Volume production of 8x DVD-R DL discs to begin in second half of 2006

The RW PPI (Re-Writable Products Promotion Initiative) is carrying out its M8 test plan to facilitate volume production of 8x DVD-R DL discs and the corresponding burners/recorders. Volume production of both 8x DVD-R DL discs and devices should begin in the second half of the year.

The writing speed for the DVD-R DL format is currently 4x, lower than the 8x for the DVD+R DL format. In addition to upgrading the writing speed, RW PPI will focus its 2006 promotion efforts on the compatibility between optical discs and recording/playback devices for DVD-R, DVD-R DL and DVD-RW formats, Aizawa pointed out. This is because the global demand for DVD recorders will grow significantly over the next two to three years, Aizawa indicated.

DVD-R/RW discs have gained the upper hand against DVD+R/RW discs with a global market share of 60%, although the latter has 60% share of the European market, Aizawa pointed out. The global demand for all types of DVD discs will reach 5.5 billion discs this year, Aizawa indicated. RW PPI currently has 69 members around the world, including BenQ, Lite-On IT, CMC Magnetics, Ritek and Prodisc Technology from Taiwan.

Source: DigiTimes