Install service
Upstairs vending installs — stair-climb, done right.
No lift? First floor or second floor? We install through it. Powered stair-climber trolley, 2–3 person crew, machines moved empty, front door off if the doorway is tight. $0 to the workplace.
How the day runs
What actually happens when the machine has to go upstairs
A standard combo vending machine weighs 250–300 kg empty. Getting one up a flight of stairs and turned on a tight landing is genuine work — but it's routine work for a crew that does it every week. Here's how we plan and run a stair install so it lands square in the lunch room, not in the driveway.
1. Site walk before the truck rolls
On the qualification call we confirm floor number, stair type (straight, dog-leg, spiral), landing width, doorway width, and any heritage load restrictions. If the path won't take a fridge on wheels, we say so up front.
2. Powered stair-climber trolley
Heavy-duty electric climber grips each riser and lifts the load one step at a time. Two crew steady the machine top and bottom, a third spots the landing turn. Safe for up to two flights on standard commercial stairs.
3. Front door off, if the doorway is tight
Combo machines are 650–730 mm deep. Internal office doorways can be 720 mm. When the numbers get close, we pop the top hinge pin and lift the door off — shaving 25–35 kg and dropping the depth 60–80 mm. Re-hung on site.
4. Position, plug in, stock, telemetry live
Machine is squared up, connected to a standard 10 A GPO, cashless reader activated, stock loaded. Typical on-site time: 60–90 minutes for a first-floor install.
Field notes
Want the operator's-eye view of a first-floor install? Read the field note behind this service page — real machines, real stairwells, real doorway workarounds.
Read: Moving a vending machine upstairs →FAQ
Upstairs install — FAQ
Can you install a vending machine on the first or second floor with no lift?+
Yes. With a powered stair-climber trolley and a 2–3 person crew, one and two flights are routine. We assess the stair type, landing radius and doorway width before delivery, and remove the machine's front door when the frame is tight.
How heavy is a vending machine on the day of install?+
A standard snack + drink combo machine is 250–300 kg empty. We always move machines empty — stock is loaded once the machine is in position.
Does the workplace pay extra for a stair-climb install?+
No. On the free vending program, install cost — including the stair-climber, crew, and any door-off work — is absorbed by the operator. The workplace pays $0.
What stairwells will you not install through?+
Spiral staircases, narrow heritage walk-ups with sharp entry angles, and upper floors with strict load restrictions. We flag it on the qualification call, not on the day.
How long does an upstairs install take on site?+
Typical first-floor combo install is 60–90 minutes on site once the truck arrives — longer if the front door needs removing or the doorway is a very tight fit.
Ready for a free vending machine at your workplace?
Two quick questions and you're on your way. No contract lock-ins, no hidden fees.