"Our entire focus is towards the goal of pressing the finest records the world has ever known."
Quality Record Pressings was born out of parent company Acoustic Sounds, Inc., which music entrepreneur Chad Kassem started in 1986 as a mail-order business specializing in the sale of audiophile vinyl LPs, SACDs, DVD-Audios, high-quality CDs and high-end stereo equipment.
By launching his own vinyl pressing plant, Kassem sought to end increasing delays in getting his records pressed, both reissues as well as those from authentic and legendary living blues artists recording on Kassem’s APO (Analogue Productions Originals) record label. Kassem also sought to raise the quality of LP production by investing in innovative pressing technology.
OPTIONS
Size 12"
Min number of Vinyl Records to order 500
Weight 140 gr, 150 gr, 180 gr, 200 gr
Heavy vinyl
Centre labels One colour, Full colour
Turnaround time 4+ months
Test pressing
Equipment
QRP operates three different kinds of record presses that include Toolex Alpha (Sweden), SMT (Southern Machine & Tool Corp. of Nashville, Tennessee) and Finebilt (Los Angeles). The Toolex Alpha and SMT presses are automated, while the Finebilt presses are manual, but all feature important add-ons.
Those innovations include adding microprocessors to the presses. Microprocessors allow both the operator and the engineer a level of control capability and feedback simply unavailable with manual valves and control systems.
To date, presses have closed and opened based on time. That time was set according to what the press engineer predicted would be the stamper’s temperature. We’ve now developed a die with an imbedded temperature sensor so that the presses at QRP will close and open precisely when the temperature is correct. Inevitably, a plant’s support water temperatures, cooling water temperatures and steam pressures will fluctuate throughout the day. By setting the presses to cycle by temperature, we can correct for all of those variations. It means a consistent sweet spot.
We’ve also installed a unique double steam valve system that reduces die temperature cycle time and provides a finely tuned level of temperature control so that records are produced without the temperature variations that result in record inconsistency.
And we’ve brought all of the extruders back to their original specifications, again to control the temperature of the vinyl. The most common errors we all hear in defective records today has to do with overheated vinyl.
QRP announced that 13 additional presses will soon go online at its Salina, Kansas facility after they discovered them in a Chicago warehouse.
The inventory consists of 10 Hamilton presses, 2 SMTs, and a Lened. With the addition of the lucky thirteen, upon their restoration and installation QRP will have a 27 press capacity, making it among the country's largest record pressing plants. [1]
References
[1] Michael Fremer (Mar 2, 2015), '"Garage Sale" Find Has QRP Adding 13 Additional Record Presses!', AnalogPlanet
News
There are no news yet.
Comments
Hello,
I am looking to get a 1 jacket double sided LP 12' 130 grams vinyl pressed by mid June. I have the artwork in 4K for the front of the album. Qty 500, and shipped to me. I am located in Los Angeles, CA.
April 20, 2020, 5:53 a.m.
Hello!,
We are looking for a Company that manufactures vinyl discs so that we can form a commercial relation.
We are a Mexican Company with 27 years of experience in audio and video contents, we started out duplicating audio and videocassettes and when those formats disappeared we stablished a commercial relation with 2 CD’s; DVD’s and Blurays manufacturing companies here in Mexico.
1.- Vigobyte (San Diego -Tijuana) for over 10 years, they closed in 2014.
2.- Technicolor (Guadalajara) from 2014 until now.
In the last few months we have received several emails from our clients asking if we can provide the vinyl disc service and that is why we are contacting you to see if we can be your distributer for Mexico and Latin America.
What we would need from you is:
- A discount distributer rate so we can have a utility margin and that way the Price we would give our client is the same as you would give them too.
- That you give us a complete explanation of the entire process so we can send an appropriate quotation to our client, ask for the client’s materials, understand how can we send you the materials you need, know the production times, the most common problems and solutions, how should we send the PO, your bank info so we can deposit to you and how to make the importation of the final product.
From our side we compromise to:
- All of our Vinyl discs Productions will be done by you.
- We guarantee the payment of each production.
- You will only deal with us and it will be in English
- We will deal with the companies and or people that need this service in their own language (Spanish)
- We would take care of the shipping, importation and customs for Central and South America.
Please let us know if you are interested in this proposal, in case you are not please let us know what can we do to be able to work with you.
QUOTE
Can you help me ? I need the price for:
Quantity: 300 and 500 pzs
Record: 12"
RPM: 33
Vinil: Black
Label: CMYK
Sleeve: White Polined paper.
Test Samples: 5
Shipping DHL: México City (ZIP 06700)
Time Production:
Saludos,
Sergio Velázquez de León Garduño
DUPLICO / P. VIDEOHILLS, S.A. de C.V.
5511-4496 www.duplico.mx
Oct. 13, 2017, 4:46 p.m.
Please be advised: Quality Record Pressings is not accepting new orders at this time. As capacity becomes available, they will again be open to new orders. Please stay tuned to the website for any updates.
June 19, 2016, 4:04 p.m.
Dear Ladies and Gentleman,
my name is Andre Schneider, owner and managing director of Japan-Records and Katta-Sleeves.
Based on my past 20 years of experience in vinyl I have built up in recent years a distribution structure for Records (Vinyl) Accessories. My core competence is in the area of sales of Japanese vinyls - already in the late 90s, I noticed that miscellaneous in Japan have a significantly higher quality than European products Accessories (inlay sleeves).
Thus I chose this quality advantage to use also for the European market. Therefore, I have found business partners in Japan, with which I have manufactured accessories on very high standards. (the entire production chain is based in Japan). These products are already successfully marketed (distributed) in Japan. I own the distribution rights for the entire European market and would like to hereby express our product portfolio closer.
Constantly telling me customers that even with new records, that damages on vinyl are available, due to the paper inlays. There may be an opportunity to optimize your product range (limited editions, heavy weight vinyl etc.). From my own experience I can convincingly report that the sales of our products is steadily increasing, especially in the wholesaler and retail market. Also to consider that usage of materials that make our products high quality , therefore the Sleeve are antistatic and have a very precise fit.
I gladly would present our product portfolio in person, would appreciate an appointment. Of course, I will send you also sample copies, to convince you of the excellent quality. I am sure that become a real added value to your products. For more information, please visit www.katta-sleeves.com
I would appreciate a response on your part, I remain
Sincerely
Andre Schneider
managing Director
KATTA sleeves
Japan Records
June 14, 2016, 8:03 a.m.
Quality Record Pressings (QRP)
Vinyl Pressing Plant
Established in2011
CountryUnited States of America
Address543 N. 10th St. Salina, Kansas 67401
Comments
Hello,
I am looking to get a 1 jacket double sided LP 12' 130 grams vinyl pressed by mid June. I have the artwork in 4K for the front of the album. Qty 500, and shipped to me. I am located in Los Angeles, CA.
April 20, 2020, 5:53 a.m.
Hello!,
We are looking for a Company that manufactures vinyl discs so that we can form a commercial relation.
We are a Mexican Company with 27 years of experience in audio and video contents, we started out duplicating audio and videocassettes and when those formats disappeared we stablished a commercial relation with 2 CD’s; DVD’s and Blurays manufacturing companies here in Mexico.
1.- Vigobyte (San Diego -Tijuana) for over 10 years, they closed in 2014.
2.- Technicolor (Guadalajara) from 2014 until now.
In the last few months we have received several emails from our clients asking if we can provide the vinyl disc service and that is why we are contacting you to see if we can be your distributer for Mexico and Latin America.
What we would need from you is:
- A discount distributer rate so we can have a utility margin and that way the Price we would give our client is the same as you would give them too.
- That you give us a complete explanation of the entire process so we can send an appropriate quotation to our client, ask for the client’s materials, understand how can we send you the materials you need, know the production times, the most common problems and solutions, how should we send the PO, your bank info so we can deposit to you and how to make the importation of the final product.
From our side we compromise to:
- All of our Vinyl discs Productions will be done by you.
- We guarantee the payment of each production.
- You will only deal with us and it will be in English
- We will deal with the companies and or people that need this service in their own language (Spanish)
- We would take care of the shipping, importation and customs for Central and South America.
Please let us know if you are interested in this proposal, in case you are not please let us know what can we do to be able to work with you.
QUOTE
Can you help me ? I need the price for:
Quantity: 300 and 500 pzs
Record: 12"
RPM: 33
Vinil: Black
Label: CMYK
Sleeve: White Polined paper.
Test Samples: 5
Shipping DHL: México City (ZIP 06700)
Time Production:
Saludos,
Sergio Velázquez de León Garduño
DUPLICO / P. VIDEOHILLS, S.A. de C.V.
5511-4496 www.duplico.mx
Oct. 13, 2017, 4:46 p.m.
Please be advised: Quality Record Pressings is not accepting new orders at this time. As capacity becomes available, they will again be open to new orders. Please stay tuned to the website for any updates.
June 19, 2016, 4:04 p.m.