IGT moving into one building

September 1

The world's largest slot machine manufacturer is planning to converge its Southern Nevada operation into one large building.

The Reno based International Game Technology confirmed in a statement Monday that it is in the planning phase to build a 600,000 square foot edifice to consolidate the operations they have. Currently they have nine buildings spread out over Southern Nevada.

Construction on the new building, which will be put up on the northwest corner of Buffalo Road and Sunset Drive in southwest Las Vegas, is scheduled to start construction in November. It is stated that the project should be finished by October 2006.

The company announced the consolidation in a press release issued Monday. A company spokesman did not say how much IGT would be spending on the new facility.

Vice President of Marketing for IGT, Ed Rogich, stated that there are no current plans to enlarge the Southern Nevada work force, which currently is at about 750 people. The company also has no plans to move any of its major manufacturing operation from Reno to Las Vegas.

It is said that the new facility will enable the company to be more efficient and also allow them to be responsive to their customers needs.

The center will devote 300,000 square feet to manufacturing and warehouse space, 230,000 square feet to offices and 70,000 square feet for accessory space. The company will consolidate its Southern Nevada manufacturing, engineering, sales, casino services and systems divisions.

The speculation of a facilities consolidation was brought on earlier this month during a meeting of the Nevada Commission on Economic Development. Nevada Development Authority President Somer Hollingsworth mentioned at the meeting that IGT was attempting a plan to consolidate or even planning an expansion of some sort when commissioners debated whether to approve tax incentives to an IGT competitor, Konami Gaming Inc., Tokyo.

Hollingsworth stated that gaming equipment manufacturers, including IGT, should be eligible for tax incentives/breaks on expansions, even though the purpose of the incentives is to help diversify the state's economy.

IGT has not desided whether or not it would apply for incentives, but the company would have to qualify by investing in capital improvements and adding jobs paying more than the state average to be eligible for such incentives.