A German firm that installs and manages gold vending machines aims to introduce them into the United States this year as it expands rapidly to take advantage of demand for bullion in times of economic uncertainty. Thomas Geissler, creator of the Gold to Go brand and chief executive of Ex Oriente Lux, told Reuters in Berlin that the company aims to issue a “couple of hundred” machines next year.
一家安裝和管理黃金自動販賣機的德國公司，打算利用這波經濟波動期黃金需求殷切，今年內把這款成長迅速的機器引進美國。首創自動賣金機Gold to Go品牌的蓋斯勒，身兼Ex Oriente Lux（意為光明來自東方）執行長，他在柏林告訴路透，該公司目標是明年架設「數百部」機器。
Gold to Go launched its first ATM in Abu Dhabi's Emirates Palace hotel in May this year. They are now operating in luxury hotels in Abu Dhabi, Bergamo and Madrid as well as around Germany. “This year we will issue around 35 machines, and for next year we are looking for bigger numbers,” Geissler said, standing in front of one of the ATMs, which was colored and shaped like a giant gold ingot close to 2 meters tall.
第一部Gold to Go自動賣金機今年5月率先在阿布達比的聯合大公國皇宮酒店登場。現在，阿布達比、義大利貝加莫、馬德里和德國全境的豪華酒店均有這款黃金櫃員機。蓋斯勒說，「今年我們將安裝35部左右，明年數字更大。」他正站在一部黃金櫃員機前，這款機器高近2公尺，顏色和外觀都像個特大金條。
Geissler said Abu Dhabi was best placed to launch the invention because of the region's high demand for gold. He said, “On the first night we had a lot of demand. One customer even bought one item of every product we have. All the gold is imported from Germany, and soon we will have a customized gold bar with a print of the Emirates Palace logo, which will be a nice souvenir for guests to take home.”
蓋斯勒說，阿布達比是最適合推出這項發明的地點，因為這個地區黃金需求量大。他說：「光是第一個晚上，就有很多人來買。一位客人甚至把機器裡每種產品各買一個。所有金子都從德國進口，我們很快就要推出量身打造的金條，上面印有聯合大公國皇宮酒店的標誌，客人可以就近買回家當很好的紀念品。」
The concept was developed by Geissler, who has previously created an online platform for trading precious metals. He stated that his initial inspiration was observing the “seemingly endless” line of traditional toiletries vending machines at airports and train stations, and during his search for advertising models for an online marketplace. The initial prototype system was installed in Frankfurt in 2009, where it dispensed 1-gram pieces of gold at a 30% premium above market price.
這個概念由蓋斯勒發想，他曾打造一個網上貴金屬交易平台。他自稱靈感最早得自發現機場和火車站一排排「似乎永無止境」的傳統梳妝用品自動販賣機，當時他正在摸索網路市場行銷模式。最早原型機2009年安裝在法蘭克福，這部黃金櫃員機以高於市場30％的溢價販售1克重黃金。
The machines, which update the gold price every 10 minutes to match international markets, take cash or credit cards and dispense small bars - including 1 gram, 5 gram, 10 gram, 250 grams and 1 ounce units - as well as coins such as South African Krugerrands, Australian Kangaroos and the Canadian Maple Leaf.
配合國際黃金市場，這些賣金機每10分鐘更新一次黃金報價，客人可用現金或信用卡購買，機器販售1克、5克、10克、250克和1盎司（約31.1035克）重的小金塊，還有金幣，像南非富格林金幣、澳洲袋鼠金幣和加拿大楓葉金幣。
The company's plans include expansion into the United States this year, first in Florida and then in Las Vegas, Geissler said. As for major gold consumers India and China, that will have to wait for next year. “We have large interest in these countries,” he said. “This is the task for next year.”
蓋斯勒說，該公司今年的計畫包括進軍美國，先鋪佛羅里達州，再前進拉斯維加斯。至於主要黃金消費國印度和中國，得等明年再說。他說：「我們已引起這些國家極大的興趣，這已列為明年優先首要工作。」
Meanwhile, Vietnam's Dong A Bank said it will introduce two gold-dispensing ATMs in Vietnam this month, around five months after such a machine made its global debut. Tran Phuong Binh, general director of Dong A, said the bank manufactured the gold vending machines itself, allowing ATM cardholders to buy gold using money from their account. The machine dispenses0.12 oz unitsof gold. The bank said the first two ATMs will be installed in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City.
越南東亞商業銀行也表示，本月將在越南推出兩款黃金櫃員機，距這款機器全球首次亮相約5個月。東亞商業銀行總經理陳方平表示，他們的黃金自動販賣機由該行自行打造，櫃員機持卡人可從自己的帳戶提款購買黃金。該機擺售0.12盎司的黃金。該行表示，頭兩部自動賣金機將安裝在河內和胡志明市。
Gold's rally this year has come largely as a result of investor unease over the economy. This nervousness has been reflected in high sales of coins and bars from national mints, particularly last year as the world emerged from recession and this year as concerns have persisted about the risks to recovery. With the gold price near record highs, there is a danger that demand from people on the street for gold products could tail off, however. Geissler said, “Whether gold drops to $500 or goes to $2,000, we are living from small spreads, and we give people the best price they can get on a minute basis in the machine, so we're pretty fine with any price.”
金價今年漲勢凌厲，主要源自投資人對經濟前景不安。這種緊張情緒已反映在國家鑄幣廠的金幣和金條瘋狂熱賣上，尤其和去年世界剛步出經濟衰退，而今年投資人持續憂心景氣是否復甦有關。但隨著黃金價格逼近歷史新高，市場投資人面臨黃金產品需求走軟的風險。蓋斯勒說，「無論黃金跌回500美元或上看2,000美元，我們只賺取小額價差，我們給投資人以分鐘為單位更新的機器所能提供的最優惠價格，所以不管黃金價格如何波動，我們都還ＯＫ。」
The vending machines are covered in gold leaf, and includes a touch screen, cash and credit card slots, and a lighted display showcase. Users must scan identification for purchases exceeding 100 Euro, and any single user may only access the system three times in one day before an enforced 48 hour break to prevent money laundering. The machines are fitted “like an armored vehicle” and tested with explosives to prevent theft, and include surveillance cameras that record all transactions.
這些自動賣金機都包覆著金箔，機器上有觸控屏幕、現金和信用卡插槽，一個明亮的展示櫃。為了防止洗錢，用戶購買的黃金如超過100歐元（約台幣4300元），須先掃瞄身分，任何單一用戶一天只能提領3次黃金，否則將強制停止提領48小時。機器還裝有像裝甲車般的防護裝備，並通過炸藥測試，以防止盜竊，機器上並加裝監視攝錄機，以記錄下所有交易情況。
The German corporation plans to distribute 500 “gold ATMs” throughout airports and rail stations in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. British and U.S. locations may apply for a license to host one of the machines. Franchise licensees may purchase the machines for about $28,000 and then pay TG-Gold to service the machines.
德國這家公司計畫在德國、奧地利和瑞士機場和火車站鋪設500部黃金自動販賣機。英美兩國適當地點也可申請牌照安裝機器。特許加盟持牌人則可以以2.8萬美元（約台幣85.8萬元）購買機器，再付錢給TG-Gold公司，就可加入服務。
The gold ATMs could be just what those who stay in one of the world's most expensive hotels will need as they watch the euro, yen and dollar jump around in volatile trade. Photo shows a man is preparing to buy gold bar form the unveiling of Germany's first gold-plated ATM in a bank in Munich September 30, 2010.
那些住在全球最昂貴頂級旅館的客人，眼看歐元、日圓和美元價格在市場交易中激烈起伏動盪，黃金自動櫃員機可能正是他們最需要的。圖為德國第一部鍍金自動提金機今年9月30日在慕尼黑一家銀行架設後，一名男子正準備提領金條。（路透）