Pressing

You are here: Manufacturing > Pressing

The main principle of pressing records from vinyl matter has remained unchanged for several decades. There have, however, been some slight improvements in the technology though, such as electronically controlled presses or automatic production. In a hydraulic press fitted with 2 pre-heated moulds and fitted with stampers, the pre-heated vinyl matter is inserted into the machine sandwiched between two completely dry labels. Once the pressing process is started, the labels and vinyl matter are pressed under a pressure of 100 or more tons at a temperature of 160°C (345°F) for a precise amount of time. The surfaces of the grooved stampers are copied exactly into the vinyl matter. After the pressing mould is sufficiently cooled, the press opens and the vinyl record is removed, trimmed to the required size and visually inspected.

GZ Vinyl has been using proven and reliable manual double-presses from the German company Taunus Ton Technik (TTT) for years. Experienced and skilled operators carry out their work on these machines including a standard visual inspection of each pressed record. In addition to pressing classic black records, manual presses allow us to produce more unique and interesting records with different colours and effects as well as records with full surface picture labels embedded into them (picture discs). In 2012, GZ increased the pressing capacity of black and single coloured records after purchasing several automatic presses manufactured by the Swedish company  Alpha Toolex.

Thanks to our own development, since 2014 GZ has been producing vinyl records using new manual presses manufactured in the Czech Republic. First Czech made automatic presses were put into operation in 2016.


Test pressing

Test pressing

Test pressings are highly recommended. They allow for the producer, band, label, etc to check the overall quality of the cut, sound and metalwork used for the production of your records before we press the full amount. Generally, we will send you 5 test pressings - black vinyl records with blank white labels, which you will need to listen to and approve. Once these have been approved, we can continue with the rest of the production.

More

Vinyl compound

Vinyl compound

Nowadays, the production of vinyl records requires a high quality material which ensures a low background noise so that audiophiles can enjoy listening to their favourite music without the disturbing background noise which was commonly present on records in the past. Most manufacturers of vinyl records must purchase the vinyl compound that they require for pressing their records from 3rd party suppliers, but here in GZ, we produce our own vinyl compound according to our own special formula of raw material. Our specially formulated compound has won several international awards and our GZ brand vinyl is highly praised on both sides of the Atlantic. With the current high demand for vinyl records, GZ has absolutely no problem manufacturing enough vinyl compound to sufficiently cover our production quantity needs.

More

Quality control

Quality control

The correct course of all processes in GZ is checked and recorded from when the order  is placed in the system through to the actual production of records and printed products to packing and sending to the customer. Of course, there is an input inspection of supplied audio materials, an assessment of their suitability for the production of vinyl records and sometimes the necessary corrections, as well as an inspection and possible repairs of graphic materials for printed products - labels, packaging, etc. There is a visual check on products after pressing and also checks on the quality of the audio recording/playback.


More

Gallery

  • 01 Pressing of milky white records
  • 02 Trimming of records
  • 03 Black records pressing on a manual press
  • 04 Trimming of SP record
  • 05 Picture disc pressing
  • 06 Pressing of singles
  • 07 Stamper inspection
  • 08 Stamper fixed in a press
  • 09 Color records pressing on a manual press
  • 10 Visual inspection of the record
  • 11 Manual presses
  • 12 The other side of GZ's pressing room
  • 13 Automatic presses
  • 14 Records from the Alpha Toolex automatic press
  • 15 Quality control by listening test
  • 16 Quality control using automatic Teldec-Revox system
  • 17 Labels drying
  • 18 Vinyl compound
  • 19_Automatic-presses_Automaticke-lisy
  • 20_Ready-for-pressing_Pripraveno-pro-lisovani
Photo gallery