Product category:
PC-Compatible Boards and Assemblies
News Release from: Toshiba Europe Storage Device Division
Edited by the Electronicstalk Editorial
Team on 16 May 2005
Toshiba acquires Panasonic's HDD design
centre
Toshiba has strengthened its global product development capabilities for HDDs with the acquisition of the Panasonic Shikoku Electronics HDD design centre in Fremont, California.
Toshiba has strengthened its global product development capabilities for HDDs and engineering support resources for PC and consumer electronics customers with the acquisition of Panasonic Shikoku Electronics Co's HDD design centre in Fremont, California Terms of the agreement were not disclosed
This article was originally published on Electronicstalk on 17 Oct 2002 at 8.00am (UK)
Related stories
Compact drive brings DVD-R to laptop manufacturers
New from Toshiba's Storage Device Division is the SD-R6012 slim combination drive, the industry's first combination DVD/CD recordable drive for mobile computers.
Latest 2.5in HDDs cram in the bytes
Two new industry-leading HDDs are optimised for mobile and multimedia applications.
The newly acquired design centre will support HDD development at Toshiba's Ome Operations, Japan.
In addition, Toshiba's new facility will provide engineering support to PC and consumer electronics companies, putting critical resources closer to Toshiba customers.
"Toshiba is determined to continue its leadership in small form factor HDDs and to provide customers around the world with excellent engineering resources", said Kazuyoshi Yamamori, Vice President of Toshiba's Digital Media Network Company.
Further reading
Credit-card-size HDD aims for multimedia devices
The MK4004GAH 40Gbyte 1.8in hard disk drive is the size of a credit card and weighs only 62g, providing significant storage for next generation multimedia applications such as digital video cameras.
Drives shrink to expanded demand
Toshiba is aiming to meet fast increasing demand for its 1.8in hard disk drives by doubling production to 600,000 units a month by March 2004.
"Acquisition of the design centre will support our continued innovation and product advances".
As part of the deal, approximately 50 engineers have joined Toshiba America Information Systems (TAIS), bringing a rich mix of engineering and problem-solving skills and proven product design capabilities for low-cost, high-quality, high-volume production.
Acquisition of this design centre greatly bolsters our global engineering organisation and represents Toshiba's commitment to driving innovation in small form factor hard disk drives", said Martin Larsson, General Manager, Toshiba Europe Storage Device Division.
"We are adding world-class engineering resources to help Toshiba greatly enhance our global product development capabilities".
"Consumer passion for high performance, feature rich mobile devices is driving industry demand for portable hard disk technology", added Larsson.
"Acquisition of this design centre greatly bolsters our global engineering organisation and represents Toshiba's commitment to driving innovation in small form factor hard disk drives".
Toshiba continues to push the envelope in small form factor HDD development, with introduction of the world's smallest hard disk drive at 0.85in and the first announced products to incorporate perpendicular magnetic recording (PMR) on the company's 1.8in HDD platform, scheduled to ship in the second quarter of 2005.
Toshiba currently leads the 1.8in HDD market with more than 14 million units shipped since its launch in 2000.
The company also recently surpassed the 80 million units shipped milestone for 2.5in HDDs.
"Toshiba's reputation as a technology innovator brings tremendous opportunity to our organisation", said Raghu Gururangan, Vice President of the Fremont engineering facility.
"Our team is thrilled to join this world-class operation, and our mission is to help bolster customer satisfaction with Toshiba's industry-leading HDD products".
• Toshiba Europe Storage Device Division: contact details and other news
• Email this article to a colleague
• Register for the free Electronicstalk email newsletter
• Electronicstalk Home Page
Search the Pro-Talk network of sites
