diff --git a/docs/equipment/galvanics.md b/docs/equipment/galvanics.md index 2eb15c5..726b958 100644 --- a/docs/equipment/galvanics.md +++ b/docs/equipment/galvanics.md @@ -132,6 +132,24 @@ also serve as a European bridge supplier next to Stamper Discs; and, if the Newbilt link holds, a galvanics route that pairs with the Newbilt presses the way the Pheenix range pairs with the AD12. +**First contact** (email to Alexander in German, 7 October 2026). Lou +Wullms introduces himself as the Dutchman who works with nickel +sulfamate (the electroforming electrolyte), asks Alexander to confirm he +received the email, and will then send material so that we can start +calculating and see what the line involves. He also asks whether Simona +will work on the project. Company details as OMS gives them: + +| | | +|---|---| +| Company | Optical Media Services B.V., Tangweg 16, 5991 PE Baarlo, Netherlands | +| Technical | Lou Wullms, lou.wullms@gmail.com, mobile +31 6 5490 3443 | +| Accounting and logistics | Wilma Peeters, wilmapeeters6@gmail.com | +| Office phone | +31 77 477 8054 | +| Registration | KvK 12037670 (Venlo), VAT NL806459335B01, EORI NL806459335 | + +**Next step: reply to confirm**, then file what he sends here and answer +the OMS questions below from it. + ### Cycle times and cell count Pheenix publishes no cycle times. Published practice from other plating @@ -306,7 +324,11 @@ goes ahead. weights; measured cycle per part per cell at stamper, mother and father thickness; PLC protocol and tag list; DI water quality; which water-treatment partner its customers use; reference plants running the - range. + range. CEO Robert Gunnarsson offered a Teams call, reference clients and + a factory visit near Stockholm (email, 5 October 2026); the call + follows once these questions are ready, and a visit could fit the + February 2027 Europe trip + ([exhibitor briefing](../suppliers/making-vinyl-europe-2026-exhibitors.md#after-the-show)). - **Sibert**: the itemised quotation against the confirmed USD 250k budget, with Ian Locke's time, spare parts, shipping and travel priced, and lead time; tooling sets per mould type and their cost; which VSPa diff --git a/docs/production-timeline.md b/docs/production-timeline.md index 8d9bd01..2749cf0 100644 --- a/docs/production-timeline.md +++ b/docs/production-timeline.md @@ -95,8 +95,10 @@ gate anywhere in the repo. Times below are elapsed scheduled duration for one title, not touch labour. The "launch" column reflects the phased entry in [total-investment.md](finance/total-investment.md): bridge stampers from -Stamper Discs, lacquer cutting brokered through their EU partners, and -no mastering room of our own. +Stamper Discs, lacquer cutting brokered through their EU partners or +bought direct (SST in Frankfurt already cuts for Poy Records, see the +[vendor landscape](suppliers/vendor-landscape.md#lacquer-cutting-service-schallplatten-schneid-technik-germany)), +and no mastering room of our own. | # | Stage | Launch | Mature | Notes | |---|---|---|---|---| diff --git a/docs/roadmap.md b/docs/roadmap.md index 9b703d2..eb60f0f 100644 --- a/docs/roadmap.md +++ b/docs/roadmap.md @@ -45,11 +45,16 @@ These three run in parallel and gate everything downstream: [traceability spec](traceability.md) 5. **Pheenix Alpha**: current metric datasheet and quotes for the AD12 and AD12 Manual, evaluating the single-vendor option against Newbilt for - the semi-auto half + the semi-auto half. After Haarlem the CEO offered a Teams call, + reference clients and a factory visit near Stockholm; the call follows + once our questions are ready, and the next Europe trip is planned + for February 2027 ([exhibitor briefing](suppliers/making-vinyl-europe-2026-exhibitors.md#after-the-show)) 6. **Galvanics quotes**: Digital Matrix, and Pheenix Alpha in the same conversation as item 5 (it builds the electroforming line too), plus OMS (Optical Media Services), named by Sibert as the alternative to a - Pheenix turnkey line, and Sibert's itemised quotation for the stamper + Pheenix turnkey line (first contact from Lou Wullms 7 October 2026; + reply to confirm, then OMS sends material to calculate from), and + Sibert's itemised quotation for the stamper prep machines (a USD 250k budget for all three is confirmed, its time, spares, shipping and travel extra); equipment data in [galvanics and stamper prep](equipment/galvanics.md). In parallel, @@ -84,7 +89,9 @@ These three run in parallel and gate everything downstream: to order, see [vendor landscape](suppliers/vendor-landscape.md)), stamper-prep machines, first utility packages 14. Engage Stamper Discs for the bridge-stamper relationship with written - turnaround SLAs + turnaround SLAs, and settle where lacquers are cut meanwhile: SST in + Frankfurt already cuts for Poy Records and offered help after Haarlem + ([vendor landscape](suppliers/vendor-landscape.md#lacquer-cutting-service-schallplatten-schneid-technik-germany)) ## Phase 3: Build and commission (~6 to 12 months after commitment) diff --git a/docs/suppliers/equipment-suppliers.md b/docs/suppliers/equipment-suppliers.md index 79f187d..c865cdf 100644 --- a/docs/suppliers/equipment-suppliers.md +++ b/docs/suppliers/equipment-suppliers.md @@ -30,6 +30,12 @@ Suppliers identified: Open: cutter amps and preview automation (both bundled if Sillitoe), console, lacquer blank supply (e.g. MDC/Public Record type), styli supply. +Cutting service (until the in-house room runs): + +| Supplier | Location | Offering | Notes | +|---|---|---|---| +| Schallplatten Schneid Technik (SST) | Frankfurt am Main, Germany | Lacquer cutting for pressing (7"/10"/12"), dubplates, half-speed, locked-groove and inside-out cuts; two Neumann cutting rooms; independent since 1969 (SST website, checked October 2026) | Already cut lacquers for Poy Records (POY003, 005, 006, 013, per SST's archive); met in Haarlem and offered help (email, 7 October 2026); on good terms with ResurRec; Daniel Krieger (MD), daniel@sst-ffm.de, mail@sst-ffm.de, +49 69 57 50 57. See [vendor landscape](vendor-landscape.md#lacquer-cutting-service-schallplatten-schneid-technik-germany) | + ## 2. Silvering and Electroforming (Galvanics) What we need: @@ -53,7 +59,7 @@ Suppliers identified: |---|---|---|---| | 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 | | Pheenix Alpha | Sweden | PASU automatic silvering, PPPU pre-plating (four masters), PDPU dual-cell electroforming (up to 200 A per cell), PMPB passivation, cleaning and drying bench (nickel and DMM) | 2024 flyers in [`../equipment/pheenix-alpha/`](../equipment/pheenix-alpha/), summarised in [galvanics and stamper prep](../equipment/galvanics.md); prices unpublished; PLC with network access; no water treatment in the flyers; same vendor as the AD12 presses (section 5), so one quote can cover both; info@pheenixalpha.com | -| Optical Media Services (OMS) | Baarlo, Netherlands | Vinyl electroforming equipment, new and refurbished (including CD/DVD lines converted to 14" vinyl); independent stamper service from lacquers and DMMs | Named by Sibert after Haarlem (good equipment, very familiar with the Asian market); no datasheet or price on file; possible link to Newbilt's announced electroplating equipment, unconfirmed ([galvanics and stamper prep](../equipment/galvanics.md)); Lou Wullms, lou.wullms@gmail.com per the vinyl-pressing-plants.com directory | +| Optical Media Services (OMS) | Baarlo, Netherlands | Vinyl electroforming equipment, new and refurbished (including CD/DVD lines converted to 14" vinyl); independent stamper service from lacquers and DMMs | Named by Sibert after Haarlem (good equipment, very familiar with the Asian market); no datasheet or price on file; possible link to Newbilt's announced electroplating equipment, unconfirmed ([galvanics and stamper prep](../equipment/galvanics.md)); first email from Lou Wullms 7 October 2026, calculation material follows once Alexander confirms; Lou Wullms (technical), lou.wullms@gmail.com, +31 6 5490 3443; Wilma Peeters (accounting and logistics), wilmapeeters6@gmail.com; office +31 77 477 8054 | Open: industrial water-treatment vendor for the zero-discharge system; clean-room design/build contractor; fume scrubbing. @@ -98,7 +104,7 @@ 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, Granulator 400 grinder, Label Punch, EX 35 auxiliary colour extruder. **Also builds the Classic 12" fully automatic press**: hydraulic **3-column** frame, **built-in extruder** (3 heated zones, water-cooled screw; 7.5 kW drive motor per the 2024 flyer, earlier noted here as 15 kW, confirm), automatic patty loading, automatic label supply, automatic cooling-plate management, spindle stack output, Siemens Security PLC (two 21" touchscreens per the 2024 flyer, one 10" per the website) with SCADA / OPC UA, inserts shared with the Duplex, CE approved, **28 s cycle (~128 records/h)**, vendor-claimed **≥95% yield and ≥95% uptime**. So Newbilt is a single-vendor candidate for *both* fleet halves, not only the semi-auto one. Note the half-automatic press is a **4-column book-mould** design; column count is the quickest way to tell the two apart on a factory floor | 2024 quote EUR 200,549.50 (~USD 232k / ~7.7M THB) incl. freight, expired, needs re-quote; ask for build time and order-book position in the re-quote; **ResurRec Bangkok already runs one automatic + one semi-automatic Newbilt: ask for the Thai install base and a service-response precedent**; contacts Hans-Juergen Helm (Sales Manager) and Erwin Neubauer (Managing Director); 2026 flyers in [`../equipment/newbilt/flyers-2026/`](../equipment/newbilt/flyers-2026/), summarised in [pressing-line.md](../equipment/pressing-line.md) | -| 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; also builds the electroforming line (section 2); andreas.runsten@pheenixalpha.com | +| Pheenix Alpha | Märsta (Stockholm), Sweden; Solna in older listings | 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; also builds the electroforming line (section 2); claims 300+ presses installed worldwide; CEO offered a Teams call, references and a factory visit after Haarlem (October 2026); andreas.runsten@pheenixalpha.com, Robert Gunnarsson (CEO) robert.gunnarsson@pheenixalpha.com | Open: decision between Newbilt semi-auto + Pheenix automatic vs. single vendor; local steam-generator and chiller suppliers in Thailand. diff --git a/docs/suppliers/making-vinyl-europe-2026-exhibitors.md b/docs/suppliers/making-vinyl-europe-2026-exhibitors.md index 556bd50..b7f3683 100644 --- a/docs/suppliers/making-vinyl-europe-2026-exhibitors.md +++ b/docs/suppliers/making-vinyl-europe-2026-exhibitors.md @@ -49,6 +49,43 @@ traceability spec, the steam decision, the Thai PVC lead, the 50/50 fleet). - He also sees Alexander's background in electronics and solar as well placed to judge what the electronic reporting on daily production needs: the data side again. +- **Pheenix Alpha follow-up** (Robert Gunnarsson, CEO, to Simona and + Alexander, email 5 October 2026; Simona replied on 9 October with + Niklas Poblenz copied): + - Pheenix has helped many plants start production or add capacity and + counts more than 300 presses worldwide (vendor figure). Its team + supports automatic and manual presses and electroforming, which + matches the single-vendor path in [roadmap](../roadmap.md) items 5 + and 6. + - He proposed a Teams meeting, invited us to the factory near Stockholm + to see the presses demonstrated, and offered to put us in touch with + reference clients. + - Simona's reply: no visit fitted this trip; we plan to be back in + Europe in **February 2027** and will set up a call once our questions + and plans are concrete, in the coming weeks. No datasheet or quote + yet. Ask for the reference clients with the call (Deepgrooves first, + for biomass steam). +- **OMS first contact** (Lou Wullms to Alexander, email in German, + 7 October 2026): he asks Alexander to confirm he received it, then will + send material so that we can start calculating and see what the + galvanics side involves, and asks whether Simona will work on the + project too. Contacts: Lou Wullms for technical matters, Wilma Peeters + for accounting and logistics. **Open: reply to confirm.** Details in + [galvanics and stamper prep](../equipment/galvanics.md#a-third-candidate-optical-media-services-oms). +- **SST** (Daniel Krieger, Schallplatten Schneid Technik, Frankfurt, to + Simona and Alexander, email 7 October 2026): + - SST's archive shows it cut the lacquers for Poy Records POY003, 005, + 006 and 013, so it is already a Poy supplier. + - He praised the pressing quality of *Chiang Mai Sound vol. 1* and + *Fabulous Forever* and asked whether they are ResurRec pressings + (answer from Poy's records). + - SST is on good terms with Sarit of ResurRec and his mastering + partner Chalotorn, so it knows the incumbent + ([revenue model](../finance/revenue-model.md)). + - He offered to help with the plant. A cutting-side contact: a lacquer + source for the launch phase and cutting-room know-how for + [roadmap](../roadmap.md) item 27, not buyer validation + ([vendor landscape](vendor-landscape.md#lacquer-cutting-service-schallplatten-schneid-technik-germany)). - **Filed since**: the Newbilt flyers ([pressing line](../equipment/pressing-line.md)), Sibert's current VS specifications and line-up drawing (with the 2021 issues kept), and @@ -349,8 +386,12 @@ splatter and short runs. Also a compact 7" centre-hole punch unit. New CEO Robert Gunnarsson from September 2026 with an explicit commercial focus; founder Niklas Poblenz stays on innovation and customer support. Sibert installed equipment at Pheenix in January 2025. Deepgrooves (NL, attending) -runs AD12 presses on biomass steam. Contact in this repo: -andreas.runsten@pheenixalpha.com. +runs AD12 presses on biomass steam. Contacts in this repo: +andreas.runsten@pheenixalpha.com; Robert Gunnarsson (CEO), +robert.gunnarsson@pheenixalpha.com, +46 8 598 933 00; Niklas Poblenz, +niklas.poblenz@pheenixalpha.com. The CEO's signature gives Pheenix Alpha +AB, Skepptuna Borgen 299, 195 93 Märsta (north of Stockholm), the same +address as the flyers. **On file** (filed with the Making Vinyl material, October 2026): four electroforming flyers from 2024 (PASU silvering, PPPU pre-plating, PDPU @@ -508,8 +549,9 @@ Newbilt quote exists for this reason. - **Record Industry** (Haarlem host plant), **GZ Media**, **Pozzoli**, **Takt**, **optimal media**: large-plant operators; one question each on what they would build differently today. -- **Schallplatten Schneid Technik** (SST, Germany): DMM cutting - technology, the alternative to lacquer. +- **Schallplatten Schneid Technik** (SST, Frankfurt): lacquer cutting + studio (first noted here as DMM cutting; SST's own site lists lacquers + and dubplates only). Met at the show, see [After the show](#after-the-show). - **POYSOUND Co., Ltd.** and **TOYO RECORDING**: Asian attendees worth identifying (POYSOUND may be Thai; unverified). diff --git a/docs/suppliers/vendor-landscape.md b/docs/suppliers/vendor-landscape.md index a67a38a..ccd97ed 100644 --- a/docs/suppliers/vendor-landscape.md +++ b/docs/suppliers/vendor-landscape.md @@ -112,6 +112,31 @@ room is a smaller decision than the 290k to 580k USD line in it, alongside galvanics, a candidate for moving earlier than Phase 5 in the [roadmap](../roadmap.md). +## Lacquer cutting service: Schallplatten Schneid Technik (Germany) + +[Schallplatten Schneid Technik](https://www.sst-ffm.de/) (SST, Frankfurt +am Main) is an independent cutting studio founded in 1969 by Albert +Brüggemann and run by Daniel Krieger since 2011. Per its website (checked +October 2026): two cutting rooms on last-generation Neumann systems, one +of them the last Neumann ever built; lacquers in 7", 10" and 12" for +industrial pressing and dubplates in 10" and 12", at 16⅔ to 78 rpm; +half-speed, locked-groove and inside-out cuts; mastering only as moderate +corrections in agreement with the customer. The site lists lacquer, not +DMM. + +SST is already a Poy Records supplier: Daniel Krieger found in SST's +archive that it cut the lacquers for POY003, 005, 006 and 013. He met +Simona and Alexander in Haarlem, offered to help with the plant (email, +7 October 2026), and is on good terms with ResurRec's Sarit and his +mastering partner Chalotorn. What it means for the plan: a known lacquer +source for the launch phase, when cutting is bought in and stampers come +from the bridge supplier ([production timeline](../production-timeline.md)), +and a long-running cutting room to ask about Neumann-era equipment, room +design and engineer training before the Agnew or Sillitoe decision. +Lacquer travels worse than nickel (production timeline), so a Frankfurt +cut fits a European stamper service (Stamper Discs, OMS) better than +plating in Thailand. + ## Silvering and electroforming equipment: Plating Power / Digital Matrix (USA) [Plating Power](https://www.platingpower.com/) is the vinyl brand of Digital @@ -140,8 +165,10 @@ a Pheenix turnkey line: Lou Wullms is "a long-standing industry colleague who makes good equipment" and very familiar with the Asian market. A directory listing points OMS's website at Newbilt's equipment page, which announces new Newbilt electroplating equipment; whether the two are linked -is unconfirmed. No datasheet or price on file yet; details and open -questions in [galvanics and stamper prep](../equipment/galvanics.md). +is unconfirmed. Lou Wullms made first contact by email on 7 October 2026 +and will send material to calculate from once Alexander confirms; no +datasheet or price on file yet. Details, company data and open questions +in [galvanics and stamper prep](../equipment/galvanics.md). ## Stamper preparation: Sibert Instruments (UK) @@ -197,5 +224,14 @@ flyers in [`../equipment/pheenix-alpha/`](../equipment/pheenix-alpha/), summarised in [galvanics and stamper prep](../equipment/galvanics.md)). It calls itself the only manufacturer of both electroforming and pressing systems, which makes it a single-vendor candidate for the whole chain from -lacquer to record, not only for the presses. The flyers give the company's -address as Skepptuna, Märsta. +lacquer to record, not only for the presses. The flyers and the CEO's +email signature give the company's address as Skepptuna Borgen 299, +Märsta, north of Stockholm. + +After Haarlem, CEO Robert Gunnarsson wrote that Pheenix has more than 300 +presses in the field (vendor figure) and supports start-ups and capacity +expansions on automatic and manual presses and on electroforming; he +offered a Teams meeting, reference clients and a visit to the factory +with press demonstrations (email, 5 October 2026). We will call once our +questions are concrete; Simona and Alexander plan to be back in Europe +in February 2027 ([exhibitor briefing](making-vinyl-europe-2026-exhibitors.md#after-the-show)).