Add vendor landscape to README and equipment supplier map

- README: vendor sections for Agnew Analog (lathe), Plating Power/Digital
  Matrix (galvanics), Sibert (stamper prep), Stamper Discs (bridge stamper
  service), Pheenix Alpha (automated presses)
- docs/suppliers/equipment-suppliers.md: full needs list and supplier map
  across all nine areas of the production chain

docs/suppliers/equipment-suppliers.md

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+# Equipment Needs and Supplier Map
+
+Working list of everything the factory needs per production step, with the
+suppliers identified so far. Compiled 2026-07-17 from vendor research and the
+Newbilt planning documents. All pricing is quote-on-request unless a figure
+is given; figures are snapshots, not commitments.
+
+## 1. Mastering and Lathe Cutting
+
+What we need:
+
+- Disk mastering lathe
+- Stereo cutter head
+- Cutting (drive) amplifiers matched to the head
+- Mastering / transfer console and mastering chain (EQ, limiting, elliptical
+  EQ)
+- Preview / pitch-and-depth automation solution
+- Vacuum system for platter hold-down and swarf (chip) suction
+- Groove inspection microscope and reference playback chain for QC
+- Low-vibration, temperature-controlled room
+- Consumables: lacquer blanks, cutting styli
+
+Suppliers identified:
+
+| Supplier | Location | Offering | Notes |
+|---|---|---|---|
+| Agnew Analog | Chalkis, Greece | Type 612 lathe, Type 602 cutter head, Type 607 stylus machine, tube electronics | Bespoke, long build times; turnkey or components; info@agnewanalog.com |
+
+Open: cutter amps, console, preview automation, lacquer blank supply
+(e.g. MDC/Public Record type), styli supply.
+
+## 2. Silvering and Electroforming (Galvanics)
+
+What we need:
+
+- Lacquer cleaning / degrease station
+- Silvering station (conductive silver layer)
+- Nickel pre-plate station (low-stress strike)
+- Electroforming cells (father, mother, stamper generations)
+- Electro-clean / passivation station
+- Clean room with controlled access, ventilation, fume extraction/scrubbing
+- Closed-loop rinse water treatment and metal recovery (zero-discharge
+  requirement; e.g. wastewater evaporator, reference: Gotta Groove Records
+  model)
+- Decontamination procedures and PPE program (nickel salts and silver
+  nitrate hazards)
+
+Suppliers identified:
+
+| Supplier | Location | Offering | Notes |
+|---|---|---|---|
+| Plating Power / Digital Matrix Corp. | Farmingdale, NY, USA | VLSS silvering, VLPP pre-plate, VLFP 2/4/6-cell electroforming, EC-1000 passivation, control rings | No water treatment or metal recovery in their scope; no SE-Asia distributor; alex.greenspan@digmatrix.com |
+
+Open: industrial water-treatment vendor for the zero-discharge system;
+clean-room design/build contractor; fume scrubbing.
+
+## 3. Stamper Preparation
+
+What we need:
+
+- Stamper center punch
+- Stamper back-finishing machine
+- Stamper trimming/forming (coining) machine
+
+Suppliers identified:
+
+| Supplier | Location | Offering | Notes |
+|---|---|---|---|
+| Sibert Instruments | Hampshire, UK | VSP punch, VSF back-finisher, VSC coiner | Spec PDFs on request; confirm no overlap with press-integrated forming before buying the VSC; sales@sibert.co.uk, Ian Locke |
+
+## 4. Stamper Service (bridge / overflow, until in-house galvanics runs)
+
+| Supplier | Location | Offering | Notes |
+|---|---|---|---|
+| Stamper Discs | Sheffield, UK | 1-step and 3-step stampers from lacquer/DMM, 7"/10"/12", fits Newbilt/Toolex/Viryl molds; brokers lacquer cutting via EU partners | Ships 30+ countries, no documented Asia customers yet; get written turnaround SLA; peter@stamperdiscs.com |
+
+## 5. Pressing
+
+What we need (target fleet: 50% fully automated, 50% semi-automatic):
+
+- Semi-automatic press line: extruder, presses, hydraulic aggregate, molds
+  (12" 140/180 g, 7" and 10" insert sets), trimmer
+- Fully automated press line: automatic presses incl. extruders, molds
+- Steam generator (~400 kg/h for the semi-auto Duplex alone; grows with the
+  automated line), local sourcing planned
+- Cooling water system (~250 kW for the semi-auto Duplex alone; closed loop),
+  local sourcing planned
+- Workshop compressor / compressed air supply
+- PVC grinder (recycling loop)
+- Record separator plates, buffer spindles
+
+Suppliers identified:
+
+| Supplier | Location | Offering | Notes |
+|---|---|---|---|
+| Newbilt machinery GmbH | Alsdorf, Germany | Single 2.1 system (VEX 50 extruder, HRP 12 press ~150 t, semi-auto), Duplex expansion, molds, Vario trimmer, grinder, label punch | 2024 quote 200,549.50 EUR incl. freight, expired, needs re-quote; contact via Hans-Juergen Helm |
+| Pheenix Alpha | Solna, Sweden | AD12 fully automatic press (24-26 s cycle, ~140 records/h, 1 operator per 4 presses); AD12 Manual semi-auto | Direct Toolex Alpha successor; possible single-vendor option for both fleet halves; andreas.runsten@pheenixalpha.com |
+
+Open: decision between Newbilt semi-auto + Pheenix automatic vs. single
+vendor; local steam-generator and chiller suppliers in Thailand.
+
+## 6. Finishing and Packaging
+
+What we need:
+
+- Label dry oven (Newbilt quote lists France Etuves XU 112 as example)
+- Shrink wrap machine (example: Minipack-Torre Replay 55)
+- 7" center label punch / dinker
+- Folded paper cartons: jackets and sleeves
+- Printing for labels and packaging
+
+Suppliers identified:
+
+| Supplier | Location | Offering | Notes |
+|---|---|---|---|
+| Local packaging manufacturers | Chiang Mai region, Thailand | Folded paper cartons (jackets, sleeves) | Collaboration planned, partners not yet identified |
+
+## 7. PVC Compound
+
+Preference: local (Thai/regional) sourcing if quality meets record
+specifications; European suppliers as fallback. Feed mix runs 80% virgin,
+20% recycled in-house regrind.
+
+Suppliers identified (2021 contact list, needs refresh; full contacts in
+`210519_Suppliers of PVC for vinyl record production.pdf`):
+
+| Supplier | Country |
+|---|---|
+| P.A.T. Engineering B.V. | Netherlands |
+| Dugdale Limited | UK |
+| CAF srl | Italy |
+| INEOS Compounds Aycliffe | UK |
+| RESINOPLAST | France |
+| TPC Plastics | USA |
+| Polymer-Chemie GmbH | Germany |
+| PCW GmbH | Germany |
+
+Open: identify and qualify Thai/regional PVC compound producers.
+
+## 8. Utilities and Site (customer-supplied around the machines)
+
+- Solar PV installation (large; sizing open until site selection)
+- Steam generation (electric, biomass, or solar-thermal assist under
+  evaluation; Deepgrooves NL runs presses on wood-fired biomass boilers as a
+  precedent)
+- Water treatment for boiler feed and closed-loop cooling
+- Compressed air generation
+- Hydraulic oil (~200 L, ISO VG 32/46 HLP per DIN 51524-2, per Newbilt spec)
+- Clean rooms, ventilation, decontamination infrastructure for galvanics
+- Fire protection, exhaust work benches, PPE stock
+
+Suppliers: all open, to be sourced locally in Thailand where possible.
+
+## 9. Services and Expertise
+
+| Supplier | Location | Offering | Notes |
+|---|---|---|---|
+| Kevin Da Costa | UK | Vinyl manufacturing consultancy: factory layout, installation, training, process optimization | GBP 10k-20k packages / GBP 450 per day; credentials self-stated, references needed |
+| Newbilt service | Germany | Installation, commissioning, training beyond the included 5 days | 2024 rate card: 84 EUR/h on-site plus surcharges and travel |
+| buildfor.life | Thailand | Project consulting | Supporting |
+
+Open: mastering/cutting engineer training, galvanics process expertise
+(hardest skill to hire), local contractors for building and utilities.