Vinyl record manufacturing in Australia

Zenith Records based in Melbourne are the only surviving manufacturer of vinyl records in Australia. Last year they manufactured 150,000 vinyl records and this year are on track to reach 350,000. It’s not all about digital downloads, interest in vinyl has increased. Zenith cater to artists, independent record labels as well as major record labels.

The manufacturing process is quite involved. The first step in the process is to cut lacquers using a high quality record cutting lathe, also known as creating an acetate master disc.

Electroforming is used to make negative metal moulds which are used as a stamper to press numerous copies of the master. The PVC is then put through the extruder. The extruder is controlled by the RKC controller, to ensure the PVC is heated to the correct temperature for extrusion into the mould. Steam is used to heat the PVC, the record is then pressed using one of Zenith Record’s 3 record pressing machines. The cooling of the record is through water. The operator then removes the vinyl record from the press, ready for packaging.

We are pleased to be providing high quality products to support Australian manufacturing. For more information on RKC controllers click here.