Before Pinball Expo 2022 started, Martin Ayub and I visited Jersey Jack Pinball, were we got a factory tour by game designer Eric Meunier. The photos below will give an impression of that tour.
When entering the factory, there are three prototype games with minor differences compared to the production model.On this Willy Wonka game, the insert above the upper left flipper say ‘Brat’, which had to be changedGuns N’ Roses protoToy Story 4 protoBoxes with (I believe) toppers ready to be shipped.These are finished games, waiting to be shipped out.Guns N’ Roses playfileds in a crateThe stockroom, where all the parts needed to build these games are stored.Game designer Eric Meunier standing in front of racks with playfields.Almost the end of the playfield line.This playfield is almost completeAt the start of the line, the playfield looks like this.Add the backpanel, posts and metal parts.The underside of the playfield with just a few elements installed.More mechs are being installedLED boards have been added, as well as the spinning disk.The wiring loom is added.Adding the final touches to the underside of the playfield.Mini display assembly. Behind the wired door is customer service.This area runs parallel to the production line with various stations. At each station specific parts are assembled to be installed on the line as a completed sub assembly.Nuts, bolts, washers, posts and other metal parts. The sheet indicates where each part goes on the playfield.Assembly of metal parts early on in the assembly proces.Backpanels.Many parts are stacked on custom racks or trays, so they are easily available to the workers on the line.This is the Duke Kaboom jump ramp mech from Toy Story 4. During assembly, this part uses a metal placeholder to align the top with the playfield. Later down the line, the metal placeholder is replaced with the plastic part.The red metal plate is just a placeholder.More Duke Kaboom jump ramp mechs.More parts.The base for the spinning disk assembly.Here the spinning disk is assembled. The decals is added later. The design of this spinning disk is similar to the spinning disks used in Whirlwind.Finished playfields, waiting to be tested.Scoops.Wiring looms.Because the ramps are powdercoated, they can’t touch each other when laying down as that may result in scratches. So the ramps are left hanging.Aprons, one of the last parts to install.One of the last steps is to install the metal rails at the bottom of the playfield where the playfield rests on when lifted from the cabinet.Underside complete.Testing station to test if everything is working correctly on the underside…… and on the upper side of the playfield.I just found this funnyTested playfields, ready to go into a cabinet.The completed playfield up close.Plenty of playfields waiting to go into a game.I found the design of the LED board behind this plastic very elegant.There is a separate line where backboxes are assembled.Here. the playfield goes into its cabinet, with backbox, as is tested again.CNC router to cut playfieldsLaser cutter for metal partsUnder these blankets, mechs for upcoming games are being tested by firing them over and over again to see if they break and how long that takes.Accidents happen. This game was returned after it fell of a fork lift.Behind this closed door the next three Jersey Jack Pinball game titles are being tested.
Jersey Jack Pinball currently has two production lines, but at the time of our visit only one line was in use.
For more images from the Jersey Jack Pinball factore, see the Pinball Expo report.
