Pirate Press is a vinyl record manufacturer based in San Francisco and the official North American partner to GZ Media in the Czech Republic. I'm writing in response to the Dec. 7, Page 4 article, “In tune with the times: First new vinyl record presses hit the market after a 30-year break.”
In late 2014 and early 2015, we unveiled numerous brand-new presses that we have been using to greatly reduce turnaround-times for vinyl record orders.
In general, Newbilt Machinery [the German company mentioned in the story] is still advertising and marketing their machines while we're using ours — every day. We have our turnaround time [for record orders] under two months already, while the rest of the industry is as far as six to nine months out, or more. So it's safe to say that we deserve the credit for the first new presses in 30 years. That's not really a disputable fact.
However, we are not, and have no intention of selling our new presses to the general public. Because our presses are not simply re-makes of antiquated machinery, but instead combine some old aspects with some very cutting-edge technology, we are choosing not to make our designs or presses available to the public. Simply put, they are not a mass-produced machine, but instead will continue to allow us to make the highest quality records out there — for as long as the buying public supports the demand.
Next year, given our current pace, I imagine that GZ/Pirates Press will likely produce somewhere in the ballpark of 40 million records. We are focused on making the highest quality records in the industry, not with providing machines to anyone with the money and desire to start a pressing operation, or grow their existing one.
On top of our existing (“old”) machines (which already arguably put us as the largest vinyl manufacturer in the world), we have already installed, and are operating/integrating, nine new double-headed presses (18 new lines); and we will continue to grow until we find a balance with the needs of our clientele.
Eric Mueller
CEO
Pirate Press Inc.
San Francisco