Maxell's Agreement Is Super - Quantum Super DLTtape - Company Business and Marketing

Computer Technology Review, July, 1999

In an extension of a longtime collaborative relationship, Maxell today announced an agreement with tape drive manufacturer Quantum Corporation to manufacture the next generation of DLTtape data backup media: Super DLTtape. Maxell has led the industry in the development of magnetic recording media, as well as developing a lineup of computer media. In particular, the company continues to be a supplier of the DLTtape series of media. From the introduction of its first metal tape technology in DLTtape III to the current DLTtape IV, Maxell has been involved with Quantum's media technology development. Under a joint development agreement, Maxell and Quantum have completed the final phase of media design and development, and Maxell is currently in the production investment phase of the product ramp process.

The new Super DLTtape platform is a technological breakthrough in capacity and performance data storage systems. The Super DLTtape architecture has been designed to support multiple generations of storage products and is a follow-on to the DLTtape product set. The newly developed media that will be used in the Super DLTtape systems will deliver capacity and transfer rates for data storage on a single media cartridge. The Super DLTtape platform design incorporates a new optical servo technology that puts the servo tracks on an advanced back-coating of the magnetic tape. With the servo tracks now on the non-data bearing side of the media, Super DLTtape maximizes the usable recording area of the media, enabling data capacity, recording efficiency, and reliability.

According to George Saliba, Quantum's vice president of the Advanced Products Group and chief technology officer of the DSSG division, "Super DLTtape media advances the state of the art in data recording to new heights. Maxell's announcement signals the realization of another element for the market introduction of Super DLTtape."

The joint development of this new media technology is in direct response to industry demands for reliability and increased cartridge capacity in the storage of data. As average databases grow in excess of 1TB, GartnerGroup's Dataquest projects that the tape storage market will be $4 billion worldwide by the year 2000.

"We are extremely honored that Quantum has once again chosen Maxell as a development partner," said Tom Taniguchi, president of Maxell Recording Media Business Group. "Our commitment and dedication to the development and manufacture of Super DLTtape cartridges and media is a reinforcement of our longstanding relationship with Quantum. We are certain that this new technology will surpass the successes of our previous endeavors."

"The MP recording media is one of the cornerstones of our Super DLTtape technology," said Saliba.

Maxell's years of experience in producing both magnetic tapes and data storage media has made it possible to develop the Super DLTtape, utilizing the following qualities:

* Ceramic Armor Metal Particles With Density and Retentivity - It makes it possible to increase the anti-corrosion and physical strength characteristics of the metal particles, while maintaining its magnetic qualities. This also achieves a performance magnetic layer with minimum deterioration during long term storage, offering stability and reliability.

* Binder System - A concern for tape storage is the deterioration of the binders that bond (chemically weld) the magnetic particles together. Maxell employs a dual binder system that consists of main and sub binders. For the main binder, a new CB (Chemical Bonding) segment was introduced to improve the dispersion and packing density of the magnetic particles, and the bonding strength between particles. This technology is part of Maxell's research and development in magnetic tape media, which will be utilized in the Super DLTtape.

* Micro Thin Coating Technology - A micro thin coating technology and a surface calendering technology has been employed, resulting in output and reliability.

* Technology - The combination of Maxell's original backcoating technology and Quantum's new Optical Servo Technology delivers a fundamentally different approach to servoing, utilizing the backcoating side of the tape.