During Wincor World show hours, a silver-suited mime maneuvered atop the giant logo, greeting visitors to the exhibit hall.

Wincor Nixdorf is based in Paderborn, Germany, a town that dates back to the days of Charlemagne (circa 800 A.D.), a frequent visitor. The city hall is considerably newer, however, as evidenced by its classic Renaissance architecture.

The name "Paderborn" literally indicates the town as where the Pader river is born. The river, barely more than a stream in some places, is at about 2 miles long the country's shortest.

In the town center is a brass 3-D map of town highlights, broken to allow people to walk like giants among the miniature structures.

Charlemagne traveled his territory relentlessly around the start of the 9th Century, establishing homes at strategic points along the way. In this hollowed-out square once stood his Paderborn residenc.

Charlemagne traveled his territory relentlessly around the start of the 9th Century, establishing homes at strategic points along the way. In this hollowed-out square once stood his Paderborn residence.

Americans tired of surly garage attendants would like Germany, where even exit payment is handled by kiosks.

More than 7,700 visitors from more than 50 countries attended Wincor World 2004. At some points, swarms of registrants rendered this counter invisible.

At center (facing left) is Karl-Heinz Stiller, president and CEO of Wincor Nixdorf. Here, he describes elements of the show to attendees of Retail Innovation Day, a countrywide meeting on industry issues.

Visible in the lower left is a shopping cart equipped with Wincor Nixdorf's Personal Sales Assistant, a mobile, customer-friendly consulting and POS concept produced in cooperation with Multichannel Retail Ltd.

The curbside mailbox could be getting some help from Wincor Nixdorf. The company is fast at work in Europe and other regions to enable mailers to do their business 24/7-from weighing packages to paying for their postage and sending them on their way.

Wincor Nixdorf's self-service applications extend to the gas station and C-store worlds as well.

One show area was dedicated to gas station and C-store applications.

A significant portion of the floor was dedicated to Wincor Nixdorf's self-service brand, the Beetle--which was indeed named for the famous German car.

One iteration of the Beetle is available for retail self-checkout.

The Wincor Nixdorf device pictured here is being tested in Chicago for possible U.S. roll-out. Able to accept orders and payment, it is turning Happy Meals into snappy meals.

RFID, despite its controversy in the U.S., is going strong in Europe.

A large portion of the floor was dedicated to store automation, where technology was demonstrated that can improve service by freeing workers for one-on-one attention to customers.

Shown here is part of the store automation area.

In Europe, recycling is much more common than in the U.S. Companies like Wincor Nixdorf continue to refine the customer experience.

It may look like a casino at first, with all of the machines lined up, but it's the financial self-service area of Wincor World.

The Wincor Nixdorf ProCash 1500. The system complies with the needs of postal service providers who want to shift their cash and postage-stamp dispensing functions onto a single device.

The Wincor Nixdorf ProCash 1400xe.

The Wincor Nixdorf ProCash 1500xe. Ideal for locations with limited space. Free-standing or through the wall. Sidecars can facilitate cash and check handling.

The Wincor Nixdorf ProCash 1500xe. Ideal for locations with limited space. Free-standing or through the wall. Sidecars can facilitate cash and check handling.

The Wincor Nixdorf ProCash 2100xe "all inclusive." A multifunction system with add-on functionalities, such as barcode reader, cash and check deposit module, anti-skimming and more.

The Wincor Nixdorf ProCash 2150xe. Functional variety for outdoor installations.

People mill outside the Microsoft pavilion.

What's a slideshow without a couple of good-looking smiling for the camera? This shining pair worked the Sun stand.