Fonopers

Belgian vinyl record manufacturing company and pressing plant, established 1 December 1968 by René De Keyser (brother in law of Jules Nijs). Due to illness De Keyser was forced to sell the company in 1973. At the time, about three-quarter of the orders was due to Cardinal Records (2), so an offer was made to label owner Rocco Granata, who accepted and thus became general manager. At that point the accountancy and billing moved to Antwerp and later (begin 1983) the company's registered office was moved there. In 1978 the company was sold to Sobelpress S.A. with Granata staying on as manager. After the bankruptcy of S.A. Fonior N.V. Sobelpress was sold to Druco, but Fonopers remained an independent entity. With the rise of the CD, Granata opted not to invest in this new technology and to liquidate the company; in September 1986 the cessation of activities was officially announced. The machinery was subsequently sold to Decca. From September 1972 on lacquers for Fonopers were usually cut by Foon for some years.