Napalm Records, one of the world’s leading independent Rock & Metal labels, and vinyl manufacturing company Austrovinyl – both based in Styria, Austria – are thrilled to announce that they have joined forces for a strategic partnership, strengthening the domestic music market and expanding international structures.
The new collaboration will cover the increased in-house demand for vinyl, while strategically expanding business for Napalm Records, who have already ventured into different fields with their booking agency “Napalm Events” as well as their festival brands “Metal On The Hill” and “Rock In Graz”. Austrovinyl, located in the midst of the beautiful Styrian thermal spa & wine region, will continue to establish itself as one of the most state-of-the-art record pressing plants in Europe, and a reliable, high-quality producer of vinyl records.
Together, the companies will support the local and international music landscape and all its artists, bands and labels within various genres of rock and pop, hard and heavy, jazz and world music, alternative and indie, as well as techno, electro, hip-hop, soul and many others.
This growth and the enormous increase in demand for vinyl requires an extension of the company’s production and storage capacities. Therefore, a new pressing plant will be built in Fehring, Austria (with the nearest airport in Graz), within the same scenic Styrian region as Austrovinyl’s current location. At this new location, the machinery will be expanded onto a floor space of approx. 800m², where the production can be tripled.
Taking this step will also create new jobs, creating further growth and expansion after the number of employees at Austrovinyl already doubled in 2021.
In addition to Napalm Records and Austrovinyl expanding production and storage capacities, the new building will also include a transparent factory experience that provides a complete world of experience around the vinyl record – a paradise for all music lovers! The manufacture and production of a record can be experienced firsthand during guided tours in the context of the “Erlebniswelt Wirtschaft” (world of business experience). On more than 200 m², the newest music on vinyl and live music will be presented in a café/club atmosphere. This will include a store area, where the latest pressings and productions of Austrovinyl can be purchased, as well as the releases and special editions out via Napalm Records and many other vinyl classics and specials in the various genres listed above.
The project planning is in the final stages and start of construction is scheduled for January 2022, with the goal of opening by the end of the second quarter of 2022.
Napalm Records CEO Thomas Caser on the collaboration:
“Regional & international power united! The philosophy of Austrovniyl and the passion with which this company is led coincides with the ideals of Napalm Records.
Strategically, we are opening another business field here and are also prepared for the future in this area!”
Austrovinyl Managing Director Peter Wendler adds:
“NAPALM and AUSTROVINYL – this is how business has to work in times like these: together in unity!
Creating great music releases with sustainable value in highest quality and wealth of ideas – in an ever exciting, innovative and globally active creative industry – strengthening and developing the advantages of regionality with motivated and top-trained employees.”
Metal Shock Finland (World Assault ) 