私たちが毎日、当たり前のように利用することの多いJR東日本の駅構内の自販機。あの大きな機械がどうやって設置されたか考えたことがある人はいるでしょうか。ましてや作業風景を見たことあるという人はほとんどいないかもしれません。
というのも、あの自販機たちは、私たちが家路についた後、終電から始発までの間に設置されているからです！　そこで今回は、深夜の四ッ谷駅に潜入し、都内の自販機設置を一手に引き受けるプロフェッショナルの職人技に密着取材しました！

Carrying a vending machine, setting it up, turning it on ... seems like a fairly simple task, isn't it? Simply put, that's it. However, by the time the work is completed, professional knowledge and experience, and pressure that we can not imagine exist.

A story to Mr. Shuhei Ogawa who works at a company that is primarily responsible for installing vending machines for each station in the city of JR East in order to explore the back side of such work, and the whole picture (?) Of the work of actually installing vending machines. I asked for Of course, we actually infiltrate the site of vending machine installation!

Mr. Ogawa is a veteran with a career of more than 20 years in vending machines. It is a company responsible for the installation of vending machines for each station in Tokyo in JR East, and it is about 12 years to build a career. Prior to that, he worked for about eight years with an operator who refills vending machines for more than 20 years.ekinakaInstalled inacureWe have been involved in the business related to "drink vending machines", focusing on vending machines.

The work of installing the vending machine is "safety first" and "fight against time" regardless of where it is placed. The vending machine can be installed in the station of JR East in Tokyo only at the time when the shutter from the first train was closed after the last station had no customers in the station. Yes, only a few hours are given to work. It is impossible to delay the first flight ... In other words, a one minute delay is not acceptable. "Because of that, preparation is very important," Ogawa says.

"There is work like all day long, but there is no same work as one. If the station and the type of vending machine to be installed are different, the breakdown of the work will also change. Check the information against the past data on which station and which vending machine, and the specific work, its flow, and possible risks and countermeasures, etc. That's why it's very important to have this kind of preparation and prior meetings just because it's a time game.

Well, even if you say a vending machine,acureThere are various types and sizes of vending machines, and various types and designs of stations. It can be imagined that this will be a fairly high-level task if you have to deal with that "various" and have to get it done in time.

A late-night station yard with no people. Let's adhere closely to the hot work of the work team, which takes place every day in such a quiet place!

"To install this day,acureAmong the lineup of vending machines, developed for working womennaturacure". It is intended for women and has been given original wrapping with the theme of nature etc.naturacureAnd, it was before midnight that a truck loaded with equipment for setting arrived at Yotsuya Station. It is less than one hour until the last train leaves from there, but preparation time in advance. After meeting with the on-site supervisor who is present for maintenance and command, I quickly carry in the vending machine and the equipment to the station yard, and the temporary placement is completed. Furthermore, I will go around the route in the station yard and check again if there is no change in the original plan.

And 10 minutes after the last train goes off, when the shutter of the station comes down, the work to move the vending machine to the home starts!

The weight of the vending machine depends on the type, but it is said that "there are many about 300 kg". So, of course, I think I would carry it by elevator. However, the station elevators are usually provided for station passengers. Naturally, it can not be used to move a vending machine to its home, because it does not correspond to the weight and size required to carry in cargo such as a vending machine.

Then how do you move your vending machine home?

What about 300 kg vending machines go through the ticket gate to the station yard! Get off the stairs from the ticket gate ... and follow the same route as we get on the train. A few days later, Ogawa-san carefully goes through the vending machine with a few people, and caress so as not to damage the ticket gate and the vending machine. And after that, the sight of surprise is even more ... The vending machine is put on the elevator and travels to the home using the stairs!

"Because of this weight. Even a slight tilt, even a few degrees of inclination, can lead to a major accident such as falling or getting caught if it loses balance. In a series of tasks And that's the moment I can't get away with.

As Mr. Ogawa says, the figure of lowering the vending machine can be seen to be many times more cautious than passing through the ticket gate. Step by step ... No, a few centimeters, maybe a few millimeters! I will work slowly while talking with each other.

The width of the home is also narrower than I thought the vending machine would pass. Even so, we will carry it with us while making sure that we have voices and safety checks. As Mr. Ogawa says "small company, team work is good" (laughs), smooth work that makes me forget about the fact that it is a precision machine weighing approximately 300 kg is just a professional Takumi's skill!

The team unites, I feel over tension "naturacureOnce the move work is over, each now starts to show different movements. The mission of this day isnaturacureTo install. But for that purposenaturacureIt is necessary to remove the existing vending machines to be replaced, install new trash cans, and perform cleaning work and various accompanying operations. While each person in charge is in charge of the work, we will proceed while exchanging voices at the necessary locations.

“There was a trend that young people should do what they said, but now it is different. Whether you are a young man or a newcomer, you have the idea that“ Equal as a team ”. They are equally responsible and in the same way, in anticipation that everyone is aware of all the arrangements and will be working.

And, finally, when the vending machine is put in the planned place, to fine adjustment, installation work. Mr. Ogawa checked the balance of the vending machine several times while using the leveler and opening and closing the door. Since the station's home is not structurally flat so that rainwater can not be collected, even just moving an existing vending machine a few centimeters will require fine adjustments to maintain balance.

このとき、ちょっとした位置調整に使われていたのが、何十年も使われてきたような、何の変哲もない木の板。なんでもIT化が進むいまの世の中では珍しいほどシンプルでアナログ！　作業のところどころでは軍手を外して素手でチェックするなど、長年の経験や感覚がものをいう意味でも“職人芸”と呼ぶにふさわしい仕事ぶりです。

そして最後には、自販機とゴミ箱のバランスを確認した上で固定し、自販機移動後のホーム、機械の清掃を入念に行って、予定していた2時間を待たずに無事作業が完了。商品はまだ充填されていないにせよ、もうずっと前からここにあったかのように美しく佇むその姿の裏には、こうした“プロフェッショナルの静かなる闘い”が毎晩繰り広げられているのです。

Finally, I asked Mr. Ogawa, where is the reward for this work.

"There are other companies that work on vending machines for beverages, and of course, there are many different products and individualities of each company. "AlwaysacureI feel like the vending machine is ahead. "

例えば、この日設置した『ナチュラキュア』。味や風味、価格はもちろん、機能性やかわいさなど女性目線の商品のラインナップからその機体のデザインにまでこだわった『アキュア』の自販機ラインアップのひとつです。このほかにも、タッチパネル式の『次世代自販機』や、電源がないところでも利用できる『バッテリー式自動販売機』など…“自販機自体が「一つの店舗」である”というコンセプトのもと、常に利用する人のことを考えて、新しいチャレンジを続ける同社の自販機に携われることが、小川さんたちにとっても仕事の醍醐味なのだそう。

Of course, introducing a new machine means a new task. Appeared in 2010 "Next Generation machine] Is a super large size of about 525 kg. Mr. Ogawa who has been engaged in vending machines for over 20 years also says, "I was amazed at the size (laughs)" when I first saw it. Because of its size, it is unlikely to be able to pass through the ticket gate, and it seems that at first I had my head. But then, in these new aspects, it is the experience and knowledge that has been cultivated, and the ideas and responses from that.

"These surprises, the new evolution ... it would be appreciated as it will prevent the mundane of the work, so it will be appreciated. They will use their own heads and improve their technology.Next Generation machineIncludingacureVending machines are often featured in the media as a front runner in the industry. When you see it, you can also feel that they installed it, which leads to improvement of motivation. "

We don't care and we use it everydayacureIn the vending machine's shadow of its convenience, these stories are rolling out every night. Imagine how this vending machine has been transported to here, and you may be able to use it with a fresh feeling from today.

広告主名：株式会社JR東日本ウォータービジネス
広告主連絡先：東京都渋谷区恵比寿南1-5-5　JR恵比寿ビル9階　電話番号：03-6853-6001
媒体名：アキュアラウンジ