Smashed Plastic Vinyl Pressing Plant Opens in Chicago

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mediatechnology
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Smashed Plastic Vinyl Pressing Plant Opens in Chicago

Post by mediatechnology »

Despite having virtually no experience in the record production business, Weber said they took a leap of faith.

"Three years ago, we were joking around about starting a record label, and I said, ‘No, let's figure out how to press records because physical media is back.’ At first, I had no idea what I was doing."
https://www.radio.com/articles/chicago- ... me-decades
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Re: Smashed Plastic Vinyl Pressing Plant Opens in Chicago

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I really don't know what to think.
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billshurv
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Re: Smashed Plastic Vinyl Pressing Plant Opens in Chicago

Post by billshurv »

Whenever I read of another pressing plant opening I think of Tulips.

But with new vinyl releases selling for £20-£30 there is demand short term. I'd still rather have set up a brewery if I was young again :)
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mediatechnology
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Re: Smashed Plastic Vinyl Pressing Plant Opens in Chicago

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billshurv wrote: Mon Mar 11, 2019 6:35 pm Whenever I read of another pressing plant opening I think of Tulips.

But with new vinyl releases selling for £20-£30 there is demand short term. I'd still rather have set up a brewery if I was young again :)
My dream is to own a car wash in a small dirty Texas town in the Hill Country. I don't think I'd be pressing records either.

The fact that the line is steamless is pretty cool. We have a pressing plant here in Dallas that's using modern technology.
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Re: Smashed Plastic Vinyl Pressing Plant Opens in Chicago

Post by billshurv »

I am impressed that at least one company has tried to make new presses not tied to 1950s tech. But they are braver than me. Dunno how much the new presses are but amortization calcs would scare me.
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Re: Smashed Plastic Vinyl Pressing Plant Opens in Chicago

Post by Gold »

There are four to six companies making presses now. It depends how you count. Having a press be steamless makes setup easier. You don’t need a high pressure boiler and a certified engineer to maintain it. I doubt electrical hearing and cooling is actually better though. From what I’ve picked up It’s more difficult to maintain constant temperature in the extruder and the heat/cool cycle isn’t as efficient as it is with steam.
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mediatechnology
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Re: Smashed Plastic Vinyl Pressing Plant Opens in Chicago

Post by mediatechnology »

Gold wrote: Tue Mar 12, 2019 10:43 am You don’t need a high pressure boiler and a certified engineer to maintain it.
That's huge.

Seems like the best place to locate a record pressing plant would be near a power plant and buy their steam.
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