Yo, it sure got hot around here. If you can’t stand the heat, stay out of the furnace yet here we are. It’s Furnace Record Pressing’s latest edition of The Boiler Room!
Are you having the best summer? Drop us a line and tell us about it and we’ll send you something neat in return (probably cat videos but you never know!).
We have so much going on around here this summer. We’ve been busy bees researching, developing and innovating, expanding our offerings, and making a lot of really, really cool records. We want to tell you all about it but frankly we only have the attention span of a gnat.
So here’s a smidge of what we’ve been up to!
The Story of Splatter: Ever wondered how we create those stunning effects like splatter and color-in-color on our vinyl records? And what does tennis have to do with it?
The secret lies in our two semi-manual machines.
We first built and installed these machines back in 2019. Originally intended for making tennis balls 🎾, we adapted them for our unique needs. Working alongside our engineer and installation team, we spent weeks threading pipes, running electricity, installing sensors, and making all the necessary connections, even drilling and tapping holes to mount various components to the presses.
While these presses had an unconventional start, they quickly became some of our most profitable machines. Fast forward to June 2024, and we’re excited to announce the arrival of four brand-new NEWBILT presses from Germany. These presses, along with new extruders, hydraulic packs, trimmers, and a center punch, all installed on-house by our talented maintenance team.
The NEWBILT presses were initially intended for another manufacturing plant, but due to a change in their plans, we were able to acquire them at a substantial discount. This opportunity has allowed us to enhance our production capabilities significantly.
Since May, we’ve been busy preparing for our new machines, installing water lines, steam lines, air, and electricity. Although the NEWBILT presses operate on the same principle as our current Pheenix Alpha presses, they offer substantial upgrades in reliability and hydraulic systems.
We anticipate a significant improvement in the quality of our records with these new presses. Furnace will now be able to offer updated splatter and custom variants, thanks to the new center punch that helps recycle 10” and 7” records.
This is a giant leap forward for Furnace, enhancing and expanding our already top of the line offerings. Interested in pressing your next release on one of our new babies? Head over to get a quote here!
Last month, a Furnace delegation crashed the city of Nashville to catch up on all the pressing points, problems and propositions with other passionate industry insiders at Making Vinyl.
The Making Vinyl conference, held from June 4-5, 2024, at the Hutton Hotel in Nashville, celebrated its success with nearly 400 attendees, including industry professionals and leaders from the entire vinyl record manufacturing supply chain. The conference featured keynote presentations, workshops on pressing and packaging innovations, and numerous networking opportunities aimed at fostering collaboration and growth within the vinyl community.
Highlights of the event included a state of the industry panel headed by Furnace CEO, Ali Miller; a vital discussion on Lean Manufacturing courtesy of Furnace VP Mark Reiter and Founder Eric Astor; a keynote speech by the CEO of Discogs, and discussions on topics such as sustainable manufacturing, marketing strategies, and navigating the evolving vinyl market. The conference addressed both the current state of the industry and future trends, emphasizing the importance of understanding consumer demands and environmental challenges.
Significantly, our own Eric Astor was elected to the board of the VRMA (Vinyl Records Manufacturers Association). Bringing his impressive three decades of experience to this esteemed organization, he aims to help bolster the VRMA’s mission of advancing the vinyl record manufacturing industry. Way to go, Eric!
The success of the Nashville event sets the stage for the upcoming Making Vinyl Europe conference, scheduled for September 30 to October 2, 2024, in Haarlem, Netherlands, which will continue the focus on vinyl’s cultural significance and industry advancements.
Honestly, so hot outside. Let’s talk about the cold months. I’ll start: now is the PERFECT TIME to start planning for your Black Friday and Holiday releases. Come along on a frosty ride through our Snowy Szn Moodboard.
If you’re hoping to get your release pressed for Black Friday or on the racks for treasured holiday gifting, now’s the time to get it going. Here’s a breath of frigid air to get you inspired! Don’t forget to get in touch when you’re ready to bundle up [some vinyl].🧤🧣❄️
The heat! Wake us up when September ends,
FRP
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Hey Tibby! Portions of this incredibly informative and interesting newsletter were contributed by our terrific Plant Manager/Feline Tolerator, Dale Lynn |
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Thank you, Dale! Can you bring us some treats now? |
