A trio of music lovers have launched a vinyl record pressing plant on Teesside.
Danny Lowe, David Todd and David Hynes have been part of the local music scene in the North East for more than 20 years but are taking their love of music to a new level after opening the vinyl factory.
Their business, Press On Vinyl, has opened its doors at Middlesbrough's Tees Advanced Manufacturing Park (TeesAMP) where the company plans to make 100,000 records every month.
Danny Lowe said: "As three local guys we're really excited to set up this unique business at TeesAMP.
"We're combining our skills from our day jobs in engineering and business management with our extensive knowledge of the music industry to bring the first ever record pressing plant not only to the North, but specifically to Middlesbrough, and we're really proud of that.
"We chose TeesAMP because the brand new facility is in a prime location and it will enable us to showcase the precision engineering of a really interesting manufacturing process.
"Being based at the park will hopefully bring some awareness to the fact that the vinyl pressing industry is centred on a carefully constructed engineering process.
"We hope our business can also help our fantastic local music scene, not many towns or cities across the world have access to their own local vinyl pressing plant, so it's a real win for the area."
Start-up Press On Vinyl already has a team of 10 employees but plans to increase its headcount to 30 by the end of the year.
The announcement of the move to TeesAMP means that more than 85% of the units at the site are now occupied or nearing contract completion.
Press On Vinyl will join the park's existing tenants, including Firth Vickers Engineering, Sulzer Chemtech, Close Protection Security and Durata UK Ltd.
Geoff Hogg, chief executive of Chaloner Group, the developer of TeesAMP, said: "TeesAMP is proving to be a magnet for innovative engineering and manufacturing companies that are at the heart of contemporary industry in Tees Valley.
"The quality and flexibility of the spaces we have created suits both established companies and exciting young businesses like Press On Vinyl Production that will be able to grow and prosper as part of the TeesAMP community."
Coun Ashley Waters, Middlesbrough Council's executive member for regeneration, added: "Press On Vinyl are a forward-thinking company set up by local lads and I'm delighted they have chosen TeesAMP as their base to achieve their potential.
"Securing this new tenant means we're another step closer to having the park fully occupied. This is a fantastic position to be in as we look forward to the second phase of TeesAMP."
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