Showa Denko K.K. (SDK) has opened a new hard disk (HD) media plant here. The new plant, under construction since December 2005, was recently completed. This is the fourth HD media plant for the Showa Denko Group, following the existing first plant in Singapore, as well as plants in Japan and Taiwan.

At the new plant in Singapore, the company has installed the first production line within a clean room based on innovative perpendicular magnetic recording (PMR) technology. The plant will be in full operation early this year.

In response to growing demand, SDK is planning to increase the production capacity at the new plant in a timely manner. Thus, the group’s total hard disk media production capacity will be increased from 15.75 million disks per month at present to 24 million disks per month by the end of 2008.

The capital investment in the new plant, including the construction of the building and the clean room, as well as future expansions, will total $60 billion (Singapore).

Demand for HD media is expected to grow at an annual rate of 15 percent because of rapid increases in demand for such consumer electronics applications as HDD recorders, video cameras and mobile music players, in addition to the conventional PC application.

For MORE NEWS BRIEFS, click here.

For a FREE SUBSCRIPTION to Expansion Management, click here.

Go to STATE SPOTLIGHTS to read more about other news and articles about this state.

Go to INDUSTRY SPOTLIGHTS to read more about other news and articles about this industry sector.

Go to INTERNATIONAL SPOTLIGHTS to read more about other news and articles about international expansions.