Racal-Zonal Ltd. was one of the most prominent British magnetic media manufacturers of the 1960s–1980s, producing professional audio tapes, video tapes, magnetically coated motion picture film and computer magnetic tapes.
Founded in 1954, Zonal originally provided sound striping for the film industry and was initially associated with RCA. In 1956, a division was established between Zonal Facilities, which worked for the film industry, and Zonal Film (Magnetic Coatings) Ltd., which produced magnetic media.
In the late 1950s, Zonal collaborated closely with the French company Pyral, one of Europe's largest manufacturers of magnetic materials. In 1964, the company was acquired by Ilford Ltd., after which production expanded to include computer magnetic tapes, professional audio tapes, and industrial magnetic products.
In 1971, following a restructuring, Ilford sold the division to the Racal Electronics group and since 1972 the company has been called Racal-Zonal Ltd.
The main factory was located at Holmethorpe Avenue, Redhill, Surrey, England.
Racal-Zonal produced professional reel-to-reel tapes; compact cassettes; video tapes; magnetic film; computer magnetic tapes; and specialty measuring and archival tapes. Many cassettes were sold not only under their own brand, but also under the brands of dealers and specialized equipment suppliers (OEM).
The company focused primarily on the professional market. In 1978, the International Association of Sound Archives (IASA) recommended Racal Zonal Low Print as one of the best archival tapes: "In order of their print-through specifications, the following tape brands are all suitable for archive purposes: Racal Zonal Low Print (which has substantially the best print-through characteristics) EMI 816 and 815, Agfa PER525 and PEM468, BASF SPR50LH, Ampex 406, Scotch 262, and Zonal 666."
Spectrum, the most well-known series of professional audio tapes, appeared in the early 1970s and included two models: Spectrum Low Noise and Spectrum Low Print.
Development was conducted in collaboration with BBC engineers and was based on market research in the UK and US. According to the company itself, the BBC purchased approximately 100,000 km of Spectrum Low Print tape. Production reached approximately 6,000 km per week. (Studio Sound, April 1972)
Most likely, the company used distributors such as Lugtons, Harvey Buat, Charmdale and Wynd Up to distribute its products.
