JERSEY MOVES TO ILLINOIS

[Rock-ola]

JERSEY MOVES TO ILLINOIS
Ever since the business was founded, Jersey Jack Pinball has been a two-centre operation, with the design and software programming taking place at the company’s Illinois base – initially in Streamwood but latterly in Bensonville – while purchasing, manufacturing and sales were based at their main headquarters in Lakewood, New Jersey.


Jersey Jack Pinball’s Lakewood factory

Now, the company has decided to ditch its New Jersey operation and moved the whole company to a new facility in Elk Grove Village. And if that name sounds familiar it’s because that’s also the home of their biggest competitor, Stern Pinball.

Keeping control of the two separate locations proved to be far more difficult than expected, with the Streamwood/Bensonville operation without effective management for some time before game designer Pat Lawlor was appointed to manage it and regain that lost control.

Now, the Jersey Jack Pinball’s manufacturing and sales are to be merged with the game and software design in their new Elk Grove Village operation.


The manufacturing operation at Lakewood

This would appear to be a victory for the investors brought in to help finance the company’s ongoing operations and develop a sustainable and profitable future in an increasingly-competitive market.

There is no indication of exactly where in Elk Grove Village the company will set up but there is rampant construction taking place in the city, with ProLogis building new factory units at an impressive rate.

A press release from Jersey Jack Pinball thanks the Lakewood staff for their hard work, but emphasises the expected cost savings from combining their two operations under a single roof. Whether that will result in reduced prices for current and upcoming titles, or will instead provide a surer financial footing for the company remains to be seen.

There is no news about whether Jersey Jack Pinball’s founder, Jack Guarnieri, or other members of his family employed by the company will be moving to Illinois too, or if this is an indication he will be taking a reduced role in the company’s management now their base has moved 825 miles east. His job title is not referenced in the press release.

Here’s how Jersey Jack Pinball announced their impending relocation through the PRNewswire service.

CHICAGO, Feb. 26, 2020 /PRNewswire/ — Jersey Jack Pinball (JJP), creator of premium pinball machines, will relocate its manufacturing operations from Lakewood, New Jersey to Elk Grove Village, Illinois, bringing fabrication into greater synergy with the design and engineering teams currently based in Bensenville Illinois, where JJP anticipates creating fifty or more new jobs. “First and foremost, I would like to thank all the employees in Lakewood for their hard work and dedication to Jersey Jack Pinball and the wider pinball industry. Their contributions are greatly appreciated,” said Jack Guarnieri. “This move will allow JJP to remain competitive and efficient in the market. We look forward to creating an exciting, collaborative workplace in Illinois, where we can continue to be pioneers of pinball design, building great games for many years to come.“ Jersey Jack Pinball (JJP) is the industry leader in quality and technical innovation, creating groundbreaking pinball machines for seasoned players, collectors, and newcomers to the game. Designed and manufactured in the United States, JJP’s state-of-the-art games are conceived on a foundation of pinball’s rich history and engineered with an unflinching eye toward its future.

We’ll have more news from Jersey Jack Pinball and details of their new Elk Grove Village home very soon here at Pinball News.

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