Tracking progress in BD production facilities

[Grubert]

InfoSmart brings BD production to Hong Kong and China

InfoSmart, a leading DVDR manufacturer in Hong Kong and Brazil, has announced its purchase of a $1.4 million Smart BD replication system from Anwell Technologies. The BD system will be installed in InfoSmart's Hong Kong plant, making it the first such Line in commercial use in China and Hong Kong.

InfoSmart and Anwell have also agreed to collaborate and share BD manufacturing process know-how.

[...]

The Anwell Smart BD system is capable of producing 500,000 units per month once 100% operational, and InfoSmart anticipates a start-up manufacturing date by the end of June.

Link



Full press release here.

[Blu Titan]

Good find Grubert. I had a feeling it was your thread even before opening it.

[Grubert]

Thanks.

It's ironic to see all those North American top-tier replicators hemming and hawing at risking money on a replication line, and a Hong Kong company jumps in with the $1.4 cheque.

However, it isn't known if they'll replicate movies or PS3 games.

[Maximus]

Originally Posted by Grubert

Thanks.

It's ironic to see all those North American top-tier replicators hemming and hawing at risking money on a replication line, and a Hong Kong company jumps in with the $1.4 cheque.

However, it isn't known if they'll replicate movies or PS3 games.

I don't think Chinese companies will be allowed to replicate movies just yet, I imagine this will be for PS3 games for now, don't forget that the PS3 games sell over 1 million a week and most BD capacity is used by that, so installing game capacity is actually more profitable for replicators. I doubt that any of their 125,000 units a week will be used by studios, independent or otherwise.

One thing to remember, at the height of its powers, the PS2 userbase was buying up to 4 million games a week worldwide which is a pretty big number and if the PS3 is to equal that, the capacity needs to be there, especially if games are going to use BD-DL more regularly like MGS4, Killzone 2, Final Fantasy 13 and a host of other games in their planning stages.

[ranma]

Originally Posted by Maxpower1987

I don't think Chinese companies will be allowed to replicate movies just yet, I imagine this will be for PS3 games for now, don't forget that the PS3 games sell over 1 million a week and most BD capacity is used by that, so installing game capacity is actually more profitable for replicators. I doubt that any of their 125,000 units a week will be used by studios, independent or otherwise.

One thing to remember, at the height of its powers, the PS2 userbase was buying up to 4 million games a week worldwide which is a pretty big number and if the PS3 is to equal that, the capacity needs to be there, especially if games are going to use BD-DL more regularly like MGS4, Killzone 2, Final Fantasy 13 and a host of other games in their planning stages.

There are some insider information about WB china (co-operated with a chinese distributor company) is about to release Blu-ray movies in china in May 2008. and Also there already has many localized and local-made movies on BD in Hong Kong.

This news is about Hong Kong replicator too.

[Grubert]

Related:

Taiwan's U-Tech Media to begin shipment of BD movie discs in 4Q08, says paper

U-Tech Media, the largest Taiwan-based producer of pre-recorded optical discs, has landed OEM orders for Blu-ray Disc (BD) movie discs from top Hollywood movie studios, with shipments to begin in the fourth quarter of 2008, according to the Chinese-language Economic Daily News (EDN) newspaper.

U-Tech will install a production line for BD DL (single-sided double-layer, 50GB capacity) movie discs in the second quarter of 2008, undertake trial production in July-August and then will be poised for volume production in September of this year, the EDN pointed out.

[Grubert]

SINGULUS TECHNOLOGIES Sells Dual Layer Blu-ray Disc Production Machine to LASER-VIDEO Multimedia

07. April 2008
Kahl am Main, April 07, 2008 - SINGULUS TECHNOLOGIES (SINGULUS) reports new orders received for dual layer Blu-ray disc production machines.

In the recent days, SINGULUS was able to conclude a new agreement with the company Laser-Video, Russia, for three Blu-ray production machines. "With this order we continue to strengthen our position in Europe as the market leader in the optical disc sector”, comments Stefan A. Baustert, CEO of SINGULUS TECHNOLOGIES. Laser-Video already operates one Blu-ray machine as well as a CRYSTALLINE mastering system. Laser-Video is the largest producer for optical disc in Eastern Europe and invests massively in the upcoming Blu-ray technology and in particular in the dual layer technology with a storage capacity of 50 gigabyte with these new orders. Mr. Vadim Yaroshenko, CEO of Laser-Video adds: “We believe that our choice of SINGULUS as a business partner will significantly improve our performance in the new Blu-ray market. SINGULUS’ know how in the area of optical discs and particularly for Blu-ray will considerably speed up our market penetration.”

Following the announcement of the Japanese electronics group Toshiba to stop its activities with HD DVD, the project activities in the segment Blu-ray have picked up as expected. Stefan A. Baustert, CEO of Singulus Technologies, comments: “SINGULUS is excellently positioned in the optical disc market. These new orders show that we are the undisputed market leader in Europe. Our target is to achieve a global market share of more than 65 % for Blu-ray machines.

BTW I have edited the title of this thread to include all news of progress in BD replication. That way I won't have to open a new thread each time a replication line is sold.

[Anthony P]

BTW I have edited the title of this thread to include all news of progress in BD replication. That way I won't have to open a new thread each time Singulus sells a line.

either I missed something or you did in the first post

has announced its purchase of a $1.4 million Smart BD replication system from Anwell Technologies.

so we have one more replication equipment maker not just Singulus

[Grubert]

Originally Posted by Anthony P

either I missed something or you did in the first post



so we have one more replication equipment maker not just Singulus

Of course. I've rephrased the post.

[McBain]

BD replicators are tracked here:

http://www.emedialive.com/articles/r...leid=11425#ixl

[Grubert]

Originally Posted by Grubert

Related:

Taiwan's U-Tech Media to begin shipment of BD movie discs in 4Q08, says paper

More on that:

Pre-recorded disc maker U-Tech to set up BD production line

U-Tech Media, the largest Taiwan-based maker of pre-recorded optical discs, is planning to establish its first production line of Blu-ray Disc (BD) movie discs, with installation expected to be finished in the third quarter of 2008 with volume production starting at the end of the same quarter or the beginning of the fourth quarter, according to the company.

Both Hollywood and top international independent movie studios are interested in promoting BD movie discs and some of them recently came to Taiwan to seek OEM partners, U-Tech pointed out. Because the fourth quarter is traditionally a peak sales period for movie discs, U-Tech plans to undertake and finish trial production of BD movie discs in the third quarter of this year, the company noted.

U-Tech will be the second maker of BD movie discs in Taiwan. Bestdisc Technology, a second-tier Taiwan-based maker of pre-recorded optical discs, set up its first BD movie disc line in 2007 with its major clients being in Japan, according to industry sources.

Currently, Sony Digital Audio Disc Corporation and Cinram International together account for over 80% of the global output of BD movie discs, the sources indicated.

[Grubert]

France's QOL receives BD50 certification

QOL, the French independent replicator, obtained the certification for Blu-ray double-layer discs (50GB) issued by the Blu-ray Disc Association on 16 April.

QOL was the first independent replicator to have invested in excess of €6 million in Blu-ray equipment in August 2007. It has two Singulus lines fully operational, BD testing equipment from Datarius and a packaging machine from Gima.

With its new BD 50 capability, QOL says it offers an alternative [to Sony DADC] to independent publishers and studios in the European market. The company has already pressed some twenty BD titles, including Arthur et les Minimoys, Ne le dis à personne, Taxi 4 and Les Choristes.

Laurent Villaume, QOL CEO, says: "With the honorable decision of Toshiba to pull out of the high definition disc market, thus removing any obstacle to the successful development of the Blu-ray format, we wanted to position QOL, a long-time partner to the cinema and video industry, as the pioneer of the new format in France and in Europe. We now have a manufacturing capacity in excess of 1 million disc per month.

"It is three years of research and development to we offer our clients, an effort rewarded with the BDA certification for BD50," adds Villaume. QOL was fully certified for the production of single-layer Blu-ray disc (25GB) on 17 December.

The BDA is the body that grants the Official Certification only to those replicators that manufacture Blu-ray discs and fulfill all necessary requirements for the production of the high definition discs.

[Grubert]

SINGULUS TECHNOLOGIES Lifts Forecasts for Blu-ray Order Intake for 2008

Kahl am Main, May 8, 2008. SINGULUS TECHNOLOGIES (SINGULUS) received
numerous orders for Blu-ray lines from Europe and Asia in the 1st quarter
2008. A first major order for Blu-ray was also received from the US in the
1st quarter. These new orders confirm SINGULUS' expectations with regards
to growth of the Blu-ray market. Since the settlement of the format dispute
at the beginning of January 2008 and with the strategic acquisition of the
Blu-ray Disc equipment operations from OERLIKON on January 31, 2008
SINGULUS has further improved its position for Blu-ray Disc.

Due to these favorable trends SINGULUS lifts its own order forecast from 20
Blu-ray machines to about 30 machines for 2008. For the Blu-ray segment a
market share of more than 65 % is targeted.

The MediaTech Expo 2008, the largest trade fair for the optical disc
industry worldwide, which is currently taking place in Frankfurt, is
predominantly devoted to Blu-ray. The positive expectations for Blu-ray
were underlined by the leading market research institutes.

[Zyclone]

it looks like blu ray is coming up in the world , interesting read.

[Bobby Henderson]

I don't think Chinese companies will be allowed to replicate movies just yet, I imagine this will be for PS3 games for now, don't forget that the PS3 games sell over 1 million a week and most BD capacity is used by that, so installing game capacity is actually more profitable for replicators.

I think it's only a matter of time before mass piracy operations in parts of Asia ramp up BD replication, whether they get their hands on quality replication equipment or reverse engineer it and make counterfeit versions for their use.

[bluflu]

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/...7a3de5c9e29043

"High-definition Blu-ray discs are expected to drive volume growth at Canadian replicator Cinram International Income Fund as DVD sales continue to decline.

Toronto-based Cinram, which makes CDs and DVDs for the entertainment industry, said it will build capacity to produce Blu-ray discs beginning in the second half of 2008.

Cinram posted a first-quarter loss on lower DVD sales. Cinram said it lost $3.4 million on revenue of $406.6 million for the three months to March 31, against a profit of $7.2 million on revenue of $443.9 million in 2007.

Cinram told analysts that sales of DVDs will continue to slump as the format is replaced with high-definition disc formats."

[Blu Titan]

Two very informative reads posted today by Grubert and bluflu. Thanks guys.

[Grubert]

Expedia Media goes into BD production

Andy Forman, VP of sales for Expedia Media in the US, told One to One at the MEDIA-TECH Expo that the company will be going into BD production. The show was the platform for the announcements of equipment purchases from ODS Nimbus for mastering, Anwell for replication, and DaTARIUS for QC. Expedia Media plans to start production of BD25 by the summer.

"As far as I know, we will be the first independent replicator in Southern California," says Forman. "Our strategy is to ensure that we are up and running early on so that we can also establish ourselves as a reliable offload partner for the major replicators."

There are expansion plans for up to three lines, Forman adds. While the company's focus is likely to be on BD25, there will be capacity for BD50 as soon as demand ramps up.

[...]

So maybe Cinram and other major replicators can then concentrate on BD50 production and outsource BD25?

[Grubert]

Sony to expand Blu-ray manufacturing in Terre Haute

Indiana Secretary of Commerce Nate Feltman met with senior Sony Corporation executives in Tokyo on Thursday to sign a deal to expand Blu-ray Disc manufacturing operations to Indiana.

According to a press release from the the Indiana Economic Development Corporation, the agreement is expected to create up to 85 new jobs in the western Indiana city of Terre Haute.

Sony DADC, which currently employs approximately 1,180 associates at its U.S. manufacturing and distribution center in Terre Haute, will hire professional staff, engineers, technicians and operators in connection with the expansion plans. The facility is Sony DADC's only Blu-ray Disc manufacturing facility in the United States and currently produces 425,000 Blu-ray Discs per day in addition to compact discs, DVDs and UMDs. Blu-ray Discs are high-definition, high-capacity optical media discs.