BeerBox vending machine on expanding LI firm's list of projects

BeerBox, the vending machine developed by Intelligent Product Solutions, can dispense open cans of beer at sporting events. Credit: Intelligent Product Solutions
Intelligent Product Solutions, a technology design firm acquired a year ago by a public company in Florida, is expanding to leased space in Ronkonkoma.
The company, known as IPS and headquartered at 700 Veterans Hwy. in Hauppauge, was bought in January 2018 by Forward Industries of West Palm Beach in a cash, stock and debt deal worth about $7 million.
Eleven-year-old IPS, whose projects include an innovative BeerBox vending machine for a unit of Anheuser-Busch InBev SA, is adding about 4,800 square feet of leased space in Ronkonkoma for light manufacturing and assembly.
Now a Forward Industries subsidiary, IPS will maintain its current 14,000-square-foot base in Hauppauge, about 5 miles from the new Ronkonoma facility at 11 Comac St., officials said.
Mitchell Maiman, president and chief executive of IPS, said the company's evolution requires more space.
"We've been doing a lot more physical prototyping than we ever envisioned," he said. "We're starting to do some light manufacturing as well."
IPS, with 64 employees, plans to move into the Ronkonkoma facility in February and add an unspecified number of workers as business increases, he said.

The BeerBox, developed for a unit of Anheuser-Busch InBev, can dispense a 25-ounce beer in under 45 seconds. Credit: Intelligent Product Solutions
The BeerBox for Zx Ventures, the global innovation unit of Belgium-based AB InBev, dispenses a 25-ounce can of beer and opens it.
The vending machine's innovation of opened cans puts them in compliance with regulations at many sporting events.
"Nobody's ever tried to dispense an open can of beer or any beverage," said Maiman, who added that the device should reduce lines and increase sales between innings and at halftime of sporting events.
The product's website says it will deliver a 35-degree can of Budweiser within 45 seconds after payment.
For another client, Google parent Alphabet Inc., IPS worked to develop the Jamboard, a mobile 55-inch digital whiteboard that includes video conferencing.
Maiman said the Manufacturing and Technology Resource Consortium at Stony Brook University will help defray the cost of the equipment IPS installs at the new Ronkonkoma site.
The consortium is part of the New York Manufacturing Extension Partnership, which is supported by state and federal funding.
Acting as the broker for IPS in the Ronkonkoma leasing transaction was Jim Dunn of Melville-based Atlantic Property Services LLC.

Things to do now on LI Rock climbing? Indoor beach volleyball? Water parks? Arts and crafts? NewsdayTV's Elisa DiStefano and Newsday deputy lifestyle editor Meghan Giannotta have your look at ways to spend your winter break.

Things to do now on LI Rock climbing? Indoor beach volleyball? Water parks? Arts and crafts? NewsdayTV's Elisa DiStefano and Newsday deputy lifestyle editor Meghan Giannotta have your look at ways to spend your winter break.