Ritek on May 21 announced it has received the certification for both HD DVD-R (recordable, write once) and HD DVD-RW (rewritable) formats, becoming the only Taiwan-based producer of optical discs to receive certification.
The technological barrier for HD DVD-R is quite high and that for HD DVD-RW is higher, Ritek indicated. Ritek's manufacturing capability for DVD+R/-R DL (single-sided double-layer) discs was helpful in obtaining the certification, the company pointed out.
Volume production for the two formats will kick off in the second half of this year at the earliest, Ritek noted.
CMC Magnetics received certification for Blu-ray Disc (BD)-R production last month and may begin volume production next quarter, according to industry sources.
BD and HD DVD are competing for mind and market share, with the BD group, led by Sony and Philips, and the HD DVD group, led by Toshiba and NEC, expected to push the certification process for leading Taiwan-based disc makers, sources noted. Having the support of Taiwan's manufacturing capabilities will be a key promotion tool for the BD and HD DVD platforms, the sources pointed out.
Demand for BD-R and/or HD DVD-R discs and for BD-RE (rewritable) and/or HD DVD-RW will account for 60% and 40%, respectively, of all blue-laser discs in 2009, the sources estimate.
