Niles, IL, and Ashland, MA, April 6, 2009–Shure Incorporated, the venerable manufacturer of microphone legends like the SM57 and SM58®, today announced the acquisition of Crowley and Tripp Ribbon Microphones from Soundwave Research Laboratories of Ashland, Massachusetts. Under a definitive agreement, Shure now owns all intellectual property, microphone process equipment, product designs, and other important assets related to the Crowley and Tripp line. Shure will manufacture ribbon microphones in its Wheeling, Illinois, facility using the revolutionary, patented Roswellite™ shape-memory acoustic ribbon material developed by Soundwave Research.
“Ribbon microphones have always been prized for their warm sound quality, but older designs are delicate, which has limited their applications,” said Scott Sullivan, Shure’s Senior Director of Global Product Management. “With the acquisition of the Crowley and Tripp product line and their Roswellite ribbon technology, Shure is extending the use of ribbon microphones to the stage in addition to their use in the studio.”
“We are very pleased to have the opportunity to work with the leading manufacturer of microphones to further the development and commercialization of improved ribbon microphones,” said Soundwave Research President Robert J. Crowley.
“Bringing new technologies like Roswellite into the marketplace is an important goal for our company,” added Sandy LaMantia, Shure’s President and CEO. “Our customers expect continuous improvement. For more than 84 years, Shure has been dedicated to manufacturing the finest microphones in the world and developing innovative audio technologies for our customers.”
“This new ribbon technology enables us to combine the characteristic ribbon sound with the durability for which Shure products are famous,” said Chad Wiggins, Shure’s Wired Microphone Products Category Manager. “Our customers know they can use their Shure microphones in every conceivable scenario, from the most subtle vocal performance to high-SPL instruments, like a kick drum. Now they can take advantage of the unique sound signature of a ribbon microphone no matter what their application is.”
Shure will manufacture ribbon microphones exclusively in the U.S. Shure will also assume responsibility for ongoing service and support for existing owners of Crowley and Tripp ribbon microphone products.
About Shure Incorporated
Founded in 1925, Shure Incorporated (www.shure.com) is widely acknowledged as the world's leading manufacturer of microphones and audio electronics. Over the years, the Company has designed and produced many high-quality professional and consumer audio products that have become legendary for performance, reliability, and value. Shure’s diverse product line includes world-class wired microphones and wireless microphone systems for performers and presenters, award-winning earphones and headsets for MP3 players and smartphones, and top-rated phonograph cartridges for professional DJs. Today, Shure products are the first choice whenever audio performance is a top priority.
Shure Incorporated corporate headquarters is located in Niles, Illinois, in the United States. The Company has additional manufacturing facilities and regional sales offices in China, Germany, Hong Kong, Japan, Mexico, The United Kingdom, and the United States.
About Soundwave Research Laboratories
Soundwave Research Laboratories, Inc. is a leading innovator and manufacturer of high quality ribbon microphones and of transducers used in industry, music recording, and medicine. The company maintains an R&D facility and manufacturing unit in Ashland, Massachusetts, and is the maker of the Naked Eye ribbon microphone, which has achieved a cult status among users, and of Proscenium, Soundstage Image, Studio Vocalist, Recordist Ensemble, and El Diablo professional recording microphones.
Soundwave Medical is a division of Soundwave Research Laboratories, Inc., a developer and manufacturer of innovative acoustic devices, transducers, sensors, and precision microphones used in a variety of health, entertainment, industrial, and scientific fields.
