Hellbender Vinyl is a vinyl record manufacturing company located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Opened in 2023, it is notable as the only record pressing plant currently operating in Western Pennsylvania[1][2] and, due to its acquisition of Softwax Record Pressing in Philadelphia, is now the largest record manufacturer in Pennsylvania.[3]
Hellbender Vinyl was founded by Misra Records manager Jeff Betten and Paperhaus band member Matt Dowling. Betten cited the vinyl revival of the 2010s as the reason that the two men felt Hellbender Vinyl would be a necessary addition to the music industry.[4]
In April 2025, Hellbender Vinyl was announced as a winner of the "Excellence in Customer Service Awards" by Business Intelligence Group.[8]
Innovations, notable projects
In May 2025, Hellbender Vinyl made news when it was announced that the company had pressed a 7-inch record for The Ataris containing the ashes of singer Kristopher Roe's father, William.[9][10][11]
Hellbender Vinyl is also notable for its collaboration with Munnycat that resulted in the world's first "3D vinyl record" - in which the record acts as 3D glasses for the album cover’s stereoscopic artwork.[3][13]
Technology
Hellbender Vinyl uses several LiteTone and WarmTone vinyl presses engineered by Canada's Viryl Technologies[14] as well as a Hamilton M-231 and a SMT Model 1500.[15]
Before the introduction of the WarmTone, all current record pressing facilities used machines exclusively resurfaced from the 20th century. The WarmTone press averages three records per minute with a smaller percentage for error.[16]
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