Pinball Manufacturers: Recel

During the 1970s and early 1980s, Spain operated under strict protectionist import laws that made bringing American-made arcade games into the country nearly impossible. This unique economic environment created a massive boom for regional manufacturers, and Recel emerged as one of the undisputed kings of the Spanish pinball golden age.

Recel was formed as a sister company to Petaco, a major Spanish amusement manufacturer known for building localized clones of American Bally games. While Petaco handled the domestic clones, Recel was established with a different mission: to design completely original electro-mechanical (EM) and solid-state (SS) pinball machines that could not only dominate Spanish arcades but also be aggressively exported across Europe.

Drawing heavy mechanical inspiration from American giants like Williams and Bally, Recel machines were celebrated for their vibrant, distinctively European artwork, drop-target heavy layouts, and surprisingly fast gameplay.

As the 1970s came to a close, Spain’s import restrictions began to ease, opening the floodgates for larger international manufacturers to flood the market with advanced solid-state technology. Combined with the global rise of the video game arcade, Recel struggled to maintain its dominant market share.

By the early 1980s, the company had officially ceased pinball production. However, their surviving machines remain a vital and fascinating chapter of European pinball history, serving as physical artifacts of a time when local Spanish manufacturers went head-to-head with the American giants.