Blupura BLU2GO

At 615 mm wide, 1,850 mm high and 735 mm deep, the unit makes a substantial impression. Its calculated footprint is around 0.45 m², but at 1.85 m it extends significantly into the room. For public areas, this is a full-size freestanding solution, not a discreet under-counter dispenser. The empty weight is 181 kg in the standard configuration. The bottle-cleaning version weighs 185 kg, while the version with an additional bottle dispenser weighs 190 kg. Operators therefore need to plan the access route carefully for delivery, installation and any later relocation. Manufacturer product page, BLU2GO datasheet

The mains water connection limits where the unit can be installed. It requires a fixed water supply; the documented maximum inlet pressure is 3.5 bar, and the connection is specified as 19 mm or 3/4 inch, with a reducer to 12 mm or 1/2 inch mentioned. A 230 V, 50 Hz power socket is also required. The dossier does not specify minimum clearances, door opening angles or the actual working space needed behind or beside the cabinet. These points should be clarified before ordering, especially if the Blu2Go is to be placed between walls, counters or rows of vending machines. La Futura technical datasheet, BieTal product page

The user interface is a 15.6-inch Full HD touchscreen. The datasheet lists Italian, English, German, French and Spanish. This is useful for mixed user groups in canteens, educational facilities or publicly accessible areas. No verified information is available on screen brightness, ingress protection, glove operation or whether the display can be replaced. For a high-footfall location, it is therefore unclear how well the interface is protected against dirt and mechanical wear. The dossier mentions Wi-Fi based on a single technical document. No specific telemetry platform or defined remote maintenance scope is evidenced. SCHEDA TECNICA Blu2Go

Cooling uses an ice bank and a single stainless-steel cooling coil. The documented cooling capacity is 60 litres per hour, while continuous dispensing is listed at 18 litres per hour. These are two different operating figures. Anyone expecting high peak demand should confirm which figure applies to the intended dispensing mode. The manufacturer lists still water at room temperature, chilled still water, sparkling water and lightly sparkling water as dispensing options (Blupura product page).

Water treatment is multi-stage. A UVC lamp is located at the water inlet, followed by double microfiltration down to 0.5 microns. A further UVC lamp is located at the outlet. This describes the technical configuration but does not replace site-specific hygiene planning. Explicit HACCP compliance is not documented in the reviewed materials. The dossier also contains no independent evidence of microbiological effectiveness (BLU2GO datasheet).

The reusable bottle cleaning function follows a set sequence: pre-rinse with filtered water, ozone cleaning, then a rinse with filtered water. According to the datasheet, it handles stainless steel, aluminium, glass and food-grade plastic. The washing function accepts bottles up to 80 mm in diameter and 255 mm high. A version with a cleaning and disinfection system therefore cannot be used with every bottle. Wastewater is collected in a 16-litre tank unless another installation solution is provided (Brochure Blu2Go 2020).

The Blu2Go’s relevant capacity figures are 350 cups and 40 bottles. The 350-cup figure refers to cups with a diameter of 70 mm, while the bottle storage holds 40 bottles of 500 millilitres. For larger reusable bottles, the datasheet specifies maximum dimensions of Ø80 × H255 mm. Bottles of 750 millilitres are listed as compatible, but the published storage capacity explicitly refers to 500-millilitre bottles. Filling all 40 slots would amount to 20 litres of stock by calculation. The figures do not establish a greater storage capacity when using 750-millilitre bottles. (BLU2GO datasheet)

The water range covers four options: still water at ambient temperature, chilled still water, sparkling water and lightly sparkling water. The dispensing portion is 170 millilitres. This is better suited to single servings in public areas than to a conventional station for large carafes. The product family also lists dispensing into 500- and 750-millilitre bottles. Operators should therefore decide in advance whether they will offer cups, sell bottles or use both options. (Blupura Blu2Go product family)

Documented cleaning includes automatic flushing of the water system, automatic cleaning of the washing area, and bottle cleaning with filtered water before and after ozone treatment. The dispensing area is also closed automatically. This information comes from the BLU2GO brochure and the manufacturer datasheet. These are manufacturer or dealer claims and have not been independently verified. No specific daily cleaning time in minutes has been published. There is also no reliable weekly schedule detailing individual manual tasks. Operators should therefore clarify before installation who will inspect the nozzles, dispensing surfaces, bottle holder, interior and wastewater area, and how this work will be documented.

Automatic bottle treatment has three documented steps: pre-wash with filtered water, ozone cleaning and a rinse with filtered water. Water treatment includes a UVC lamp at the inlet, double microfiltration down to 0.5 microns and a further UVC lamp at the outlet, as stated on the Blupura product page. The wastewater tank holds 16 litres. This is a fixed operating limit, but does not indicate how often the tank needs to be emptied or cleaned. The dossier also gives no intervals for filter changes, UVC lamps, ozone components or manual weekly cleaning. A reliable figure for daily or weekly cleaning time would therefore be invented.

According to two German dealer offers, the purchase price for a Blu2Go ranges from €11,334 net to €13,361.34 net. The lower figure is from the Bierzapfen-Shop. The higher figure was calculated from a gross offer of €15,900 from WasserManufaktur, using Germany’s 19 per cent VAT rate. This is a substantial investment for a single water dispenser. The offers do not clearly establish a reliable base price for every possible configuration.

The five-year example calculation is therefore limited to the purchase price. For one unit, meaning one Blu2Go machine, total cost over five years is €11,334 at the lower price. That works out to €2,266.80 per year. At the upper documented price, the same unit costs €13,361.34, or €2,672.27 per year. This excludes maintenance, filters, CO₂, water, cleaning products, labour, financing and disposal. Without a documented dispensing volume, it is not possible to calculate a reliable total cost per bottle dispensed or per 170 ml portion.

The main cost driver is therefore the capital tied up in the machine. For a small site with few dispenses per day, the machine is difficult to justify economically. Its capacity of 350 cups and storage for up to 40 bottles of 500 millilitres indicate that it is designed for busy public areas, not a small meeting room. The cost per dispense depends on whether this capacity is actually used. Any assumption about cups, bottles or operating days would be a model calculation without support in the dossier.