The Police Service Bureau in Panyu, China recently seized counterfeit Megatouch video game units in duel raids conducted against Chengtai Metal Hardware and Electronics in Panyu, Guangzhou. The raids took place at Chengtai’s factory in Panyu’s Dongsheng Industrial Zone and at its administrative office located in Longmeixin Village.  Chengtai owner Yan Xiancheng was detained by police.

In addition to the two complete Megatouch units, ten suspected copies of complete Sega products and five suspected Namco copies were rounded up.

“This raid is a major breakthrough for Merit’s anti-piracy program,” stated Robert C. Fay, Merit’s Director of Government Relations.  Due to the value of the seized counterfeit games, criminal charges will be filed. “This is the first criminal case in China involving an infringer of coin-op amusement games,” added Fay.

The law enforcement team included nine Panyu police officers and was assisted by investigators along with attorneys from the law firm of Baker & McKenzie. “After meeting with the Panyu Police in February I was impressed with their professionalism and Merit Entertainment greatly appreciates their cooperation,” added Fay.

The Public Computing X5 has been in the market for just over three years and we believe there is still many years of life left in its timeless design. This is why during most of 2007 we have invested in selecting a limited set of component-features that can be ordered with this unit.

An example is the coin-mechanism from WH Münzprüfer Berlin GmbH in Germany. They have been manufacturing coin-mechanisms for over eighty years. The unit that we have selected for integration into the X5 has been in production for more than 12 years and is simply the most reliable unit available. In 2003 they were the first to release an USB-port version for power and communication. For this component Public Computing has designed a simple but robust coin-drop-box that fits well into the X5 with an extended backdoor.

The combination of best-in-class components with the timeless X5 design has proven to be a great success that will be continued in the years to come.

Namco Europe Limited has underlined its intentions to expand into new business sectors adding British Kiddie Rides specialist Amutec to the existing business. The deal comprises the purchase of the Amutec name and a 10,000 square-foot manufacturing facility in Mablethorpe, Lincolnshire, together with expansive assets.
Namco Europe Managing Director, John McKenzie explained: “This strong brand complements our existing range of activities and it is our aim to add value and support to the Amutec marque, re-establishing it as a market-leading innovator within the highly competitive kiddie ride sector.“ He continued: “The business at Mablethorpe will once again develop new rides and products, facilitate the refurbishment of rides and continue ADIPS testing, whilst full spares support will be offered by west London-based Brent Electronic.”
The purchase was pre-empted in early January with Namco Europe creating a new Kiddie Rides division, headed by General Manager Chris Bell, whose 25 years’ amusement industry experience includes 20 working in the kiddie rides sector, eight of which were spent as consultant and Sales Manager with Amutec.
Chris Bell added: “The response to our new kiddie ride range at ATEI was phenomenal, adding an extra dimension to the Namco offering. The fresh impetus and professional business planning now being implemented will, I am certain, help restore the highest regard for the Amutec brand, as well as bringing many new opportunities to Namco’s other product sectors.”

That’s the message from Money Controls srl ahead of this month’s Enada Primavera in Rimini. They are stressing both the suitability of their products for the Italian market and the highest level of customer response from their Milan service centre.

Money Controls has the largest selection of hoppers in the industry, and two, the Compact Range and the Combi Hopper System, feature strongly on the company’s stand. Both are ideal for use in Comma 6A machines, meeting all the technical requirements of the new regulation, whilst providing field-proven reliability and security.

With fast payout, in ‘single’ or ‘stream’ mode, a small footprint and a range of bowl options, the Compact hopper range provides a solution whatever the application. As a result, over one million have been supplied worldwide.
Developed to meet the requirements of the Italian AWP market, the Combi Hopper system features a low float, high security and fast payout of €2, €1 and €50c coins from just two hoppers, with no hunting for coins. Launched two years ago, it has already been integrated into machines by major software houses in Italy. It is now available with a high-capacity bowl, making it the ideal solution for handling the increased jackpots in Italy.

The Money Controls’ stand features several other products from the company’s extensive portfolio, including: PayLink, their USB integration module, the SR5i and SR3 coin acceptors, and the Ardac Elite and Lumina bill validators, for the casino and amusement markets, respectively.

Stephan Rosseneu, Western European Sales Manager, based in the company’s Milan office, is looking forward to welcoming new and existing customers to the Money Controls’ stand and show them not just the company’s products but also their enhanced customer service: “With the opening last year of our new centre in Milan, I believe we now deliver the best possible customer response, with full service capability and next-day delivery. Whether you’re an operator or OEM, we’d be delighted to discuss your requirements. Please visit our stand, 005 in Padiglione A5. You will be made most welcome.”

TFT specialist and manufacturer Display Technology designed and manufactured custom 32" HIBRITE TFT solutions for Eurostar and the brand new opening of the Ebbsfleet International Fastrack railway station in Kent.

The displays offer excellent brightness, Contrast, and viewing angles and utilise Samsung's latest Digital Information Display (DID) technology with excellent brightness, super-wide viewing angles and amazing image clarity in a custom ruggedised housing, which is just what the Eurostar station required.  This combined with an industrial Single Board Computer (SBC) and Display Technology's high reliability Prisma II interface solution this solution was perfect and met the design spec. given to Display Technology.

Managing Director Chris Bartram commented "we are very proud to have delivered a high quality solution, to specification and on-time, despite extremely tight timescales. Plus to be involved with such an International brand is great."