Hellbender Vinyl Opens Second Pressing Facility in Philadelphia

Hellbender Vinyl has expanded its operations by opening a new North Philadelphia facility that will run alongside its original Pittsburgh plant. The opening effectively links two regional manufacturing hubs, boosting access to vinyl production for East Coast artists.

Hellbender Vinyl's North Philadelphia location has grown since acquiring Softwax Record Pressing in the Bond Building.

“Since shipping its first finished order in January 2023, Hellbender Vinyl, based in the Lawrenceville neighborhood of Pittsburgh, has built something rare in the music world: a vinyl pressing plant that artists and labels genuinely love working with. Not just for the quality of the records — though that speaks for itself — but for the experience of getting there,” observed a New Jersey Stage report.

Hellbender Vinyl has already gained visibility in the music community, with notable clients including Wiz Khalifa and Victoria Monét.

Along with Hellbender Vinyl's expansion, the company also welcomes Travis Whitlock to the team as head of business development. According to New Jersey Stage, Whitlock's career covers various decades and disciplines: musician, tour manager, record label owner, fine art framer and conservator, venue manager, and the founder of Actually Pressing, a company celebrated for “pushing vinyl's creative limits with liquid-filled and object-filled records.”

“We know what it means to hold your own record in your hands for the first time. That feeling is why we do this,” said Whitlock. “I joined Hellbender largely because I was struck with how genuinely they care about their customers. It's more rare than you might imagine.”

To celebrate its expansion, Hellbender Vinyl will hold a Record Store Day party on Saturday, April 18, at 5 p.m.