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MULTIMORPHIC VISIT 2023

Pinball News Website·article·analyzed·Apr 10, 2023
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Analysis

claude-haiku-4-5-20251001 · $0.022

TL;DR

Multimorphic factory tour reveals doubled capacity, in-house manufacturing, and strong P3 platform production momentum.

Summary

Pinball News visited Multimorphic's Round Rock, Texas factory in March 2023, documenting significant expansion and production scaling. The company has doubled its facility space, now incorporating a dedicated woodworking shop with CNC routing, 3D printing capabilities for parts manufacturing, and expanded assembly operations. Production includes Final Resistance modules (launching May 2023) and Weird Al's Museum of Natural Hilarity games, with backorder times reaching 6 months.

Key Claims

  • Multimorphic has doubled its factory space since 2019, now occupying approximately twice the original facility

    high confidence · Direct observation during March 2023 factory visit; documented with photographs of original and expanded areas

  • Final Resistance production was scheduled to begin in May 2023

    high confidence · Explicit statement in production timeline discussion during facility tour

  • Backorder time for new P3 game kits reached up to 6 months at the time of the visit

    high confidence · Stated in context of Weird Al production scheduling discussion

  • Multimorphic now manufactures P3 base cabinets and backboxes in-house using wooden construction with a unique playfield slide system

    high confidence · Detailed description of woodworking shop operations, CNC routing, and spray booth processes documented during facility tour

  • Gerry Stellenberg personally inspects and tests every P3 unit before shipment

    high confidence · Direct quote from Gerry Stellenberg during interview portion of factory visit

  • 3D printing is used to manufacture generic plastic parts (speaker housings, fan housings, mounting brackets) on-demand due to cost and storage efficiency advantages

    high confidence · Explanation from Gerry Stellenberg regarding manufacturing strategy for small-volume plastic components

Notable Quotes

  • “Gerry told us it makes sense to 3D print some of their more common parts as they can be made on-demand, don't take up storage space, and the price is often cheaper than ordering in small relatively quantities from plastics manufacturers more used to orders in the tens of thousands.”

    Pinball News (paraphrasing Gerry Stellenberg) @ Factory visit section, 3D printing discussion — Illustrates Multimorphic's manufacturing efficiency strategy and competitive advantage in small-batch production

  • “Gerry told us how he personally inspects and tests every P3 unit before it leaves the factory to make sure there are no issues with the game.”

    Gerry Stellenberg (Multimorphic head) @ Final testing section — Demonstrates quality control commitment and direct leadership involvement in production oversight

Entities

MultimorphiccompanyGerry StellenbergpersonP3 (Multimorphic P3)productFinal ResistancegameWeird Al's Museum of Natural HilaritygameTexas Pinball Festival 2023eventPinball Newsorganization

Signals

  • ?

    business_signal: 6-month backorder time for P3 game kits indicates either strong demand exceeding production capacity or supply chain constraints limiting output growth

    high · Explicit statement: 'With a backorder time of up to 6 months for new game kits, there would be plenty more *Weird Al* game kits produced before *Final Resistance* goes into production, starting in May.'

  • ?

    event_signal: Multiple P3 machines with various game modules on display at Texas Pinball Festival 2023 demonstrates platform maturity and breadth of available game titles

    high · Machines were 'packed up and taken on a three-hour drive up to Frisco for the Texas Pinball Festival' along with 'two examples of the company's latest release, Final Resistance'

  • $

    market_signal: Vertical integration expansion: Multimorphic now manufactures P3 base units in-house (previously outsourced), indicating confidence in demand stability and competitive positioning

    high · Historical context: 'At one time, the base P3 machines were built by an external contractor with the individual game modules built in-house. Although the ability to make their own cabinets is a more recent development...'

  • ?

    technology_signal: Deployment of 3D printing for on-demand parts manufacturing (speaker housings, fan housings, mounting brackets) represents shift toward Just-In-Time manufacturing and supply chain optimization

    high · Detailed description of 3D printer section and Gerry's explanation of cost/efficiency advantages for small-batch production

  • ?

    technology_signal: Multimorphic transition from metal to wooden cabinet construction represents manufacturing methodology change; unique playfield slide system indicates continued innovation in platform accessibility

Topics

Manufacturing capacity and expansionprimaryP3 platform evolution and adoptionprimaryProduction timeline and backorder statusprimaryIn-house manufacturing capabilities (woodworking, 3D printing, assembly)primaryQuality control and testing proceduressecondaryGame module design and modular architecturesecondaryTopper and accessory manufacturingmentioned

Sentiment

positive(0.82)— Reporting tone is enthusiastic and laudatory toward Multimorphic's growth and operational improvements. Documentation emphasizes operational efficiency, quality control commitment, and production scaling as positive developments. No critical commentary or concerns raised.

Transcript

raw_text · $0.000

Back in 2019 we paid a visit to the Multimorphic factory in Round Rock, Texas. Since then, much has changed, both with the company itself and with the pinball industry as a whole, but the intervening four years have been good for Multimorphic, with new games launched, new personnel on board, and the P3 platform becoming even more widely adopted. ![The multimorphic playfield and machine assembly area](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/learn/multimorphic-visit-march-2023/016-multimorphic-visit-march-2023.jpg) The Multimorphic playfield and machine assembly area As the business has grown, so has the company – literally. They now occupy around twice the factory space they did in 2019, taking over the adjacent unit for a woodworking shop, additional office space and an area used to display previous and current generations of the P3 pinball platform. Pinball News has followed the evolution of the P3 right from its earliest days. Here are a few of those reports: ![The evolution of the P3 pinball platform](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/learn/multimorphic-visit-march-2023/001-multimorphic-visit-march-2023.jpg) The evolution of the P3 pinball platform In addition to these early prototypes, the expanded space allows for ten P3 machines to be set up to showcase the range of games and playfield modules now available for the platform. !The P3 with various playfield modules and game packages The It’s worth noting how two of these machines featured prototype side panel RGB lighting strips around the backbox and cabinet artwork decals. !Backbox and cabinet RGB lighting effects Backbox and cabinet RGB lighting effects For protection, these animated LED strips fit under the artwork protectors available from the Multimorphic store to protect and secure the magnetic decals When we visited, most of these P3s were about to be packed up and taken on a three-hour drive up to Frisco for the Texas Pinball Festival. There, they would be joined by two examples of the company’s latest release, Final Resistance. ![Two of the latest Final Resistance games](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/learn/multimorphic-visit-march-2023/003-multimorphic-visit-march-2023.jpg) Two of the latest Final Resistance games The additional space is also home to a row of 3D printers which are used to produce some of the generic plastic parts used in the game such as speaker and fan housings, and various mounting brackets. Multimorphic head, Gerry Stellenberg, told us it makes sense to 3D print some of their more common parts as they can be made on-demand, don’t take up storage space, and the price is often cheaper than ordering in small relatively quantities from plastics manufacturers more used to orders in the tens of thousands. ![3D printers at work](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/learn/multimorphic-visit-march-2023/004-multimorphic-visit-march-2023.jpg) 3D printers at work The other part of the extended factory space is taken up with the woodworking shop where playfields, cabinets, backboxes, toppers and interior wooden parts are cut, along with other wooden parts such as the rotisseries used during playfield assembly. ![Stacks of wood in the woodworking area](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/learn/multimorphic-visit-march-2023/017-multimorphic-visit-march-2023.jpg) Stacks of wood sheets in the woodworking shop The CNC router cuts the sheets into the required parts. ![The CNC router cutting playfields and cabinet parts](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/learn/multimorphic-visit-march-2023/019-multimorphic-visit-march-2023.jpg) The CNC router cutting playfields and cabinet parts While they were once made of metal, the cabinets and backboxes for the P3 now use a more-traditional wooden construction, although they also feature a unique playfield slide system providing multiple points where the playfield can be rested or raised to access the underside. ![Cabinets waiting to be painted](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/learn/multimorphic-visit-march-2023/022-multimorphic-visit-march-2023.jpg) Cabinets waiting to be painted Completed cabinets and backboxes then head into the spray booth to be painted black. ![The spray booth](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/learn/multimorphic-visit-march-2023/020-multimorphic-visit-march-2023.jpg) The spray booth ![Cabinets being painted black inside the spray booth](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/learn/multimorphic-visit-march-2023/021-multimorphic-visit-march-2023.jpg) Cabinets being painted black inside the spray booth The area above the offices and showroom in the expansion unit is not wasted, as it is used for parts storage for the company’s expanding range of different titles. ![Boxes of parts for games in storage](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/learn/multimorphic-visit-march-2023/023-multimorphic-visit-march-2023.jpg) Boxes of parts for games in storage on the upper floor Meanwhile, back in the original factory space, construction of playfield modules and entire P3 machines is underway. ![The playfield manufacturing area](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/learn/multimorphic-visit-march-2023/007-multimorphic-visit-march-2023.jpg) The playfield manufacturing area Playfield modules for the company’s Weird Al’s Museum of Natural Hilarity game were being made during our visit. ![Weird Al's Museum of Natural Hilarity playfield modules](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/learn/multimorphic-visit-march-2023/005-multimorphic-visit-march-2023.jpg) Weird Al’s Museum of Natural Hilarity playfield modules With a backorder time of up to 6 months for new game kits, there would be plenty more Weird Al game kits produced before Final Resistance goes into production, starting in May. ![Manufacturing playfield modules](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/learn/multimorphic-visit-march-2023/006-multimorphic-visit-march-2023.jpg) Manufacturing playfield modules ![Multimorphic's pop bumper modules](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/learn/multimorphic-visit-march-2023/010-multimorphic-visit-march-2023.jpg) Assembling Multimorphic’s pop bumper modules ![Applying playfield decals](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/learn/multimorphic-visit-march-2023/008-multimorphic-visit-march-2023.jpg) Applying playfield decals Along with playfield modules, software and artwork, many new games also come with the option of a dedicated topper. The animated Weird Al topper has been especially well-received. ![Completed Weird Al toppers](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/learn/multimorphic-visit-march-2023/009-multimorphic-visit-march-2023.jpg) Completed Weird Al toppers At one time, the base P3 machines were built by an external contractor with the individual game modules built in-house. Although the ability to make their own cabinets is a more recent development, they have been building the main playfield chassis (which slides into the cabinet) at the Multimorphic factory for several years. ![Assembling complete P3 games](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/learn/multimorphic-visit-march-2023/014-multimorphic-visit-march-2023.jpg) Assembling complete P3 machines The main playfield uses a modular system where different modules such as the main flippers, the playfield monitor, the upper flipper and the side targets all slide in on rails. This allows the correct functionality of each module to be tested in isolation before it is slid into position in the main playfield chassis to be tested again as part of the whole machine. ![A rack of flipper modules](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/learn/multimorphic-visit-march-2023/013-multimorphic-visit-march-2023.jpg) A rack of flipper modules ![A rack of assembled walls & scoops modules](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/learn/multimorphic-visit-march-2023/012-multimorphic-visit-march-2023.jpg) A rack of assembled walls & scoops modules When the base machine has been assembled – together with any game module purchased at the same time – the P3 goes into testing using one of a pair of dedicated test rigs. ![Testing completed playfield modules](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/learn/multimorphic-visit-march-2023/011-multimorphic-visit-march-2023.jpg) Testing completed playfield modules There were six near-complete Weird Al games awaiting final testing before being packed and shipped to their buyers. P3 machines can be purchased as a bare base unit or with one of the company’s games pre-installed. ![Completed P3 machines with the Weird Al game installed](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/learn/multimorphic-visit-march-2023/015-multimorphic-visit-march-2023.jpg) Near-complete P3 machines with the Weird Al game and branding installed Gerry told us how he personally inspects and tests every P3 unit before it leaves the factory to make sure there are no issues with the game. That concludes this tour of the Multimorphic facility in Round Rock, Texas. Many thanks to Gerry and the team for all their help at what was obviously a busy time for the company ahead of the Texas Pinball Festival. You can see the games on the Multimorphic stand in our extensive show report. You can also hear Gerry talk about Multimorphic’s plans for future titles and how the company has grown over the years in our special bonus PINcast in conjunction with Pinball Magazine featuring interviews with leading pinball industry heads.
Pinball Magazine
organization

high · Section on cabinet construction: 'While they were once made of metal, the cabinets and backboxes for the P3 now use a more-traditional wooden construction, although they also feature a unique playfield slide system'