YourGuide News - Security & Surveillance

Pyramid Technologies Launches New APEX 7000 Bill Acceptor

YourGuide Ltd. — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 08:08:24 +0000

Pyramid Technologies, Inc. announced the launch yesterday of the new APEX 7000 bill acceptor.

Building on a tradition of price conscious quality, the APEX 7000 is the next generation in the popular APEX bill acceptor line. The APEX 7000 comes with dip switches and other enhancements to give gaming, amusement and vending operators the versatility they require and the reliability they demand.

The APEX 7000 builds on the reliability and functionality of the existing APEX line. Plus, the 7000 incorporates several new updates and (for the first time) includes dip switches. Designed and built in the United States, the APEX series is the industry standard for bill acceptors. Cost efficient, reliable and extraordinarily versatile, the APEX line is the perfect solution for vending, amusement, gaming and retail applications.

Engineered to perform and built to last, the new APEX 7000 provides customers with key enhancements without sacrificing reliability.Dave Mays, President and CEO of Pyramid Technologies, Inc. said, “Our customers were clear. They told us "Don't change a thing. We love the reliability of the existing APEX line, but we want dip switches, so that's what we engineered. The result is an efficient, reliable bill acceptor that is amazingly functional.”

Pyramid Technologies, Inc. (PTI) is an engineering-centric manufacturing company based in Mesa, Arizona. With a focus on vending, amusement and gaming solutions, PTI's line of bill acceptors are proven performers and are manufactured in the United States. Dedicated to quality, PTI subjects each bill acceptor to a battery of quality control tests prior to shipping so customers can rely on hassle-free performance. Plus with dual-stage optical anti-stringing technology incorporated into each unit, businesses can rest easy knowing they are capturing maximum revenue. Over the years, the Company has grown from a small shop into an international operation with sales to over 95 countries. Despite its remarkable growth, PTI has remained true to its mission – to provide customers with quality products, customized service and responsive support.

Visimetrics Launches Playerbook™ Facial Recognition System at IFSEC 2011

YourGuide Ltd. — Mon, 09 May 2011 14:26:14 +0000

One of the leading CCTV storage systems manufacturers, Visimetrics (UK) Ltd, will be launching their new Playerbook™ facial recognition system at IFSEC 2011. Playerbook has been developed to operate reliably in the lighting conditions normally found in casino environments. Powered by Omniperception's facial recognition engine, the new application is the result of a 2 year development process between the companies.

Gary James, Business Development Director of Visimetrics says, "The background to the development of Playerbook originated from many of our casino clients who indicated that a form of non-intrusive, reliable subject identification would be of significant benefit to them in dealing with the public. Casinos have a vested interest, for compliance and commercial reasons, in identifying certain types of visitors on entry to the venue. We knew from our experience of digital CCTV systems that the various forms of lighting within casinos create shadowing, reflection and glare. These effects have a significant impact on the reliability of facial recognition. We knew we needed to find another approach to solving the problem and identified the unique facial recognition process Omniperception developed as the core engine most likely to meet the consistency and reliability needed in casinos."

Gary continues "At the heart of the system is a subject watchlist that allows security and surveillance staff to automatically detect self-excluders, barred/crime & disorder subjects, advise on entry subjects, VIP's and more. Playerbook operates in real time, providing reliable and consistent identification. The critical challenge was to develop a system which reliably detects faces in the low or zero light conditions you find in casinos. We believe we have achieved this successfully. Playerbook works by locating the 500-600 unique facial identifiers of individuals as they pass the IR sensor. Using a unique illumination and polarisation filter system, Playerbook is able to consistently compare the detected facial identifiers with subjects already stored within the watchlist regardless of shadows, glare or reflection. The watchlist search is completed instantly. When there's a match between a subject entering the venue and the watchlist, Playerbook alerts staff immediately via the GUI, SMS or email. Playerbook has been successfully proven using ground-truth validation testing within one of the largest casinos in the UK. The invaluable input from the management and staff was critical to the development and refining process to achieve a reliable solution within such a difficult operating environment."

Delta Project exports first project to South America

YourGuide Ltd. — Tue, 04 Jan 2011 14:55:03 +0000

In the spring and summer of 2010, Delta Project exported its first project to South America.

The project was about the detailed design and supply of approximately 2.000 m2 of thermal insulation material.

This was quickly followed by another contract in the same region. This second project consists of the detailed design, fabrication, supply and erection of approximately 2.500 m2 of thermal insulation material with aluminium cladding, installed onto air pollution control equipment.

As part of that last contract, Delta Project Engineering successfully passed in autumn an audit by the French electricity producer “EDF”.

Throughout the different stages organized by the end-user for its power plant maintenance, this project will be phased over more than a year of interventions. Completion is scheduled for end of 2011.

Jcm Global Brings Acceptance, Speed And Security To Enada Tradeshow

YourGuide Ltd. — Fri, 01 Oct 2010 16:19:56 +0000

JCM Global is the world leader in bill validation equipment, and now the company will bring acceptance, speed and security to the upcoming ENADA tradeshow. The 38th ENADA International Amusement & Gaming Show takes place 6-8 October in Rome at the Rome Expo Center. JCM will be in stand #149 in Hall 2.

JCM will be showing several better, smarter, faster products including the new and award-winning iVIZION™; the Universal Bill Acceptor (UBA®), Europe’s most popular bill validator; and Vega™, the cost-effective highly secure validator.

JCM European Sales Manager Walter Horn-Ruiz said, “The Italian gaming market continues to be one of the most exciting focal points of gaming in Europe, and we are thrilled with the opportunity to present our award-winning solutions at ENADA.”

JCM’s appearance at the ENADA tradeshow comes on the heels of a very successful customer summit, which JCM held recently in Rome. At the summit, JCM demonstrated the security and accuracy of its Universal Bill Acceptor (UBA®), Intelligent Cash Box (ICB®) and Sentry bezel to a standing-room only crowd of Italian VLT operators.

JCM Global is the automated transactions solutions provider trusted by operators and manufacturers alike. Its global offices provide top-level sales, engineering and service for the world’s best systems solutions for the banking, gaming, kiosk and retail industries. JCM Global sets standards with products such as the Universal Bill Acceptor (UBA®), Intelligent Cash Box (ICB®), the Vega™ bill validator and the new iVIZION™ bill validator. For more information, visit www.jcmglobal.com.

IAAPA's Institute for Attractions Managers

YourGuide Ltd. — Fri, 25 Jun 2010 08:24:08 +0000

After last years succesful premiere, IAAPA Europe will for the second time bring the Institute for Attractions Managers to Europe. This 3-day programme is aimed at mid-level managers with two to three years of professional experience and will focus on the different fields of attractions management.
When, Where & What
The institute will be held in conjonction with the Euro Attractions Show (EAS) 2010 Rome, from the 3rd to the 5th of October. Starting with an introduction and reception on Sunday afternoon, the course programme begins on Monday morning. During two days, leading experts in the European Amusement Industry will give presentations to the attendees in the various fields of management : from Marketing and Public Relations to Facility Operations and Safety, from Revenue Operations to Finance and much more. The programme will conclude with a case study on Tuesday before the participants get the chance to join the IAAPA Board of Directors for a reception and the formal closure of the programme.
The Euro Attractions Show (EAS)
The management programme will be the kick-start into a full and exciting week of EAS events: the participants receive complimentary registration to the Euro Attractions Show to see a showfloor filled with more than 270 exhibitors from all over the world and to join the Conference Programme with unique presentations of best practices, innovative approaches and amusement industry legends.
Who should attend
The seminar is open to everyone : all departments in all attractions constituencies, from attractions to manufacturers & suppliers in the industry. But space is limited so contact IAAPA Europe's Programme Manager Jakob Wahl to save a place in the European Institute for Attractions Managers.
Practical Info
The Fee for IAAPA Members is €474, including VAT – and for non-members €674, including VAT. It includes:
· Course participation and material
· Day time meals and refreshments
· Cocktail Reception Tuesday with IAAPA’s Board of Directors
· Registration badge for the Euro Attractions Show (EAS)
· Certificate

Please contact IAAPA Europe for further information.

Organic Feng Shui appears at G2E Asia

YourGuide Ltd. — Tue, 22 Jun 2010 14:10:17 +0000

Interblock Asia-Pacific stand at the Asian “G2E”, The Venetian, Macau, on 9th and 10th of June 2010 was very successful and saw the presentation of the Multigame environment gaming devices:

- Organic Island;
- Organic Roulette Feng Shui.

Interblock stand at G2E Asia presented a platform for visitors to see and learn what's new and what's next in the Asian multi-terminal gaming industry at the biggest and most important gaming event in this part of the world.

Mr Michael Hu, Regional Sales Manager - Asia, commented:

“The Organic Feng Shui concept and Organic Island attracted many operators to experience how the products cater to various needs of players so as to maximize the potential of gaming space. Multi-games are available for individual stations and are designed to set the latest trends in the Asian and global gaming markets.”

“The show gave the opportunity for networking with operators and the exchange of ideas. As a result purchases and trials of G4 products have been scheduled all over the region which will build on the presence of Interblock products adding to the successful G3 range that have been operating in Asia since 2004.”

The company has developed a number of market-specific products, including a roulette that acknowledges the traditions of Feng Shui. Feng Shui assigns a colour to birthdays and so accordingly each player station on the roulette is illuminated a different colour, personalizing the gaming experience. Elektroncek has designed a new multi-terminal, multigame concept called Organic Island that enables players to play a number of games from a single terminal to reduce downtime between games. Live images from the games are then displayed on large screens around the room.

Mr Tomaz Zvipelj, CEO at Elektroncek d.d., commented:
“The organic product range is something new and is an effective addition to the penetration of games, enabling casinos to maximize their performance. We are happy that business in Asia is picking up again, and we see big potential in Asia over the next 12 months. We are happy with the launch of our Organic range in Asia, the response of players and operators in Macau and Singapore has been excellent”.

MEI CASHFLOW SC banknote reader specified by Sun International.

YourGuide Ltd. — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 00:00:00 +0000

MEI is pleased to announce that Sun International management has informed its casino operations that they are now specifying the MEI CASHFLOW SC banknote reader.

With almost 10,000 slots in operations in South Africa alone, Sun International naturally understands the necessity of having fully-operational slot machines. The banknote reader is the port of entry for players and is critical to both player satisfaction and machine revenue.

“Our individual casino management has a select choice of banknote readers and all have the authority to specify MEI”, explained Mr. Des Whitcher, Director Gaming Development & Slots of Sun International. “The CASHFLOW SC83 from MEI has proven its excellent performance over time. Our banknotes can be challenging for such products and the CASHFLOW SC83 has more than risen to this challenge. The first-time acceptance rate is phenomenal and our technicians state they have practically no maintenance requirements. This frees our personnel to focus more on our customers, further increasing player satisfaction. This is a double win for us. Further adding to this, MEI has local support based here in South Africa, thus underlying their commitment to our market.”
Mr. David Bowman, Business Development Manager for MEI, commented on MEI’s commitment to the African market: “We place complete focus on customer support and naturally support each and every Sun International casino in South Africa individually. All thirteen casinos now fit MEI and the amount of CASHFLOW’s on the casino floors continues to rise.”

Sun International is the leading casino operator in South Africa and manages casinos in five additional African countries. Furthermore, Sun International also has a major holding in the largest casino in Chile: the Monticello. The CASHFLOW SC83 is the banknote reader of choice at Monticello and the management at Sun International is making use of the international support of MEI. “Our own results coupled with market feedback underline the importance of choosing MEI for our casino floors. We are profiting each and every day from the value the CASHFLOW SC gives us – financially, operationally. Fitting MEI ties in with our company philosophy”, explains Mr. Whitcher of Sun International.

Other international casino groups trust the fundamental principle of MEI to bring genuine customer value around the globe. The MEI CASHFLOW SC83 banknote reader is proving its ground-breaking performance around the world. MEI offers casino management the opportunity to trial the CASHFLOW SC 83 free of charge in slots in operation on the casino floor. The value-added trials (VAT’s) allow casino management not only to get to know the performance of this product but also to compare with performance of the readers they currently have on the floor. All logistics are managed by MEI, making this a simple and easy process for casino management. The pay-off for choosing such a VAT trial is apparent in the number of casinos who subsequently specify it. The most recent additions to the ever-growing list of casinos specifying MEI are Casinos Austria and the Casino Madrid Group.

About MEI
Today, MEI systems are relied upon for more than 2 billion transactions per week in over 100 countries.  The company developed the first electronic coin mechanism in the 1960s followed by the first electronic non-contact bill acceptor, and more recently the vending management system.  Today MEI has the largest worldwide installed base of unattended payment mechanisms.  In 2007, MEI reached a milestone of selling more than four million bill acceptors and five million coin mechanisms worldwide.  Its products are in widespread use in the vending, soft drink, gaming, amusement, transportation, retail, and kiosk markets.  For more information on MEI and its products, visit www.meigroup.com or call 1-800-345-8215 in US (please refer to our website for various international telephone numbers).

MEI CASHFLOW SC Specified By Monaco's SBM Group

YourGuide Ltd. — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 00:00:00 +0000

Monaco has set a precedent within the Gaming industry. With gaming traditions dating back to 1856, its glamour and prestige are unmatched worldwide.  SBM’s decision to specify MEI CASFHLOW in its five casinos – Casino de Monte Carlo, Casino de Paris, Sun Casino, Monte Carlo Bay Casino and Summer Casino – is reflective of its desire to offers customers the best possible experience across its 1,000-slot operation.

The conversion to MEI began when Erik Wijma and the Suzo-Happ European Casino team introduced a VAT trial as a way to test the CASHFLOW SC’s performance. Erik Wijma of Suzo-Happ in Europe explained, “The industry looks to SBM to prove their worth. SBM is dedicated to anything that can improve the player experience, so their interest was almost immediate and the trial was able to quickly commence.”

After ninety days, SBM could see a real difference and became convinced of the MEI CASHFLOW banknote reader. Mr. Pierre-louis Castel, Technical Manager of the Slots Department stated, “The installation was easy and the results at the end of the trial were positive and clear: the acceptance rate was found to be far superior to other models used in our machines.” Mr. Castel continued, “Banknote and ticket acceptance plays a critical role in the revenue of every slot machine.  We really saw the value in carrying out this VAT. These units need little to no maintenance and are well appreciated by our floor staff and the players who can now enjoy uninterrupted play.”

Mr. Castel further explains the benefits of placing MEI on the casino floor, “The trouble-free performance and very high acceptance rate of the MEI acceptor have significantly increased machine up time and revenue. Thus, we have decided to order all new machines with MEI acceptors as a standard fitting”.

The combination of best-in-class products with an in-depth technical team of Suzo-Happ is highlighted by Mr. Castel’s final comment, “I would also like to add that this product is backed up by their very professional sales and technical team who assured a full and comprehensive training course for our technicians”. The casino industry is continuing to benefit from the commercial and technical knowledge of the Suzo-Happ team – that spans a whole range of casino components.

Mark Greenawalt, MEI’s European and African Gaming Director, states, “We’re very pleased to have an operation as prestigious as the SBM group recognize the value of CASHFLOW SC.  The result speaks for itself … c’est magnifique.  In many ways, we feel as if we have won the Monaco Grand Prix:  it’s a glamorous victory, was a team effort and required speed and precision to win the race.  We’re very proud of our race car, the CASHFLOW SC, and welcome the any opportunity to take it for a test drive.  MEI would like to thank SBM for its confidence in our products and for their continued business.”

Kontron AG expands its sales and support presence in South East Asia

YourGuide Ltd. — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 00:00:00 +0000

Kontron AG, world market leader in Embedded Computer Technology (ECT), announced today the opening of its new sales and technical support center, ‘Kontron Technology Taiwan’ (KTT), in Taipei, Taiwan. The center will cover the South East Asia region, including Singapore, Hong Kong, Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam and Taiwan itself. The center will strengthen Kontron’s sales & marketing, technical support and professional service capabilities in the important markets for Kontron’s high quality, leading edge and world class products.

The center will take over the activities of the former ‘Kontron Asia Inc.’ which became part of the joint venture between Quanta and Kontron AG and was subsequently renamed Quanmax. As of January 1st, 2009, Quanmax will no longer serve the market with Kontron products and thus Quanmax and Kontron will work together over the next months to ensure a smooth transfer of Kontron’s customers to the new ‘Kontron Technology Taiwan’.

The new sales and support center will be managed by Mrs. Christine Huang (Huang Shu-Mei), a long time employee of Kontron Asia Inc. Christine has a wealth of experience with Kontron products as well as with the South East Asia market.

“We are very happy that we have been able to win Christine for this important role”, says Tom Meyer, Kontron’s Vice President ‘APAC’. “As she is very well respected by our customers and sales partners in the territory, Christine will be able to ensure seamless and continuous support for our valued customers.”

“The market in South East Asia is an excellent fit for Kontron in terms of technology and mentality,” continues Tom Meyer. “Kontron offers the widest range of leading edge, world class and high quality embedded computer products which match the expectations of our Asian customers and, as a company headquartered in Germany, we share many values such as stability, dependability and last, but not least, mutual trust. We are once again following our motto ‘Think Global, act Local’ in order to support our customers even better. Our products are not easily sold ‘over the counter’. They require significant support during the design-in phase, but also afterwards during the production phase in terms of flexible logistics, quality assurance and longevity support. ‘Kontron Technology Taiwan’ joins Kontron’s comprehensive network of sales and support offices all over APAC, including China, Japan, Korea and Australia.”

As a next step Kontron will integrate a strong network of sales partners into the new sales network in South East Asia. Together with these experienced companies Kontron will be able to support customers with comprehensive value-adding know-how at the dedicated application level.

Over the next few weeks, Kontron Technology Taiwan will move its offices into new premises at:

Kontron Technology Taiwan
3F.-1, No.396, Jinhu Rd., Neihu District
Taipei City 114
Taiwan (R.O.C.)

Cannery Casino Resorts Selects FutureLogic

YourGuide Ltd. — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 00:00:00 +0000

FutureLogic, Inc., announced today that Cannery Casino Resorts (CCR) has selected FutureLogic as a preferred technology partner.

Cannery Casino Resorts based their selection on a preference for FutureLogic's state-of-the-art GEN2 Universal™ printer technology and on the printer manufacturers' outstanding customer service. Cannery Casino Resorts currently has FutureLogic GEN2 Universal printers installed in more than 7,200 games spanning four properties in Las Vegas and Washington, Pennsylvania.

"We are very pleased with the exceptional reliability of FutureLogic printers, as well as the top-rate customer service the company consistently provides," says Joe Glowacki, Corporate Director of Slot Tech Operations for Cannery Casino Resorts.

"We value our long-term partnership with Cannery Casino Resorts," says Nick Micalizzi, VP of Sales & Marketing for FutureLogic. "By naming Future Logic a preferred technology partner they have validated our belief that our emphasis on delivering state-of-the-art products and timely, knowledgeable support is reaping results for our customers."

For further information, contact FutureLogic at 949.487.4829 for sales inquiries, or 702.597.5355 for technical service.