Turntable and mixer manufacturer Vestax has ceased operations, according to Japanese website Teikoku News Online.
 
The report, which was brought to our attention by DJ TechTools, appeared in a story about the continued slowdown of Japanese manufacturing.
 

“Indispensable in helping to talk about the music and club scene in Japan, name-brand DJ (disc jockey) for mixer, turntable ‘Vestax’. Co., Ltd. has ceased operations August 31”

 
While Vestax has yet to confirm the closure, there are plenty of clues that indicate the company is no longer in business. For starters, Vestax hasn’t released any new products in the past year and its Los Angeles store was closed in August. DJ TechTools also pointed out that Vestax’s US distributor dropped them this year and that the company wasn’t present at the BPM trade show in September. Furthermore, their social media hasn’t been updated since July and the US support phone number leads to an answering machine.
 
Launched in 1977, Vestax has brought numerous innovations to the DJ world through turntables, mixers and controllers. Their products have been used by influentials DJs such as QBert, Mix Master Mike, D-Styles, Cut Chemist, Carl Cox, among others.
 
Here’s a video of DJ Woody getting down with the Vestax Controller One turntable, which he helped co-design:
 

 
Related: Pioneer Confirms Sale of DJ Business