business news&reviews ten Editor in Chief Printed By Sven E. Jarby Südostschweiz Print AG (Chur, Switzerland) Managing Editor Peter Kraus, REMCOM GmbH Photography (USA / Switzerland) Michael Reinhard Photography (Herrliberg, Switzerland) Design / Layout Oerlikon Photography unless stated otherwise Darren Stacey, Doubletake Design Ltd. Comments & Information Published by Please contact us: [email protected] Oerlikon Balzers, P.O. Box 1000, Or for more information on Oerlikon visit our website: FL-9496 Balzers, Liechtenstein www.oerlikon.com systems Time Waits for No One Dear Readers, Welcome to TRACKS 2007: our “official” Blu-ray edition. As you have come to expect, this latest issue will update you on the latest data storage technology – and give you a close look at the real story behind Blu-ray (and PMR) disc production. Our efforts to develop and implement the newest production technology are defined by the fact that “time waits for no one.” Especially for our industry, storage capacity for both optical and hard disks keeps expanding at a breakneck pace, but the time to implement new production solutions is continually shrinking. Being in the forefront of the newest generation of data storage media (the high capacity Blu-ray disc and the PMR-based hard disk formats), Oerlikon has taken great efforts to develop cutting edge solutions by partner with industry leaders to ensure the best production solutions possible. Our future is Blu Oerlikon is firmly in the Blu-ray camp. In 2006, 1/3 of our revenue came from Blu-ray solutions. Since our INDIGO lines – both for single layer and double layer BD formats – are available this year (read about them on pages 16-21), expect even higher share in 2007. Our large base of installed BD lines is key to our future success, as most manufacturers will stay with a reliable supplier once the market chooses a high-density disc format. Despite the delay among consumers due to the ongoing format battle, I am confident that we will have a winner by the end of this year. PMR progress The new PMR technology for hard disks may be an even more revolutionary technology step. Our RACETRACK system (see the story on page 44) – with production records for throughput and yield – represents the optimal solution for high-quality PMR hard disks. With almost 1/3 of the world’s hard disks already produced on Oerlikon equipment, we expect great things from this solution as well. 2007 promises to be a year of great changes – and great opportunities. All of the technology partners I have recently spoken to – and our customers – are optimistic about growth and the promise of the new storage technologies. I look forward to taking advantage of the future with you! Peter Tinner Head of Systems, Senior Vice President OC Oerlikon Balzers Coating Ltd Tracks 03 Contents data storage business Oerlikon: Innovation & Diversification 5 blu-ray business partners Blu-ray Disc Association: Beyond High Definition 08 Sony DADC Leads Blu Revolution 10 GE Plastics: Developing the Perfect Substrate 12 RICOH: Blu-ray Multi-Layer Technology 13 blu-ray solutions Hans Ebinger on Blu-ray and Opportunities 15 INDIGO SL for All Single Layer BD Formats 16 INDIGO DL for Dual Layer BD Discs 20 SPRINTER for Multi-Layer Sputtering Applications 22 24:00 - A company That Never Sleeps 24 optical disc solutions MATRIX for DVD and HD DVD 27 CUBE STAR FLEX for DVD and BD-ROM 31 FUSION SL for Single Layer DVD R 34 FUSION DL for Dual Layer DVD R Formats 38 hard disk solutions 50 Years of Breathtaking Advances 41 In Pole Position with PMR 42 RACETRACK for PMR Hard Disks 44 service solutions Changing the Rules by Improving our Service 49 A Day in the Life of a Service Engineer 52 Your Oerlikon Contacts 54 04 Tracks data storage business Oerlikon – Timely Innovation & Diversification For the first time in our 100-year history, the company has a single name and logo: Oerlikon. Sven E. Jarby, Head of Marketing & Communication at Oerlikon, talks about building a diversified portfolio with a streamlined organization, a heritage of innovation, and how Oerlikon will better leverage its know-how and maintain growth around the world. Last year’s name change was more than cosmetic. The Oerlikon Balzers Coating segment now includes not only our data storage activities, but also the Solar, Wafer Processing, and Balzers Tool Coating business units, bringing our considerable thin film know-how into a single “coating powerhouse.” Unifying these business units under a single name also points out the strategic importance of diversification for Oerlikon. “This is important to help us minimize business risks,” explains Sven E. Jarby, Head of Marketing & Communication for Oerlikon Balzers Coating. “For example, we have an optical disc industry in transition between DVD Tracks 05 data storage business and a new disc format. Having a Oerlikon strength. The recently For a production line product portfolio that goes far beyond announced “R&D Center” – to be optical discs helps Oerlikon fill the opened in Germany this year – will integrator, the range revenue gap during periods of strengthen the company’s focus on uncertainty”. getting more out of innovative strength of our portfolio is – to drive and ensure the future. Pushing diversification unmatched. The ability to diversify is key for all “Our new formats (such as Blu-ray, with up to 50 players in our industry. Many other R&D center GB capacity) with our new INDIGO companies have struggled and gone will extend line. And after almost three years of out of business, and some have our research intense development work on a PMR- attempted a diversified product range capabilities based hard disk system, our new but fell short. Oerlikon is probably the beyond just RACETRACK line completed final test furthest along on this path – though products and runs last year and has now proven others are moving in the same applications,” itself in the field with new records for direction. explains throughput, uptime and product Sven E. Survival in dynamic high-tech markets quality! Finally, a parallel priority to Jarby. “A means having to deal with – and innovative technology is close systematic approach to basic research accept – the inevitable and sudden cooperation with our customers and will help us take better advantage of market downturns. This is where a an improved level of customer support. emerging technology trends.” diversified strategy enables a company to channel resources like R&D, assembly, and customer support, when necessary, to other applications Delivering a replication line is only the and markets. It can make the beginning of a customer relationship. difference between remaining strong – and extinction. Having management involved The customer advantage “For a production line integrator, the Together with our “tradition of Taken together, our priorities articulate range of our portfolio is unmatched,” innovation,” the Oerlikon organization an important advantage for our says Sven E. Jarby. enables an efficient leveraging of R&D customers. As a global player, the Looking beyond a widely diversified programs into actual products and Oerlikon network of technology portfolio, Oerlikon also strives for a applications. This is possible because centers, production sites, and support more streamlined organization that “innovation” is considered an end-to- offices make it possible to maintain reflects a new management end process that involves all functions constant contact – and innovative philosophy: a renewed focus on our across the company. capabilities – with our partners. innovative strengths. These draw “Senior management is constantly “It’s what helps our customers stay explicitly from a “tradition of involved in what goes on at the successful in a fast moving global innovation.” product development level, and all our market,” concludes Sven E. Jarby. Tradition of innovation teams share an awareness, and deep Building on our history of technology understanding of the importance of innovation and the know-how and customer needs,” says Sven E. Jarby. experience of our people is a central “Integrated as part of our ongoing R&D part of the Oerlikon strategy – and efforts, this enables us to make underlines a belief in the company’s decisions that lead to new, innovative potential. By reinforcing our R&D technology and products.” teams of over 800 specialists and with The global and local priorities are clear. thousands of patents registered over Currently, a strong effort continues to the years, innovation is clearly a key fully realize third generation optical 06 Tracks blu-ray business partners timely innovation and a shared future in this section Blu-ray Disc Association: Beyond High Definition Sony DADC: Leads Blu Revolution GE Plastics: Developing the perfect substrate Ricoh: Blu-ray Multi-Layer Technology blu-ray business partners Blu-ray Disc: Beyond High Definition Frank Simonis In the late 1990’s, at the time of the Strategic Marketing Director for the successful global launch of the DVD, the Blu-ray Disc Associaton first initiatives to discuss the next step in optical digital media began. One result of the industry-wide efforts to set forth a new media standard was the creation of an open industry group: the Blu-ray Disc Association. Supported by over 170 companies, the Blu-ray Disc Association includes members from the consumer electronics, information technology, media, and software industries. Their goal was to jointly enable a Blu-ray format standard. 08 Tracks blu-ray business partners The resulting Blu-ray (BD) standards were created acceptance, and create a new market for with an eye towards ensuring continuous advanced feature films with “right bounce” technological evolution. As a completely new content. optical disc medium with previously unthinkable storage capacity, BD offers commercial longevity The power of 50 and a consistent consumer experience in terms BD 50 GB media is the ultimate solution for the of ‘ease of use’ and a unique viewer experience high definition movie market.