Austrian Gaming Industries GmbH, the wholly owned subsidiary of Novomatic AG, predict a great success at SAGSE 2008, to be held at the Centro Costa Salguero, Buenos Aires from to 15th to 17th October. This prediction is based on Novomatic’s outstanding debut appearance at last year’s SAGSE coupled with the excellent market progress that has been achieved throughout the Central and South America regions over the past year.

On booth number H33 AGI will present a 50-strong display featuring the very latest Coolfire™ II game releases in leading technology cabinets. The Novo Super-Vision™ that will headline AGI’s booth display is the cabinet dedicated exclusively to South America and is already well accepted throughout the region and greatly appreciated by casino operators and casino guests alike. The Super V+ Gaminator®, AGI’s flagship machine, and the innovative hybrid Super R+ Gaminator® (that features both reels and video displays in the same cabinet) also take pride of place; all equipped with hot multi-game mixes that have been chosen specifically to appeal to a South American audience.

Coolfire™ II games that have already established ‚hit appeal’, such as Dolphins Pearl™ deluxe, Lucky Lady’s Charm™ deluxe, Pharoah’s Gold™ II deluxe and Queen of Hearts™ deluxe will be sure attractions as will 20-line games such as Cities of Gold™, Chicago™ and Indian Spirit™.

Also on display to thrill SAGSE visitors will be the Flexi-Link Jackpot System, manufactured in Australia by Independent Gaming Pty Ltd and distributed across South America by AGI as part of a successful strategic alliance between the two companies. Flexi-Link is the next generation of computer link systems, featuring multi-level mystery progressive jackpots that maintain and enhance player attraction by visibly notifying the maximum possible cash value of forthcoming jackpot wins.

Jens Halle, Managing Director of AGI, said: „The progress that AGI has made since the last SAGSE show in Buenos Aires and the excellent feedback that we have received from customers across the South America region gives us a strong expectation for a truly excellent SAGSE show this year. Demand for AGI products has been consistently high as operators see for themselves the quality of our leading edge technology and attractive games and we predict an excellent show with the level of commercial results that will take the Novomatic brand to a new high level across South America. I would like to invite our customers, partners and guests to join us on booth H33 at SAGSE and I can promise them all a truly outstanding welcome.“

FutureLogic, Inc ., announces that it has shipped one million gaming printers. Beginning with the introduction of the very first TITO printer in 1999, the PSA-66-ST, FutureLogic now has printers installed in more than 40 countries across the Americas, Europe, Africa, Asia and Australia. FutureLogic printers are also approved and specified by more than 40 EGMs and have won 10 industry awards in the past five years, holding the distinction of the industry's most decorated gaming printer.

"We are thrilled to announce that FutureLogic has shipped to date one million gaming printers," said Eric Meyerhofer, CEO and Co-CTO of FutureLogic. "We would especially like to thank our loyal customers and outstanding business partners for helping us achieve this noteworthy milestone. As the global leader in printer technologies, our customers know that they can rely on FutureLogic to deliver cutting-edge equipment and applications to support their business."

FutureLogic's most recent TITO development, the GEN2 Universal™ printer, provides a migration path for emerging technologies. The GEN2 Universal printer is USB-compliant with GSA and IGT standards and is compatible with existing platforms, as well as the next generation of downloadable games. The GEN2 Universal printer supports FutureLogic's PromoNet™ couponing solution, which helps casino marketers link reward programs across multiple leisure experiences and casino floors by facilitating targeted, player-based marketing campaigns.

Suzo-Happ Group, a portfolio company of private equity firm Pfingsten Partners, L.L.C., announced today that it has purchased Owens Precision Fabricators (OPF) located in Henderson, Nevada (Las Vegas).
Founded in 1991, Owens Precision Fabricators (OPF) is a recognized leader in precision sheet metal fabrication for the Gaming industry.  OPF products include specialized gaming cabinets used for slot and video gaming machines, internal brackets and shelving, as well as door and trim components with highly polished chrome finishes. Cabinets manufactured by OPF are used and distributed throughout the world by industry-leading gaming companies.  OPF employs approximately 40 people and recently moved into a larger facility in Henderson.
“This is a another strategic move which will enhance the global leadership position of Suzo-Happ Group in the markets for Gaming components, parts and accessories,"  said Jim Brendel, President, Worldwide Gaming for the Suzo-Happ Group.  “OPF is known in the gaming industry as a high quality manufacturer with responsive engineering and in-house, quick turn sheet metal and laminating capabilities”.
“Suzo-Happ Group has the global footprint and enhanced logistics that are key to leveraging current customer relationships”, commented Bob Dixon, General Manager, OPF.  “In addition, extensive sales and marketing efforts of the Suzo-Happ Group will enable us to expand our customer base and sales.”
Both companies will leverage a shared commitment to provide high quality products and world class customer care service.

Carroll Consulting – the company set up by John H. Carroll at the beginning of this year – now has an improved website. Here customers can clearly see the three core divisions of the company – Consultancy, PR & Advertising and Translation Services. The company is based in Billerbeck, near Düsseldorf in Germany.

John has many years of experience within the industry. Throughout this time, John has been able to create business relations with manufacturers, distributors and operators in Germany. Thus, Carroll Consulting is an ideal partner when it comes to the German market. Whether you are looking to increase your business presence in Germany or enter the German market for the first time, Carroll Consulting’s straight-talking advice will be a powerful tool on your route to success.

Turning to communications management, PR and advertising, writing press releases is only part of the strategy used by Carroll Consulting. As explained on the website, a complete service is offered here, thus making full use of the PR marketing potential. 

The third core division is translating services, to complete the communications management offer. With a long-standing network of experienced translators, Carroll Consulting can offer translations in all languages. John himself is a specialist for German-English translations.

The website - in English, German and Spanish - can be found under www.carrollconsulting.de

Kontron supplements its MicroTCA™ portfolio with a new MCH (Management Controller Hub). By offering only the most essential feature sets, the Kontron AM4901 enables MicroTCA™ compliant designs while remaining sensitive to costs.  

The Kontron AM4901 Management Controller Hub provides system management and Ethernet switching for up to 12 AdvancedMC™ modules. Unlike the telecommunication segment, where advanced feature sets require managed switches with complex control software, such features are not required in most industrial applications. The Kontron AM4901 contains an unmanaged BCM5396 Ethernet switch, which simplifies designs and improves costs (lower cost components, no switch controller, no software for switch controller). Among the typical applications are image processing in the industrial and medical sectors, industrial control systems, information systems for trains and simple communication systems without need for managed switches.

“This is a significant step,“ says Irene Hahner, Product Manager at Kontron. “It supplements the current activities in the PICMG® concerning MicroTCA.1 which target MicroTCA™ in a rougher industrial environment outside the central office as well as in vehicles. There are a number of MCHs on the market, but we could not find anyone addressing the low cost segment. The Kontron AM4901 will help Kontron’s customers address a broader range of applications. The AM4901 is a perfect fit for designing a complete and highly versatile MicroTCA™ platform that is both cost-effective and more advanced than other competing products.”

The Kontron AM4901 Management Controller Hub is a single PCB solution with only one MCH tongue. It provides one GbE uplink on the front. On the edge connector there are 12x GbE for AMCs plus 1x GbE for MCH interlink. In addition to the standard LED indicators, there are status LEDs for 12 AdvancedMC™ modules on the front, as well as RJ45 connectors for one FE management interface and one serial interface to access the management controller (MCMC).
 
The Kontron AM4901 MCH represents a MicroTCA™ Compliant MCH with a cost improved design. It supports the Kontron family of cost optimized MicroTCA™ platforms, as well as a range of other 3rd party platforms. For management functions, it contains a MCMC LPC2368 with Kontron IPMI SW with IPMB-L links to AdvancedMC™ modules; I2C to SEEPROM on the Backplane, and I2C as well as IPMB-0 links for power management and cooling. The Kontron AM4901 also supports JTAG.

Product pricing and availability 
Kontron AM4901 MCH  – RoHS compliant
Pricing:    OEM pricing upon request
Availability: Q4, 2008.