The right solution for every need Gewete

THE RIGHT SOLUTION FOR EVERY NEED

Gewete is a global leader in cash machine handling technology with a special a focus on the gambling and leisure industries. Philip Yorke talked to Aristidis Tsikouras, the company’s CEO, about its latest high-tech cash changers and the move into new retail market sectors.

Gewete was founded in 1993 and is part of the famous Gauselmann Group of Germany. It is a world leader in the design and manufacture of money-handling machines for a diverse range of leisure and retail applications. Paul Gauselmann founded the group more than 50 years ago and his innovative amusement and prize machines quickly brought the company success and recognition. In 2011 the group employed more than 6000 people and recorded sales of more than €1.7 billion. As an important subsidiary of Gauselmann, Gewete benefits from the technological expertise and financial strength of the group and applies the same flexible, innovative approach to product development.

Gewete is renowned for the exceptional build-quality of its machines and the higher the security level demanded, the more secure a client’s money is against unauthorised access. Today the company designs, develops and manufactures money changing machines, cash machines and payment machines. This is in addition to machines dedicated to the growing retail market, such as ticket machines, entry control systems and machines which provide automatic cash handling solutions. Gewete’s key market sectors include casinos, arcades, banks, retailers, water parks, public facilities and museums.

Unique, one-stop-shop service

One of the main advantages that Gewete has over its competitors is that all its design and manufacturing competences reside under one roof at Mechernich, near Cologne. This enables the company to be extremely flexible - it can cater for every conceivable need that a customer may have. This one-stop-shop approach sets it apart from its competitors along with the reliability and quality of its extensive product portfolio.

Mr Tsikouras said, “Traditionally our core business has been the supply of cash changing machines and systems for the casino and gambling industry. However, today we are moving more towards cashless systems and expanding our portfolio of retail products, which are all PC based. We also have machines which accept debit and credit cards. Our best sellers currently are our ‘Maxi Cash Recycler’, `Cash Recycler and our ‘Mini Coin Recycler’ models. In the past it was enough to provide facilities for simply changing notes etc – but now for casinos and arcades it is very different and important to reduce the level of cash in the system. During the last five years we have seen significant growth in the gambling sector as German market leader. In addition to our success in the German gambling sector, we successfully could establish our product range in the area of ticketing, access control, cash handling and projecting by means of new developments, so that a large part of our turnover results from this sector.”

Mr Tsikouras added, “Our comprehensive facilities offer our customers a unique combination of expertise and practical facilities for prototyping and testing new products. We produce highly specialised ‘back office’ and ‘front office’ software and also develop new programmes with our customers on a joint venture basis. Another thing that makes us special and differentiates us from our competitors is that unlike them, we also work outside the gambling industry. Our focus on these other areas helps us to create more innovative products and broadens our product portfolio, which in times of economic downturn is a major advantage. Currently, our main turnover comes from gambling related cash handling products. By

developing new products and acquisition of new customers in other fields than the gambling sector, these solutions achieved an important part from our yearly turnover, which considerably will be expanded in future and will gain greater importance for our company.”

New horizons

Currently Gewete’s biggest market is Germany, with the Nordic countries representing the second biggest market. However, the company also installs its cash handling machines in a further 25 countries with most of them located in Europe. These are countries such as the Netherlands, Italy, France, Spain, Greece, UK, Turkey (for ticketing only) and Finland. But in the near future the plans are to expand business in eastern Europe, the Middle East and South America. Much of this growth will come from sales networks already in place, but Gewete is also generating global interest in its products at major international trade fairs. In the next 12 months the company will be showcasing its products at a large number of fairs dedicated to the industries that Gewete serves. These include, a gaming Expo, in Belgrade, in May, as well as the Arena Expo in Bucharest, the Balkan Entertainmants Trade Fair, the Evo attraction show and the SAGSE International Trade Fair in Argentina.

Innovation driving sales

Gewete’s innovative cash handling technology keeps it ahead of the competition. The company’s latest cash-centres, coin-recyclers, ticket machines and canteen systems set the standards for the industry. A recent example of Gewete’s lead in this sector can be seen with its recent introduction of the Maxi-Cash-Recycler, which offers maximum coin and note stock with optimal security. After the successful introduction of the Gewete ‘Cash Centre’ a couple of years ago, the company has launched the new, Maxi-Cash-Recycler, which makes central cash management possible in modern casinos and amusement arcades.

The outstanding features of the MaxiCash-Recycler, is its large 15 inch touch display-screen and the recycling of banknotes and coins. However, it is also equipped with a reader for credit and debit cards as well as offering a printer for receipts, statistics print-outs and vouchers. In addition this model offers modern PC and databank technology, with remote dial-in, remote read-out and remote adjustment features n