NOVOMATIC Africa has announced that it has reached a major operational milestone: the local assembly of its popular Panther FV623D and FV624D Limited Payout Machines (LPMs) is now fully underway in South Africa. This strategic development marks a critical step in the company’s commitment to regional growth, operational agility and technological excellence.

The initiative was born out of post-pandemic global supply challenges, where machine delivery lead times were significant. To address this, NOVOMATIC Africa made the strategic decision to localise certain production capabilities—shortening timelines, reducing dependency on international shipments, and contributing to the local economy and empowerment.

At the helm of the project is Mohamed Abdullah, Technical & Operations Manager, who leads a team of highly skilled, internationally trained technical professionals.

After extensive planning and cross-border collaboration, NOVOMATIC Africa equipped a dedicated assembly area within its new Midrand facility. The space was enhanced with the necessary tooling, shelving and safety systems to handle high-volume pre-assembly processes, including monitor and bill validator modules.

This ambitious three-year journey—culminating in South Africa’s first locally assembled Panther LPMs—was not only a triumph of logistics and innovation but also a testament to human expertise, resilience and visionary leadership.

To ensure full compliance and alignment with both NOVOMATIC AG (Austria) and local regulatory standards, the project included:

• Acquisition of an Electrostatic Discharge (ESD) Safety Test Machine

• Establishment of robust quality control protocols

• Integration with the NAG central database

• Development of a structured pre-assembly line for key components

• Empowering Local Talent

“Investing in people has been the most important part of this journey. Yes, we’re building machines. But more importantly, we’re building capability—equipping our team here in South Africa with the knowledge, tools, and confidence to meet global benchmarks,” said Mohamed Abdullah.

NOVOMATIC Africa’s investment in local production is more than a tactical solution—it’s a long-term strategic move aimed at strengthening the company’s footprint across the continent.

As demand continues to grow, the company remains focused on building a resilient, skilled local workforce and continuing its mission to deliver high-quality, technically advanced gaming machines for Africa’s evolving gaming landscape.