines.
The project before NEDlabs
TMG had established a strong presence in the vending industry with thousands of custom kiosks across North America and Europe. By 2008, they recognized the need for fundamental innovation:
- Traditional machines were limited to coin payments, constraining product pricing
- They needed seamless integration of mechanical components, electronics, and software
- The project required developing technology with no industry precedent
Their initial engineering partner couldn’t execute the complete vision, and TMG was under time and financial pressure to show rapid results.
How we helped
NEDlabs took over the technical development, bringing a comprehensive approach to this ambitious project. Rather than simply providing isolated engineering services, NEDlabs became an end-to-end partner in developing TMG’s vision.
Services Provided:
End to end development of point-of-sale technology
Mechanical, hardware, firmware design and integration
Prototype development and testing
Manufacturing and patent application support
Notable Challenges
The project required creating a completely novel system with no prior work to follow. NEDlabs had to design and integrate dozens of components across mechanical, electronic, and software domains—from product bins and dispensing mechanisms to payment processing and touchscreen interfaces.
What we Achieved
The partnership between TMG and NEDlabs resulted in a market-changing product that delivered measurable results:
Secured a $4 million contract with Nestle Foods for 325 kiosks
Helped TMG secure an additional $600,000 in equity funding
Deployed approximately 400 units throughout North America and Europe
Created valuable intellectual property through multiple patents
"Working with Graham was a great pleasure for several years. I think that the time he was involved at TMG, his contributions were invaluable."
Chris Lock, CEO at The Mentor Group
Electronics & Embedded Systems Design, Software Development, Testing, Integration