Sports-O-Zone Self-Service Kiosks Are New Non Franchise Business Opportunity for Locker Rooms, Gyms, Health Clubs, Workout Centers and Sports Facilities
System helps prevent spread of MRSA and staph infection by ozone-sanitizing sports equipment and athletic equipment.
West Chester, PA (PRWEB) December 12, 2005
A new self-service kiosk is available that that ozone-sanitizes sports equipment to help prevent the spread of MRSA and staph infection. Sports-O-Zone's (www. sportsozone. com) patented Equipment Deodorizing and Sanitizing Self-Service System – integrated with the new MEI Combo Acceptor that accepts cash-and-credit card payments – are installed at sports facilities nationwide to help prevent infections that could sideline professional and amateur athletes.
Already installed in over 30 sports facilities including in the NFL St. Louis Rams’ locker room, the new ozone-sanitizing system enables athletes to completely clean and sanitize their clothing and sports equipment in just five minutes for $10. The system was developed to inhibit the spread of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA) and other bacterial infections and viruses through athletic equipment at gyms, health clubs, workout centers and sports facilities.
In the case of MRSA, the New England Journal of Medicine (http://content. nejm. org/ (http://content. nejm. org/)) reports that about 2 million people develop a dangerous infection each year in the U. S – many of whom are athletes. In addition, both the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and National Federation of High School Associations have issued alerts on skin infections, and NFL medical staff have received Centers for Disease Control (CDC) documentation on MRSA infections. As the CDC explains, the infection is spread via contact with infected persons or by contact with shared equipment that carry the bacteria, and can affect the skin, heart, and central nervous system. [More information available at http://signonsandiego. printthis. clickability. com/pt/cpt? action=cpt&title=Battling+a+superbug (http://signonsandiego. printthis. clickability. com/pt/cpt? action=cpt&title=Battling+a+superbug)]
Sports-O-Zone self-service kiosks use ozone gas to kill 99.99% of microorganisms without any residue or odor. Unlike other locker room sanitizing systems, the Sports-O-Zone system efficiently dispenses ozone gas to effectively permeate all the crevices in the equipment, including those not easily reached with sprays or other types of disinfectants.
The Sports-O-Zone ozone sanitizing system is a 4 feet tall by 5 feet wide front-loading machine that is installed in a locker room, arena, or other sports facility. Users open the door, insert the load of equipment and clothing, close the door, and either insert a $10 bill or swipe their credit card. This new business opportunity requires no “consumables” like detergent or other disinfectants, as it converts regular air to ozone gas. Facilities that install the system enjoy virtually indefinite, maintenance-free operation. It is capable of “cleaning” over two hundred loads per day, generating over $2,500 in revenue.
According to Sports-O-Zone president Pat McKenna, “The Sports-O-Zone ozone sanitizing system in the Burnsville Ice Arena (Burnsville, MN) has been operating for over two years without maintenance. Not only does it improve the safety and cleanliness of the users of the facility and equipment, it’s really a cash cow for the operator of the facility.”
MEI’s Combo Acceptor payment system was integrated in May 2005 and marks the first major implementation of the product line in the field. Sports-O-Zone evaluated various cash acceptor products before selecting MEI for its self-service kiosk. A history of reliable performance, customer payment flexibility, and a PC-based wireless credit card acceptor were the key reasons they selected the MEI Combo Acceptor for this new business opportunity. “About 40% of customers choose to pay with cash so the decision to offer both cash and credit is really paying off,” concluded McKenna.
About MEI’s Combo Acceptor
The MEI Series 2000 Combo Acceptor features a Series 2000 bill acceptor and a debris-resistant, swipe-style credit card reader. Credit card transactions are integrated through the kiosk for delivery to the vendor’s backend system. MEI’s Series 2000 bill acceptors use advanced optical scanning technology to identify and validate legitimate bills in virtually any condition. They exceed industry standards for the acceptance of wet, damaged, and crinkled bills; accept coupons; and meet the MEI Gold Standard for water resistance with full fluid protection and jam resistance, preventing shorted boards.
About MEI
MEI systems are relied upon for more than 1 billion transactions per week in 90 countries. The company developed the first electronic coin mechanism in the 1960s, followed by the first electronic non-contact bill acceptor, and more recently its vending management system. Today MEI has the largest worldwide installed base of unattended payment mechanisms. In 2004, MEI reached a milestone of selling more than 3.5 million bill acceptors, 4.5 million coin mechanisms and 1 million control boards worldwide. Its products are in widespread use in the vending, soft drink, gaming, amusement, transportation, retail, and kiosk markets. For more information on MEI and its products, visit www. meiglobal. comwww. meiglobal. com/kiosks (http://www. meiglobal. comwww. meiglobal. com/kiosks) or call 1-800-345-8215.
About Sports-O-Zone
Sports-O-Zone is a privately held company based in Elkhart, Indiana. For more information, visit www. sportsozone. com.
Editors’ Note: A high-resolution photo is available for download at www. schubert. com/media (http://www. schubert. com/media). Simply use the drop-down menu to choose MEI, then follow instructions to download appropriate photo.
Contacts:
Chris Henneghan
Senior PR Account Executive, MEI
610-269-2100 x230
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