GGRAsia – SuzoHapp focused on delivering innovative products

SuzoHapp focused on delivering innovative products

Nov 16, 2016 Newsdesk Macao Gaming Show 2016

SuzoHapp Group aims to remain relevant in the global gaming industry as it focus on launching innovative products for the sector, says Geoffrey McDowell (pictured), the firm’s managing director for Asia Pacific.

SuzoHapp was traditionally an amusement and gaming company developing and distributing machine components for equipment operators and original manufacturers. The company is now very active in the cash handling segment, following the acquisition of Italy-based currency technology firm Comesterogroup SRL, and the acquisition of Sweden-based cash handling technology company Scan Coin AB.

“We are building basically five verticals in the company: amusement; transportation; gaming; retail; and banking,” Mr McDowell told GGRAsia in an interview during the Macao Gaming Show 2016. The three-day trade show is being held in Macau until November 17 inclusive.

“We’re concentrating obviously to keep all of them [business segments] growing and that has challenges. We are very mindful of that and we have expanded our team globally to have experts in each of the segments,” the executive said.

“We are putting a lot of focus on bringing innovation to gaming, some of it around the cash handling business. We will be bringing a lot of what we have got from the other companies in our group to the gaming space,” he added.

SuzoHapp has already installed a casino chip dispensing machine in some gaming venues and is now developing the concept of having “a self-serve cage” exchanging chips for money. Mr McDowell said the company expects to install the first of such machines in a casino in Australia “in early 2017”.

“Another product we’ll be releasing in 2017 will be a CRT [cash redemption terminal], which of course uses technology from our group companies. We are bringing out our first CRT and we will launch that in the Australian market,” said the SuzoHapp executive.

Perfecting products

SuzoHapp has recently unveiled its new CashComplete product – comprised of three segment lines – that aims to help customers with their financial operations. The company says the new offering “enables customers to dramatically reduce working capital and the expenses associated with cash management”.

The firm has also launched a range of customisable metal cabinets – DualPro and SoloPro – that allow game developers to have a complete slot machine solution by plugging in their game board.

SuzoHapp is also developing other products, including its InteractivePro Table and new gaming displays.

The interactive table can be used – where approved by regulators – for slot games, betting in live casino table games, sports betting, watching TV and marketing activities. The table surface uses toughened 6-millimetre (0.2-inch), spill-proof glass that is responsive to the user’s touch.

SuzoHapp is currently “working with some key customers and partners on perfecting the product [InteractivePro Table] to deliver a very comprehensive package,” said Mr McDowell.

The company also continues to develop its original business segment, “working with OEMs [original equipment manufacturers] to support them in building machines, [electronic] kiosks and the likes,” said the SuzoHapp representative.

“For any company building self-service terminals, we want to be a major provider of the peripherals and the equipment that goes into building those,” he added.

The executive additionally said the company remains “very much engaged” with customers in Asia and monitors the potential growth in emerging markets like the Philippines and South Korea.

“I think for next year it’s really about trying to come out with some innovative products that keep us relevant globally in gaming, and more focus also with our OEMs, providing some new products for them,” said Mr McDowell.