elasticStage operates a patented vinyl-on-demand manufacturing platform founded in 2016 by Steve Rhodes and Werner Freistaetter. The UK-based company has developed a production system that eliminates traditional constraints in physical music manufacturing: no minimum order quantities, no upfront tooling costs, and no inventory risk for creators. The platform currently serves over 95,000 artists across 90+ countries and has established partnerships with major music platforms including SoundCloud.
The core technical challenge elasticStage addresses is the traditional vinyl manufacturing model, which historically required minimum orders of hundreds of units, significant capital outlay, lead times measured in months, and substantial inventory risk. Their patented system enables single-unit production economics while maintaining what the company characterizes as premium audio quality. The platform handles the complete supply chain from order intake through manufacturing to global fulfillment, delivering products in weeks rather than the months typical of conventional pressing plants. Artists including Don Diablo, Nelly Furtado, and Boy George have used the service.
From a manufacturing systems perspective, elasticStage represents an implementation of mass customization principles in a traditionally batch-oriented industry. The platform integrates e-commerce, production automation, and distributed fulfillment to support both vinyl records and CDs. The company positions its approach as incorporating sustainable manufacturing methods, though specific environmental metrics are not publicly detailed. The system architecture necessarily addresses variation in audio mastering requirements, quality control at single-unit scale, and coordination of global shipping logistics.