Hand Drawn to Launch New Vinyl Pressing Facility
World’s-first Automated Record Presses in Over 30 Years
"Later this summer, Hand Drawn Records will formally open the most technologically advanced vinyl record-pressing facility in America..." -Central Track
In a state-of-the-art facility in Dallas, Texas, Hand Drawn Records, the award-winning independent label and vinyl record pressing service, will soon be crafting the world’s most sought after music medium using the world’s-first automated record presses in over 30 years.
Over the last decade the unprecedented rise of vinyl record sales (260% increase in sales 2009-2015, often referred to as the “vinyl revival”) and the crumbling status of timeworn pressing plants has been well documented as a global issue, but until now, no one had a solution.
With the operation of the only fully automatic WARM TONE presses in the world (and initial annual projections of nearly 1M units produced), Hand Drawn is proud to announce Hand Drawn Pressing as the newest player with the most advanced tools. The technological advances in efficiency, and cycle time speed is unmatched by any of WARM TONE’s vintage predecessors, yet it is Hand Drawn’s unwavering commitment to the artist, which sets Hand Drawn Pressing apart.
Beginning in fall 2016, Hand Drawn Pressing will begin production in their new facility.
TOP STORIES: IN THE NEWS
"Hand Drawn Records will soon have the unique capability to uphold the human factor of music consumption while melding cool with quality..." -Dallas Observer
- Central Track: Hand Drawn Pressing (6/16/16)
- Dallas Observer: Hand Drawn Pressing (6/16/16)
- MixMag: Hand Drawn Pressing (6/15/16)
- OkayPlayer: Hand Drawn Pressing (6/14/16)
- PITCHFORK: Hand Drawn Pressing (6/13/16)
- Star-Telegram: Hand Drawn Pressing (6/13/16)
- The Vinyl Factory: Hand Drawn Pressing (6/13/16)
- Digital Music News: Hand Drawn Pressing (6/10/16)
- The New Yorker: Viryl Tech (4/14/16)
- The Globe and Mail: Viryl Tech (4/4/16)
MEET THE WARM TONE
WARM TONE by Viryl Tech: First fully automated vinyl record press in over 30 years
"(Hand Drawn Pressing) has signed on to buy new vinyl presses built by Viryl Technologies ... with a target of pressing about 1 million records a year; this would not be remarkable if it weren’t for the fact that only 15 to 20 plants are operational stateside." -PITCHFORK
The WARM TONE is the first fully automatic and modernized record press in over 30 years. Engineered by Viryl Technologies (Toronto, Canada) the WARM TONE is designed with faster cycle times, improved workflow features, less wasted PVC, less manual intervention, and reduced power consumption. It is equipped with Viryl Technologies’ state-of-the-art A.D.A.P.T. platform that has the capability to pull data from every key part of the pressing process.
The WARM TONE is the most innovative record press to reach the market in record pressing history and is designed to promote uptime and sustain future vinyl growth. (READ MORE)
Hand Drawn Records // Hand Drawn Pressing
Independent Record Label & Vinyl Record Manufacturer (USA)
VINYL RECORDS MADE HERE
"...Hand Drawn Pressing, potentially, one of, if not the most, productive vinyl-manufacturing facilities in the country." -Fort Worth Star Telegram
MORE ABOUT HAND DRAWN PRESSING
Hand Drawn Pressing initially launched in 2014 as a vinyl brokerage service, aiming to simplify the ordering process by offering musicians pre-defined packages, each containing all the necessary components of a vinyl record album, says Dustin Blocker, the founder and current Chief Creative Officer of Hand Drawn Records. “We want to encourage more artists to consider pressing vinyl, but without all the hassle,” Blocker says. “Musicians want to focus on playing their instruments and connecting with fans, not learning all the nuances of the vinyl record manufacturing process.”
Blocker developed the idea for Hand Drawn Pressing after his own agonizing experience trying to order vinyl records for his band. “It was a confusing process and took at least 20 hours of my time,” he says. To add more business acumen to his bench, Blocker invited friend Alex Cushing to help build and lead the new service. Cushing, who serves as the division’s Chief Operating Officer, has over 20 years of experience in brand management.
“We have taken the best possible combination of distinctive packaging and product and put them into clearly priced bundles with literally nothing hidden,” explains Cushing. “Our packages will provide artists with ground-breaking additions and premium quality as the standard, not the extra.”
