Vinyl records now in crisis: Apollo Transco Mastering lacquer plant is a total loss*

At the very least, the other plant's works might be replicated to set up new facilities. Unless there is some reason unknown to me why this equipment can no longer be manufactured - though I can't imagine why as it was all built from raw design and materials once before - it should only be a matter of time before new facilities begin operation .. this time with adequate sprinkler systems, like the ones you see installed in the overhead awnings at petrol stations for extinguishing gasoline fires.

 

I agree but the price increases will come faster than you think with uncertainty in the market

 

Well, on the bright side there's always CDs

 

Assuming that this has a major effect on new and upcoming releases down on the roadmap: I'm wondering if this may end up resulting in some audiophile labels with long out of stock/OOP/sought after titles to consider dusting off old mothers/stampers and reintroduce some limited runs from the back catalog to keep business flowing.

 

Existing wax can continue to be pressed.

 

At Precision Pressing in Toronto, it will be business as usual since they use DMM:

https://www.precisionpressing.com/blog/news-apollo-masters-factory-fire-situation

They are partnered with GZ in Europe, who again use DMM:

DMM technology GZ Vinyl

Precision Pressing does the tiniest of indies to all majors - (recent pressings of Taylor Swift and Billie Eilish are shown on their site).

So they will probably be massively busy, but this is certainly not as grim as some comments suggest.

 

Didn't someone mention earlier that Apollo also manufactured the copper used in the DMM process, as well as cutting styli?

 

My buddy is a mastering engineer (Neumann VMS-80 lathe). He does a lot of cutting work and seems pretty worried.

 

Ok ok ok but do you you think the Beatles in Mono will get a repress?

 

If they kept the lacquers, and if they can't press any new vinyl product, I'd say that certainly increases the odds

 

Who said anything about not being about to press new vinyl? Especially since I'm sure the lacquers are in a good state.

 

no

 

I meant new vinyl product rather than new pressings of existing product.

 

After Devastating Fire, How Will the Vinyl Industry Cope?

 

There are too many industries that feed off new vinyl manufacturing.

A solution will exist.

 

It looks like that article is behind a paywall?

 

In the meantime the vinyl mastering engineers and other business reliant on new vinyl manufacturing still need to eat and pay rent.

 

WSJ links are like that. Try clicking through to the article from the WSJ Twitter feed. Make sure your browser and any ad blockers are configured to not block the referrer and you should be able to get to the article.

WSJ Twitter link: The Wall Street Journal on Twitter

 

Quotes from the article

Consumers won’t feel the effects of the fire for a few months, says Ms. Zapor-Gray. But “behind the scenes, the effect on the industry’s psyche has been immediate,” she says. The record-cutting professionals who rely on lacquers have existing stashes—but these aren’t likely big enough to last long.

“Lacquers are not cheap and degrade over time, so record-cutters do not keep them in abundant supply on-hand,” Ms. Zapor-Gray says.

An alternative exists—it’s called “direct metal mastering”—but it could be expensive and logistically cumbersome for plants accustomed to blank lacquers to use, experts say.

 

Aw man... I bet the next Bowie Box set would’ve been awesome

 

I was thinking the same thing. There should have been safety protocols installed. I always wonder about these fires and if there is criminal activity involved.

 

So... I am waiting on a repress of of the 45rpm Petsounds Stereo discs. What are the chances this will be delayed even further? Anyone?

 

Annoying and dumb link. Required subscription.

 

Sorry buddy. It worked for me upon first try, so I thought it would be helpful. 'A' for effort, please?

 

I'm not sure about the United States but at least in Canada a lot of older buildings don't retrofit with modern fire suppression. It's expensive to install, and may not be compatible. Uncontrolled fires like this are usually the result, especially with volatile, combustible materials. It's a miracle nobody was harmed.