John Buras

John Buras is a notable figure in the pinball industry, with a career spanning over two decades at Gottlieb and its successor companies, Mylstar and Premier, from 1973 to 1996. Starting as a part-time tester while attending college, he transitioned into a full-time engineering role after earning his electronics engineering degree in 1977. 

In addition to his design work, Buras played a significant role in developing Premier Technology's hardware and software for the System 3 pinball platform. He was instrumental in creating "Smart Switches," a design developed in-house to combat common switch failures from moisture or contaminants. These switches utilized a piezo film sensor to detect closures, enhancing the reliability of the machines.