Kubota (Vending Machines) - A Legacy of Japanese Engineering : Bridging into Global Standards

Kubota, widely known as a Japanese industrial and machinery company, was once involved in the vending machine industry through its ownership of vending manufacturing operations in Asia.

A key part of this effort was** PT Metec Semarang in Indonesia**, established in 1996, which produced vending machines for regional markets.

Designed for Both Japan and the World

Unlike many Japan-origin vending machines that rely purely on JPSTD (VCCS), machines manufactured in Indonesia under Kubota’s operations had a unique advantage:

• Supported JPSTD (Japanese Protocol) for compatibility with Japanese systems, depending on the models produced
• Included MDB interfaces to support global cashless standards

This made them especially valuable for deployment outside Japan, as they could integrate more easily with MDB-based cashless payment devices, which are widely used across Southeast Asia and other regions.

Transition to Fuji Electric

In 2017, Fuji Electric acquired the Indonesian vending machine business from Kubota Corporation, as Kubota formally withdrew from the vending machine industry.

Following the acquisition:

• The company was renamed to P.T. Fuji Metec Semarang
• Operations continued under Fuji Electric
• Production was consolidated within Fuji Electric’s global strategy

This marked the end of Kubota’s involvement in vending machine manufacturing.

End of Production, Legacy in the Field

Today, Kubota-branded vending machines are no longer manufactured. However, many remain in operation across Southeast Asia due to their durability and hybrid compatibility.

These machines are notable because they:

• Could potentially support both JPSTD and MDB interfaces

• Are easier to retrofit for modern cashless systems compared to pure JPSTD machines

• Continue to serve in mixed-protocol environments

A Practical Advantage for Modernization

Because of their MDB capability, Kubota machines manufactured in Indonesia are often:

• Simpler to integrate with MDB card readers
• Less dependent on protocol conversion hardware
• More adaptable for modern payment upgrades
• A Legacy That Still Works Today

Kubota vending machines may no longer be in production, but they represent a transitional generation—bridging Japanese engineering with global standards.

For operators today, they offer a rare advantage: a legacy machine that is still technically relevant in a cashless world.