Memory-Tech and Toshiba to Provide Industry with Technical Information on HD DVD Manufacturing

26 July, 2004


Memory-Tech and Toshiba to Provide Industry with Technical Information on HD DVD Manufacturing
Memory-Tech and Toshiba to Provide Industry with Technical Information on HD DVD Manufacturing
 
Memory-Tech and Toshiba to Provide Industry with Technical Information on HD DVD Manufacturing

Memory-Tech Corporation
Toshiba Corporation

Memory-Tech Corporation and Toshiba Corporation today announced that they would disclose technical information on the manufacture of ROM discs of the next generation DVD, HD DVD, know-how that they have achieved through technology cooperation with one another. The technical information will be available in English from the end of August and the companies will provide details of its distribution on their respective web sites.

Memory-Tech, with technological cooperation from Toshiba, has worked with NEC Corporation, Sumitomo Heavy Industries, Ltd., Origin Electric Co., Ltd., Shibaura Mechatronics Corporation and Hitachi Computer Peripherals Co., Ltd. to promote joint development of dual manufacturing lines able to manufacture both current DVD discs and HD DVD discs. This dual manufacturing system was achieved in May 2004, with the installation of the two lines now in operation at Memory-Tech's Tsukuba Factory in Ibaraki prefecture. These new manufacturing lines achieve a high level of efficiency and are now mass-producing standard DVD discs and sample HD DVD discs. Memory-Tech plans to install two more dual lines at its Kofu Factory in Yamanashi prefecture in August.

The dual manufacturing line achieves a cycle time of 3.5 seconds for dual-layer 30GB HD DVD discs (cf. 3 seconds for current DVD discs), and has a high yield rate of more than 90%. The switch for DVD discs to HD DVD discs and vice versa takes only five minutes. Memory-Tech and Toshiba have achieved high levels of productivity, cost efficiency and product quality, and will seek further advances as they move toward mass production of HD DVD. By the end of August, the monthly production capacity of Memory-Tech's four dual manufacturing lines will be 3.3 million DVD discs and 2.8 million HD DVD discs.

This new manufacturing system draws on industry-wide know-how on facility and production technologies that disc replicators have accumulated in eight years of manufacturing DVD discs. Recognizing this, Memory-Tech and Toshiba have decided to disclose technical information on the dual manufacturing line to interested parties. Memory-Tech and Toshiba expect the technology to be adopted by many companies and research institutes and to contribute to the continued progress of the DVD industry.

Technology Contact:
Memory-Tech Corporation
Engineering Department
Tel: +81-3-3405-8945

Press Contacts:
Memory-Tech Corporation
Haruhiko Noborisaka
Corporate Planning Dept.
Tel: +81-3-3405-8894
Fax: +81-3-3405-8905
Email: haruhiko_noborisaka@memory-tech.co.jp

Toshiba Corporation
Junko Furuta
Corporate Communications Office
Tel: +81-3-3457-2105
Fax: +81-3-5444-9202


Information in the press releases, including product prices and specifications, content of services and contact information, is current on the date of the press announcement,but is subject to change without prior notice.