CD Manufacturing process

First, we ensure the CD content provided by our customers meets the proper ISO standards when it is organized on the disc. This is an essential step to guarantee quality for professionals who require precise, high quality data reproduction that is backed by ISO certification.

Then a glass master is created, covered with a photosensitive layer and engrave all the customer's information on it with a laser light. To help fight against piracy on behalf of our customers, the plant engraves its International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI) number on every glass disc it produces. Following that, a fine silver coating is applied to the glass master's surface by a process known as vacuum evaporation.

The glass master is then transformed into a "mould" which is used to press discs. This is achieved by adding a layer of nickel on the glass master by means of electrolysis. The nickel layer is then separated from the glass base to recover the negative of the CD. The result is what is called the stamper. Other masters can be produced by repeating the electrolysis phase.

With the mould ready, CDs can now be replicated. Liquefied polycarbonate is then injected into the mould and, after only a few seconds of pressing, a compact disc containing all the data is quickly created.

In order for the CD to be readable, it must be covered with a micro thin layer of aluminium which is vacuum laid. The aluminium surface acts as a mirror to reflect the laser light back so information can be read.

To protect the CD and its information from harm - scratching, bending, or dropping it - the disc is covered with a layer of varnish. The lacquer envelops the aluminium and seals it from the elements. The disc is then ready for printing.

The final touch comes with the printing of the label right on the disc, either by a silk screen or offset process and with up to six colours. The result is a clean, polished appearance.

Meanwhile the paper parts have been plated up at the printers. They will be batched together with similar jobs and printed using the offset CMYK process. Drying, cutting, folding and stitching then follows until they are ready to be shipped to the plant to await the finished discs.

Your CD is the automatically packed into a jewel case along with the booklet and tray card. Shrink-wrapping is then added (if required) and the CDs boxed up ready for shipping.