Panasonic Starts Pilot Production of 50GB Blu-ray Discs
Panasonic has modified its existing pilot production line for single-layer Blu-ray Discs, called BD-ROM, so that it is able to replicate dual-layer BD-ROM discs with 50GB of storage capacity. The doubling of BD-ROM disc storage capacity is enabled by spin coating technologies developed by Panasonic that create two recorded layers on a single side of a Blu-ray Disc. In the process, readily available inexpensive UV curable resins are used in the creation of the space layer, cover layer and hard-coat, resulting in a reduction in disc replication costs. “Working closely with the movie studios and our replication partners, Panasonic was able to foresee the need for greater disc capacity to give consumers a much richer user experience,” said Eisuke Tsuyuzaki, director of Strategy & Alliances, Panasonic Hollywood Lab. Panasonic expects to provide sample dual-layer BD-ROM discs to the industry for testing by the end of this month.