A new UK-based vinyl pressing plant has opened in Middlesborough. Press-On Vinyl hopes to produce 50,000 records per month, with a focus on supporting artists in the North East and the independent music community in general.
"Middlesbrough is everything we are about”, Managing Director Danny Lowe tells the BBC. "We all care passionately about the area. It's important it's here. We have a rich heritage and rich history of manufacturing and creativity in industry here, whether it's chemicals or pottery and now computer games. We are proud of that and proud to be a part of it”.
As demand for vinyl has increased in recent years, the number of companies producing it and their capacity has failed to keep up, leading to delays in production, particularly for independent labels. A large portion of vinyl is produced in Eastern Europe, which has added further issues for UK labels post-Brexit, due to higher costs and more red tape.
The first act to use the new presses is Teesside band Komparrison with their debut EP, ‘You Say She’s Satisfied’, with a run of 500 discs.