Phillips-Medisize and U-Turn Audio turn up the volume

About the performance of the next generation tonearm

•America’s largest record player manufacturer partners with North America’s largest magnesium thixoforming manufacturer to launch innovative tonearm technology

•Designing better sound requires special expertise in complex product design, engineering and thixoforming

•By combining three parts into a single part, tooling costs and supply chain requirements are reduced, and product assembly time is shortened

HUDSON, Wis. – May 9, 2023 – Phillips-Medisize, a Molex company, is a leader in the design, engineering and manufacturing of drug delivery, in vitro diagnostics, medical technology and specialty consumer devices. It has mature skills in injection molding of magnesium materials. Partnered with U-Turn Audio, the nation's largest turntable manufacturer by volume, to develop a game-changing tonearm for the next generation of turntables.

"Overall, the tonearm is the heart of the turntable and is responsible for generating all the actual audio signals," said Bob Hertig, president and CEO of U-Turn Audio . "We wanted to combine the multiple components. into a single solid component to simplify the turntable construction, reduce resonance and build a stronger and better performing tonearm.”

Sales of vinyl records have surpassed CDs for the first time since 1987, according to the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). The RIAA revealed in its 2022 annual revenue report that vinyl records accounted for $1.2 billion of the $1.7 billion in physical media sales, selling nearly 8 million more copies than CDs. U-Turn Audio audiophiles and die-hard fans of LPs realize that the new tonearm, made from magnesium, has better mechanical and physical properties than traditional materials. However, to make a magnesium tonearm, you need to find a company with extensive experience in "thixoforming." (Thixoforming refers to a unique process used in magnesium injection molding.)

To realize the innovative tonearm concept, U-Turn Audio sought to partner with Phillips-Medisize, the largest magnesium injection molding manufacturer in North America, to leverage its unique expertise in this area. Phillips-Medisize's Wisconsin facility applies more than half a century of expertise to provide end-to-end manufacturing services, providing front-end design, development and manufacturing services to highly regulated industries, including manufacturing medical devices using magnesium.

Playing all the right notes through harmonious collaboration

U-Turn worked with Phillips-Medisize to combine the various tonearm components into a single-piece tonearm called the OA3 Pro. Designed specifically for U-Turn Audio's high-end Orbital Theory turntables, the tonearm has a very complex design that requires very thin wall thickness and a slender core piece for the tonearm stem. Among other things, the thixoforming process involves extremely high heat and pressure. Phillips-Medisize’s decades of experience in mold design and flow analysis overcome these difficulties.

Eric Semingson, senior development manager at Phillips-Medisize, said: “Working with U-Turn Audio was a great collaboration because they involved us in the design phase. They were open and welcoming. The design assistance we provide is extremely valuable as you can reduce tooling costs, supply chain requirements and product assembly time by designing a monolithic device rather than a 3-part device, thereby reducing the overall cost of the product. reduce."

Better-performing turntables gain rave reviews

The entire planning and development process for the new tonearm took more than a year, from concept to product launch. U-Turn Audio also took this opportunity to update other functions of the turntable, finally launching Orbit Theory in September 2022. Wide acclaim followed. Critics' reviews were enthusiastic, and the market response was overwhelmingly enthusiastic. In view of this, U-Turn Audio is currently planning to equip other future turntable models with this innovative tonearm.

Relevant information

•U-Turn Audio and Phillips-Medize Case Study Video

•U-Turn Audio and Phillips-Medize Case Study Documents

Philips-Medisize brings possibilities to life

Philips-Medisize, a Molex company, partners with leading pharmaceutical, medical technology and in vitro diagnostic device companies to design, engineer and manufacture innovative products that save human lives. In addition, the company's consumer specialty businesses serve the automotive, consumer products and defense industries. As a contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO), Philips-Medisize leverages its 60 years of expertise and globally recognized capabilities to partner with customers to deliver products and solutions that help millions of patients, healthcare professionals and individuals live better lives each year A healthier and more productive life.