ORTOFON

A great Danish success story began in 1918

In the beginning was the sound track

On the 9th of October 1918, the two Danish engineers, Axel Petersen (1887-1971) and Arnold Poulsen (1889-1952) founded the Electrical Phono Film Company with a few capable and foresighted businessmen who would support the organization financially.

Their aim was to explore the possibility of high-class recording and developing one of the first synchronized sound film systems in the world. Under primitive conditions, the two Danish engineers and their small staff had to solve a number of what were considered insuperable problems.

Watch the movie “Discovery Channel features Ortofon AS” »

Ortofon today

Today Ortofon is a fine mechanical powerhouse, which develops, manufactures and markets the world acclaimed Ortofon cartridges and components for the hearing aids industry.

Our company has always been working with sound reproduction. Founded in Copenhagen, it initially made soundtracks for movies. In 1948 Ortofon developed its first moving coil cartridge, since then more than 300 different cartridges have been developed and manufactured, with our latest being MC Windfeld Ti cartridge.

We benefit from being established in Denmark, a country recognized for its strong tradition in acoustics and its wealth of other high-end manufacturers, who make hearing aids and acoustic measurement equipment, in addition to all aspects of high-end audio.

Ortofon worldwide

Acoustics, materials, technology and micro mechanics are key competences in Ortofon’s technological prowess. Research and development is done with the company’s own engineers supported by a strong network of acoustic know-how and industrial design in Denmark.

The products are sold worldwide through a network of more than 60 importers and Sales subsidiaries in the USA and in Japan.

Ortofon is owned by Danish businessmen and employs a staff of 95 people. The Ortofon manufacturing unit in Nakskov in the south of Denmark has modern machinery combined with experienced operators, so human craftsmanship is delivered with uniform industrial quality.

Growing the company

Ortofon has developed significantly over the last 10 years and currently is in a phase where the use of the advanced technologies has opened for exciting new business opportunities within the Medical industry. This growth is driven, among other things, by investment in the new technology and new products. As a recognition of the company’s successful development and significant positive impact on local society, Helle Thorning-Schmidt, then-Prime Minister of Denmark, visited Ortofon factory on April 27th 2015.
The company plans to continue growth and will increase focus on development and manufacturing of components to the Hearing Aids industries, not in the least Bone conductors. Ortofon is ISO 13485 certified with a scope “Manufacturing of components in plastic, rubber and metal for the medical device industry and manufacturing of Bone Conductors”.
Currently Ortofon A/S and DTU Mechanical Engineering are working in close collaboration within the EU Seventh Framework and Horizon 2020 Programme for Research and Innovation.