Pentax 2006 Annual Report Download - page 18

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Information
Technology

Glass Disks for HDDs
To ensure that data are not damaged if notebook computers are subjected to vibration or shock, the HDDs inside must be
highly shock resistant. These HDDs utilize glass disks, which have excellent shock resistance properties, and Hoya is the top
supplier of those glass disk substrates.
The glass disk sizes produced by Hoya can be broadly divided into 3.0-inch, 2.5-inch, 1.8-inch and smaller diameter sizes
(1.0-inch and 0.85-inch). The 2.5-inch disks are widely used in notebook computers, and are also installed in car navigation
systems and game machines. The 3.0-inch disks are produced mainly for high-performance computing equipment such as
servers, which require high reliability. The small diameter sizes are found in portable music players and digital video cameras.
The production of glass disks is divided into two main processes: the polishing of the glass plate to produce the substrate,
and the deposition of the magnetic media on the glass substrate. During the fiscal year ended March 31, 2006, more notebook
computers were shipped than had been forecast, and this resulted in a sudden growth in demand for 2.5-inch glass disks. To
meet this demand and boost production capacity, Hoya expanded manufacturing facilities in existing plants and opened a new
substrate plant in Vietnam in October 2005. Currently Hoya is producing disk substrates at plants in Thailand, the Philippines and
Vietnam, and the magnetic media are applied by its Singapore plant.
The next technology to be introduced into the HDD arena is the
perpendicular magnetic recording method, which will allow for higher data
storage volumes. Rapid development of this media and speedy finalization
of mass production technologies are required. Because the new method
will greatly increase the storage size of hard disks in comparison with the
current longitudinal recording method, it is expected that new commercial
applications will be developed. Hoya was quick to commence
development work on the media to be used for the perpendicular
magnetic recording method, and is proceeding with preparations to
commence actual shipments in 2006.
Electro-Optics Division
Vietnam plant
Car navigation systemNotebook computer
Mobile telephone
Server
Portable digital audio player
Digital camera
Video camera Portable game machine
Glass disks, which have excellent shock resistance properties, are components of various digital devices.