Blu-ray discs: Made in Mexico vs. Made in Germany

[TreeStandMan151]

I was recently looking at the 4K release of Sonic the Hedgehog 2 at Best Buy and noticed that some of the discs were labelled "Made in Mexico" and some were labelled "Made in Germany". I'm pretty sure I've only ever seen "Made in Mexico" stamps here in the US.

By "labelled" I'm referring to the blu ink stamp on the outside back of the plastic shrink wrapping found on sealed unopened discs.

Does anyone know what the difference is with regard to production quality? Are discs from one country / production facility more or less likely to be damaged than the other? Any quality/reliability reason to lean towards one vs the other? Just curious.

[HDTV1080P]

The studios when they build an automated robotic optical disc factory are required to meet the minimum specification standards of the BDA, and it does not matter which country the factory is located in terms of quality. As long as the manager of the factory is using approved plastics and maintaining the factory to the BDA standards, a optical disc made in German, Mexico, China, Japan, Canada, or the USA should be exactly the same when compared to each other factory the studio owns. However, there might be some studios that exceed the BDA optical disc stamping standards, and for certain studios the optical discs might be a little bit better quality when compared to other studios. For example, its been well known that Lionsgate studios makes some of the best BD-100 triple layer discs, along with some other studios. But certain studios can have more technical issues with BD-100 discs if their optical disc automated robotic stamping factory uses lower quality raw materials when it comes to the plastics and stamping quality. But if such a problem did exist, it would not matter which country the disc was made in and would be a problem with the studios decision on using lower quality stamping technics with impurities in the water and lower quality plastics that form the base and sometimes aluminum foil for the reflective layer depending on the optical disc being made and what the studio decides for their multi-million dollar robotic factory.

[Bugg]

The Mexican plants have the final polishing stage that requires the discs be placed on an unswept floor, have a carpet thrown over them, and then dragged across the room.

[Brian81]

If the Mexican plant operated like the German plant, there'd be a lot less returned and exchanged discs.

[HDTV1080P]

I have not had problems with the optical discs made in Mexico and sold for the USA market.

[Panson]

Originally Posted by TreeStandMan151

I was recently looking at the 4K release of Sonic the Hedgehog 2 at Best Buy and noticed that some of the discs were labelled "Made in Mexico" and some were labelled "Made in Germany". I'm pretty sure I've only ever seen "Made in Mexico" stamps here in the US.

By "labelled" I'm referring to the blu ink stamp on the outside back of the plastic shrink wrapping found on sealed unopened discs.

Does anyone know what the difference is with regard to production quality? Are discs from one country / production facility more or less likely to be damaged than the other? Any quality/reliability reason to lean towards one vs the other? Just curious.

That's a Paramount title, and Paramount uses Sonopress for video disc replication in Germany, thus the Made in Germany.

To what extent Paramount is using Vantiva (formerly Technicolor) in Guadalajara, Mexico, I don't know.

FWIW I've had "Made in Mexico" playback issues with subsequent replacements for one 4K UHD BD, and one DVD. I won't make quality/reliability assertation on that small sample. Anyway, unless I do a special order, I don't have much choice about where a video disc comes from.

Vantiva Mexico supposedly supplies 90% of the North American video disc market. AFAIK for feature films it's the lone North American plant for video disc replication. Europe has several plants, including one Vantiva in Poland.

[RFK]

No complaints on Mexican made discs.
Just avoid Volkswagens made in Mexico.

[eChopper]

Originally Posted by HDTV1080P

The studios when they build an automated robotic optical disc factory are required to meet the minimum specification standards of the BDA, and it does not matter which country the factory is located in terms of quality. As long as the manager of the factory is using approved plastics and maintaining the factory to the BDA standards, a optical disc made in German, Mexico, China, Japan, Canada, or the USA should be exactly the same when compared to each other factory the studio owns. However, there might be some studios that exceed the BDA optical disc stamping standards, and for certain studios the optical discs might be a little bit better quality when compared to other studios. For example, its been well known that Lionsgate studios makes some of the best BD-100 triple layer discs, along with some other studios. But certain studios can have more technical issues with BD-100 discs if their optical disc automated robotic stamping factory uses lower quality raw materials when it comes to the plastics and stamping quality. But if such a problem did exist, it would not matter which country the disc was made in and would be a problem with the studios decision on using lower quality stamping technics with impurities in the water and lower quality plastics that form the base and sometimes aluminum foil for the reflective layer depending on the optical disc being made and what the studio decides for their multi-million dollar robotic factory.

You’re living in a fantasy world . Mexican quality control is garbage and I have over 50 scratched Mexican discs I’ve returned in disgust. Read the various threads on people complaining of opening the box to see a scratched discs. All,from USA forums

I now only buy from Amazon Europe (Austria or Germany replicators ) , australia or best of all Amazon Japan whose quality control is immaculate

Unfortunately i HAVE to have certain Warner archive or KINO titles which are all pressed in Mexico - I always order 3 copies of each which guarantees I get one that isn’t scratched .

[HDTV1080P]

I have many Blu-ray discs that are region locked A for the USA and North American market, and I have not been experiencing the problems from any Mexico discs. A Blu-ray optical disc factory must meet the strict requrments to stamp optical discs per the BDA specs. If there was any major problem with a Blu-ray factory in the world, in theory the BDA would issue a waning to correct the issue or possible have the factory shut down.

I am not having any problems lately with 4K Blu-ray’s and regular Blu-rays made in both Germany and Mexico. Also, I always post any major problems I have with an optical Blu-ray disc at Blu-ray.com. And there has only been a few exchanged over the last decade.

[garyd97]

I cringe every time I check my discs, now that they are from the Mexico plant. Scratches on my discs have went up like 1000%

[rdodolak]

Besides scratches, you're more likely to find fingerprints on the discs coming from Mexico.

[grayskale]

It seems the Mexico plant hates Criterion - anecdotal case in point for my recent orders - 5 various Criterion UHDs and BDs all scratched and scuffed (no playback issues tho) but totally pristine and clean Lionsgate BD/DVD combo for 'Barb and Star go to Vista del Mar'.

[grayskale]

Originally Posted by Panson

That's a Paramount title, and Paramount uses Sonopress for video disc replication in Germany, thus the Made in Germany.

To what extent Paramount is using Vantiva (formerly Technicolor) in Guadalajara, Mexico, I don't know.

FWIW I've had "Made in Mexico" playback issues with subsequent replacements for one 4K UHD BD, and one DVD. I won't make quality/reliability assertation on that small sample. Anyway, unless I do a special order, I don't have much choice about where a video disc comes from.

Vantiva Mexico supposedly supplies 90% of the North American video disc market. AFAIK for feature films it's the lone North American plant for video disc replication. Europe has several plants, including one Vantiva in Poland.

Re: Paramount - The Braveheart UHD i purchased in 2019 from Amazon was made in Mexico and had skips and freezes after the 40 min mark. I bought another copy this year and it finally had the 'Made in Germany' stamp.

Other titles ie: The Relic (BD), Event Horizon (UHD) were Germany pressed.

[Panson]

Originally Posted by RFK

No complaints on Mexican made discs.
Just avoid Volkswagens made in Mexico.

Thank you. Coulda used that advice many years ago, when I purchased a new Beetle made in Mexico. Ready for disposal within five years.

Originally Posted by grayskale

Re: Paramount - The Braveheart UHD i purchased in 2019 from Amazon was made in Mexico and had skips and freezes after the 40 min mark. I bought another copy this year and it finally had the 'Made in Germany' stamp.

Other titles ie: The Relic (BD), Event Horizon (UHD) were Germany pressed.

My two replacements (from Amazon, made in Mexico) were for 20th Century Fox discs. So, for the studios, they're spreading the love around.

[WonkaBedknobs83]

Originally Posted by RFK

No complaints on Mexican made discs.
Just avoid Volkswagens made in Mexico.

Must be payback for Herbie Goes Bananas.

[RFK]

Originally Posted by Panson

Thank you. Coulda used that advice many years ago, when I purchased a new Beetle made in Mexico. Ready for disposal within five years.



My two replacements (from Amazon, made in Mexico) were for 20th Century Fox discs. So, for the studios, they're spreading the love around.

Mine was a 2000 Jetta.

[sa5150]

Never seen a bluray that said "made in Germany" anywhere since blurays came out in 2006 , Who ever is getting German ones is lucky ! Can someone post a picture of a made in Germany" of a bluray or 4k that was purchased in the USA ? I have discs only available in Germany and can not find Germany anywhere on them and most are still sealed .

[eChopper]

the ifpi codes on the centre spindle tell u what country discs pressed in ( u may need a magnifyer to see it )

all canadian and USA discs , blu ray or UHD are now pressed in mexico IFPI kk

IFPI UG = germany

IFPI 94 = austria

ifpi 40 =japan

ifpi 46 = australia

[the13thman]

I have to order multiple copies of every Kino title I buy because of the dire state of the discs - fingerprints, scuffs, scratches. The discs look like they have been scraped across the factory floor. Every time I hear about a title I want that's coming out exclusively from Kino my heart sinks. Sure, the discs usually play, but if I want to sell them on I can't describe them as "like new".

[TreeStandMan151]

Originally Posted by sa5150

Never seen a bluray that said "made in Germany" anywhere since blurays came out in 2006 , Who ever is getting German ones is lucky ! Can someone post a picture of a made in Germany" of a bluray or 4k that was purchased in the USA ? I have discs only available in Germany and can not find Germany anywhere on them and most are still sealed .

Yes, tomorrow when I have time at home I can take and post a picture of the Sonic 2 4K that I got that has the "Made In Germany" ink stamp on the back. (FWIW I haven't opened it yet). To clarify, however, it's not a release that is only available in Germany or one specifically made for Germany. It's the US release in English, but the "Made In" ink stamp on the back says "Made in Germany" instead of the more common "Made in Mexico" (that we almost always get in the US).