MISCO Celebrates 75 Years of Speaker Manufacturing and Audio Innovation

MISCO Speaker Company is celebrating its 75th anniversary. Founded in 1949 as Minneapolis Speaker Company (MISCO) by World War II veteran, Cliff Digre and his wife, Bernice, MISCO has remained a family owned business, now helmed by the founders’ son, Dan Digre, who has driven the company forward through decades of technological advancements and market expansion. 75 years later, MISCO stands as a US-based, pioneering force in the audio industry, manufacturing speakers and audio systems for OEM customers across the globe.

Since its inception in 1949, MISCO has maintained a steadfast commitment to manufacturing excellence in the USA, growing from a small speaker reconing business to a global reference in highly-customized OEM audio solutions. As generational shifts occur within businesses worldwide, MISCO stands as a testament to enduring family values and an innovative spirit.

“It’s very gratifying to be leading the company my parents started 75 years ago, to see how it’s grown over those seventy-five years,” says Dan Digre. “But I’m also very proud and excited about the future of MISCO, and where it’s going from here.”

 

MISCO’s evolution is marked by its significant expansion into a multitude of OEM markets. The company’s products are integral to numerous industries, from medical ultrasound devices to public transportation systems and aerospace technology. “You might not have heard the name MISCO, but you’ve probably heard MISCO,” adds Cobi Stein, MISCO’s VP of Sales & Marketing. “Whether you’re in an airplane, at a rock concert, or even an astronaut aboard NASA’s Orion spacecraft, you’re likely hearing our high-performance audio products.”
 

A Legacy of Innovation
Having learned the business hands-on, under his father’s tutelage, Dan Digre assumed leadership of the company in 1990.  Dan’s initial career was in music education. Returning to MISCO, Dan brought his passion for music, and a long-standing love of audio and related technologies, to the President’s role at MISCO. He also recognized the growing need for reliable high-quality audio in applications like aerospace, medical equipment, and professional audio. Leveraging and continuing his father’s passion for and foundational commitment to reliability and audio performance, Dan diversified MISCO’s market presence.

With the success of the expansion into new OEM markets, in 2002 MISCO moved into a purpose-built facility in Minneapolis and expanded its engineering staff and capabilities. The new factory supported long-term product reliability and preeminent audio quality, reinforcing MISCO’s dedication to production line quality and end-of-line testing.

In 2015, MISCO acquired Warkwyn, adding the resources of the most advanced and complete R&D audio lab in North America, recognized by its extensive loudspeaker design, and testing capabilities to the company’s already impressive capacities. Warkwyn’s operations moved to Minnesota from where it continued to provide independent services to the industry, working in partnership with leading test and measurement companies.

In 2016 MISCO acquired Oaktron from Mitek Corp and moved the operations to Minnesota, further expanding MISCO’s commitment to USA manufacturing, and expanding its product offerings for its customers in the military, aerospace, and mass transit markets. In 2019, MISCO launched Bold North Audio, a line of premium and high-performance drivers matching the tradition of Scandinavian manufacturers and serving high-end home audio and studio monitor applications. That same year, the company builds and moves into a new state of the art R&D, manufacturing, test & measurement and warehouse facility in St Paul, MN.

 

Core Values
Customer satisfaction, honoring commitments, and the pursuit of continual improvement are just a few of the core values underpinning MISCO’s success. These principles have fostered a stable and dependable workforce. “Our team is the heart of our company,” says Dave Wilson, MISCO’s Chief Operating Officer. “Their dedication and expertise drive our continued innovation and excellence.”

Today, MISCO is the only audio manufacturer in the US that provides product design, prototyping, and testing under the same roof — a complete end-to-end experience. But the company also gradually expanded to serve international markets, and MISCO is now a global company, meeting the logistic and economic needs of its customers around the world, with manufacturing facilities in Asia to serve the region.

With ISO 9001 certified facilities in both Minnesota and Asia, MISCO delivers cutting-edge audio solutions for diverse applications, ranging from casino gaming and mass transit to medical, military, commercial sound, musical instrument, professional audio, and even aerospace. Notably, MISCO’s speakers are deployed on the Orion spacecraft as part of NASA’s Artemis program.

 

“While we reflect on our rich history, we are equally excited about the future and the boundless opportunities it holds,” says Digre. “The next 75 years will see MISCO continue to push the boundaries of audio technology. We are committed to pioneering advancements in sound quality, efficiency, and sustainability. Our ongoing investments in R&D, manufacturing automation, and personnel will ensure that we remain at the forefront of the industry, delivering cutting-edge solutions to our diverse range of markets.
www.miscospeakers.com

Click here for a video commemorating MISCO’s 75th Anniversary: https://youtu.be/r_fABFBLaYE?si=Y3diPtPfbfYT1SVC