Are you in the market for any type of soda fountain machines or post-mix fountain equipment? SC Beverage, Inc. has over 70 years of knowledge combined on a wide variety of dispensers ? counter electrics, drop-ins, ice combos, bar guns and juicers.
To help you get started, this article outlines the various functions of soda fountains and what you will need. Whether you need a simple soda fountain or an installation and service expert, SC Beverage, Inc. can satisfy your thirst for the latest in high quality soft drink equipment.
What is a Soda Foundation Machine?
A soda fountain is a device that dispenses carbonated soft drinks, called fountain drinks. They can be found in restaurants, movie theatre concession stands, and other locations such as convenience stores. The device combines flavored syrup or syrup concentrate and carbon dioxide with chilled and purified water to make soft drinks, either manually or in a vending machine, which is essentially an automated soda fountain. Today, the syrup is often pumped from a special container called a bag-in-a-box (BIB).
How Does It Work?
In a soda fountain machine, CO2 is dissolved into water by lowering the temperature of the water or increasing the pressure of the CO2 gas using a carbonator. Booster pumps force the water to increase in pressure, allowing the CO2 to dissolve into the water.
Soda water is then mixed with flavored syrup in order to create the soft drink. The syrup and carbonated water mix together and exit out of the nozzle, which is activated when the customer pushes down on a lever. The syrup is often stored in plastic bags that are connected to the tubes. The soda flavoring is drawn from the plastic bags using air pressure when the customer pushes down the lever.
In addition, the ice bin keeps the soda cold and also provides customers with ice for their drinks. The ice dispenser contains a rotary device that slowly pushes the ice toward an opening. The ice falls through the opening, down a chute and into the customer?s drink. A bin at the bottom with a grate over it catches the ice cubes.
What Equipment Will I Need?
A soda fountain bag-in-a-box system will need a:
Dispenser (soda gun, draft arm, tower, counter electric, drop-in, ice/beverage combo)
Cooling system (cold plate, remote cooler, etc.)
CO2 tank,
Regulators
Syrup pumps (primary and secondary)
Hose/tubing (high pressure and BIB hose)
Carbonator
Stainless fittings
BIB connectors (1 for each syrup pump)
Syrup
How Much Space Do I Need for a Soda Fountain Machine?
Soda fountains come in a variety of shapes and sizes and the support equipment components are no different. Generally speaking, the boxes of syrup and the CO2 tank typically takes up most of the space (5-gallon syrup boxes are 11?x15?x?).
Syrup pumps can be configured in different ways to best utilize the available space. It can be mounted sideways to use less horizontal space and be in a single row/column or multiple rows/columns.
Standard carbonators are approximately 12? x 12? x 12? and a 20lb. CO2 tank is typically 28? tall and 8? in diameter.
We?ll configure each component part according to your specifications.
How Do I Get Started?
If you are in the market for any type of soda fountains or post-mix fountain equipment, it is important to consider your options. Located in Whittier, CA, our team of experts is here to help you through the process. Call us at (562) 463?8918 for a free site evaluation.
SC Beverage, Inc. offers a team of seasoned veterans in the industry combined with a youthful, innovative staff who will work with you to provide what you need. With satisfied customers throughout the West, SC Beverage, Inc. is ready to serve you in providing installations and service of post-mix fountain, bar gun systems, custom beer systems, along with the distribution of beverage conduit and the sales of ice makers. Contact us today for a consultation.
