Gauselmann Group’s M-BOX 111,111th unit has now run off the production line at the company’s own production site at its headquarters in Lübbecke, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. To mark this special achievement, the company will roll out a special donation campaign.
The employee donation benefiting the victims of a 2021 flood disaster in the western part of Germany will be increased by €15,311 to €111,111, thus matching the number of units produced and further supporting the people of North Rhine-Westphalia, states a press release.
Initially in the amount of €85,000, the donation was later topped up to €95,800 by the Paul and Karin Gauselmann Foundation and a number of subsidiaries. The non-profit foundation was established in 1999 by Paul Gauselman, founder and owner of the Gauselmann Group, and his wife.
The German gaming company describes the production landmark as proof of the M-BOX’s “unparalleled success.” Featuring an ergonomic, slim design, state-of-the-art technology with a sustainable core and a gaming experience on up to three large screens, it is described by adp Gauslemann as “the world’s most successful slot machine of the past 20 years.”
“There’s no denying that the M-BOX’s outreach to so many gaming arcades around the globe is a very special milestone, bringing continued gaming enjoyment to many people,” says company founder and Chairman of the Management Board Paul Gauselmann. “And to think all this is a product of our own development and production capacities in Eastern Westphalia.”
The M-BOX was launched in 2015 following “four years of intensive development,” according to the company, which says the slot machine “revolutionized the entire vending machine industry.” The product rapidly gained popularity both on the domestic market in Germany as well as internationally, where it is marketed under the product name Avantgarde.
“The M-BOX represents a completely new type of cabinet design – not only in terms of design and ergonomics, but also with respect to technology, sustainability and energy efficiency. Its international popularity is confirmation that our development department has pulled off a true masterstroke,” claims Jürgen Stühmeyer, Management Board member, MERKUR Sales.
According to the German company, translating the concept of the M-BOX into a finished product was a process that required both resourcefulness and perseverance. Initially, the ergonomic requirements identified in an ergonomics study conducted by the Fraunhofer Institute were “not compatible” with the technical demands on the new multigamer.
This required a solution that lays in a new door concept, which allows the door of the M-BOX to swing upwards rather than sideways. This innovation thus leaves sufficient space for the required components, and was fundamental for the product’s success.
The M-BOX utilizes modern processors and new touch technology, thus ensuring games are displayed in brilliant, full HD resolution with no loss of brightness, Gauselmann Group explains in a press release.
Despite its outstanding performance capability, the multigamer is “far more energy-efficient,” which results in up to 50% lower power consumption. The company describes this as “a breakthrough that not only benefits operators, but above all the environment.”
The M-BOX is the result of an outstanding team effort,” says Dr Werner Schroer, Gauselmann Group Management Board member, Development and Technology. “While working on its development, we motivated and inspired one another, always with a mind to making improvements and developing a perfect machine for even more gaming fun. That’s the passion that all of us across the Gauselmann Group share.”
Gauselmann's Avantgarde cabinets at Riviera Casino Club, Suriname.
This team effort was also the driving force behind the continuous development and optimization of the product in subsequent years, which saw adp Gauselmann launch a number of new, themed M-BOX editions, including the SOCCER, SEVEN and PRINCE models.
In 2017, the cabinet was upgraded with the addition of a third 27-inch monitor, marking the birth hour of the M-BOX TRIO. Two and three years later respectively, the M-BOX MAX and the M-BOX MAX TRIO followed, which offer maximum scope for the reels on 32-inch monitors.
“Each year, up to 50,000 gaming machines roll off our production lines. With 111,111 produced units, the M-BOX in its various guises obviously stands out in particular,” Production Manager Hans Martin Grube explains. “During construction, the M-BOX passes through seven assembly stages with 4,937 individual components and a total production time of around 14 hours. Through their dedication on the job, our approximately 300 line staff ensure that each and every unit meets the exacting quality standards.”
The company also credits games content for the product as a reason for its ongoing success. “New, exciting games and features are constantly being developed and tested in wide-scale field tests, paving the way for adp Gauselmann to deliver the ideal games mix time and again,” says the company.
