Airwallet has announced Axel, a tap-to-pay payment device built to sit on the machine itself. Laundry users tap a card or phone directly on the machine they want to use and start their cycle straight away.

Airwallet offers cashless, app and card based payment in the commercial laundry industry, used by operators in more than 50 countries. The platform that covers payment, machine control, remote monitoring and reporting. They work with operators of self-service laundries, housing associations, campsites, marinas, hotels and more, and Airwallet can run as a standalone payment system or alongside an existing coin system.

Axel adds a third way to pay across the Airwallet range, alongside the Airwallet App and the Anton central payment terminal. Where Anton gives a location one clear point of sale that handles the full site from a single screen, Axel distributes payment across every machine. Operators choose the setup that fits the site, and can run both.

Axel is built for locations where scale and convenience matter. It’s aimed at large-scale laundries and high-traffic sites, where a payment point on every machine keeps users moving at peak hours. Each unit combines secure contactless payment processing and advanced machine control electronics in a single compact device, integrating the technology from the Airwallet Pro unit. The result is a simple setup with minimal hardware: Axel ships with a harness for installation on the machine and connects over Wi-Fi or Bluetooth.

The device accepts Visa, Mastercard, Maestro, Apple Pay and Google Pay through a contactless NFC reader, so users can pay with whatever is already in their pocket. Airwallet is PCI DSS Level 1 certified, the highest standard in payment security.

What this means is one platform across every machine and location. Axel connects each machine to the Airwallet platform, in the same way as the Airwallet App and the Anton central payment terminal. Operators track revenue, machine usage and machine status across all their locations from a single Airwallet Dashboard, including sites that run a mix of different Airwallet products.

“On a large site, the distance to the kiosk is the friction. A user has to work out where to pay, wait their turn when others are doing the same, and leave their laundry behind to get there. Axel removes the distance completely: you pay at the machine you are already standing in front of. Anton solves payment for the site, Axel solves it for the machine.” – Christian Mortensen, CEO of Airwallet

Axel range brings compact, rugged control to machine installations. Axel (model CM30C) combines a compact format with a 5 inch touch display for machine installations. Measuring 152 mm × 93 mm × 41 mm, the device carries an IP65 dustproof and waterproof rating and IK09 impact resistance. It operates from −20 °C to 60 °C and runs on 100 to 250 V AC.

The range is set to expand with the upcoming Axel Mini (model CM25C). Measuring 107.8 mm × 74.6 mm × 32 mm, Axel Mini features a 3.5 inch display. Like Axel, it is rated IP65 dustproof and waterproof and IK09 impact resistant, and operates from −20 °C to 60 °C.

With its smaller dimensions, Axel Mini is especially suited for installations where space on the machine is tight, providing a compact option for applications where available installation space is limited.

Visitors to Expo Detergo can see Axel live at Pav 3P – Stand E25, at Fiera Milano, Italy, from October 23-26.