World market leader Novomatic relies on JustLarge laser cutters for acrylic processing

Three large format lasers from JustLaser in use at one of the largest acrylic processors

Acrylic glass (also known as Plexiglas or under the chemical name polymethyl methacrylate, PMMA) is used in many areas of industry due to its excellent properties such as transparency, UV resistance, weather resistance and break resistance. Machining is carried out by CNC milling, drilling, bending, shaping, grinding, water jet cutting and much more. However, the most common method of acrylic processing is laser cutting, as it allows work to be carried out with high precision and speed.

NOVOMATIC, one of the largest gaming groups in the world, is well aware of this. Founded in 1980 by industrialist Prof. Johann F. Graf, the group is represented in around 50 countries, employs more than 24,500 people worldwide and exports innovative gaming equipment, system solutions, lottery system solutions and services to around 100 countries. The group operates around 2,100 of its own electronic casinos and casinos as well as a total of around 214,000 gaming terminals and video lottery terminals via rental models.

The gaming machines are produced at the headquarters in Gumpoldskirchen (Austria) and then distributed worldwide, explains Herwig Giermair, who has been with the NOVOMATIC Group for 33 years and, as head of the "Printing and Advertising Technology" department, deals with the topic of "acrylic cutting" on a daily basis.

Several hundred tons of acrylic are processed annually at NOVOMATIC in Gumpoldskirchen, and the company has long relied on laser machines. "We have been working with laser systems since 2004 and use them here in-house for cutting Plexiglas sheets," explains Herwig Giermair.

In a company that processes so much acrylic and Plexiglas, factors such as cutting quality and cutting speed are at the top of the priority list for a laser machine. Smooth edges, clear cutting lines, constant cutting widths, no burn marks, minimal thermal influence, precise cutting dimensions, clear and clean optics at the highest possible cutting speed - these are all points that are very important to NOVOMATIC in the production of gaming machines.

The company, which generates an annual turnover of 2.9 billion euros and competes internationally with an export rate of 98%, is on course for growth. "Due to the increase in production, we had to look for new laser systems and opted for JustLaser in order to increase productivity," explains Production Manager Giermair.

The JustLarge laser cutter and laser engraver is used, which has outstanding properties, particularly in terms of cutting speed and cutting quality. This also convinced NOVOMATIC, which now relies on several of these laser systems. "We currently have three JustLaser systems in-house and are very impressed with the cutting quality and speed," confirms Herwig Giermair.

NOVOMATIC on the Internet: www.novomatic.com

NOVOMATIC on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/novomatic/