Does Imation still manufacture blank media in its Oakdale facility?

[pepst]

Does anybody know if Imation does still manufacture any blank media in its Oakdale facility? They used to produce HD DVD-R, HD DVD-RW and BD-RE media since 2006, but they stops HD DVD-R media production in summer of 2008 and I would like to know if BD-REs production still goes on.

Factory tour video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wd_nR...layer_embedded

Press release:

Quote:

Imation to Manufacture HD DVD and Blu-ray Writable Optical Media


Company Leverages $10 Million Investment in Research, Development and Scale-up of U.S. Manufacturing

OAKDALE, Minn., Jan. 11 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Imation Corp (NYSE: IMN), a worldwide leader in removable data storage media, today announced it has begun its scale-up of manufacturing for HD DVD and Blu-ray optical recordable media in preparation for product introduction in early 2006. The company invested more than $10 million in 2005 in research, development and modular manufacturing capabilities to position Imation among the industry leaders delivering the newest high-capacity optical formats to customers.

A member of the Blu-ray Disc Association (BDA) and DVD Forum, Imation has dedicated teams completing technology development and final product refinements for single layer and double layer advanced optical formats. With more than 25 years of optical disc technology expertise dating to the introduction of the first video disc in 1982, Imation continues to pioneer superior optical media production technologies. To enable flexibility in responding to market requirements for both Blu-ray and HD DVD products, the company will utilize modular manufacturing processes and leverage key Imation technologies at its Oakdale, Minn. facility, including:
Patented Exacting High-Density Mastering. A proprietary, first-of-its-kind "reverse mastering and inverted stamping" process helps create the next generation of optical formats of HD DVD and Blu-ray optical media with track pitches less than 425 nanometers (at these densities more than 250 tracks would fit across the width of a human hair). Imation's patented mastering techniques, used in conjunction with its state-of-the-art deep UV and custom UV mastering systems, ensure this first, and most critical, stage of manufacturing creates a HD DVD or Blu-ray master with recording tracks of extremely high precision, resolution and consistency, resulting in cost-effective manufactured discs with superior recording quality.

Nano-Replication and Precision Molding. Imation pioneered the use of advanced photopolymer nano-replication for stamper production, the next manufacturing stage for optical discs. Combined with the advantages of Imation's exacting high-density mastering technology, its unique nano-replication process creates precision stampers with extremely high consistency and fidelity. Imation's precision molding processes ensure the excellent mechanical and replication characteristics necessary to consistently create the best possible discs for recording and playback.

High-Performance Thin-Film Composition. Imation's historical experience and leadership in thin-film engineering led to the design of thin-film information storage layers in its rewritable disks. These thin-film information storage layers are composed of a precise mixture of germanium, antimony and tellurium that deliver both very low jitter and excellent data retention -- ranking among the best of all Blu-ray media manufacturers. Imation's new state-of-the-art thin-film production coater, located at its Oakdale Discovery Technology Center, is capable of manufacturing all thin-film-based optical recording formats including single layer and double layer rewritable and write-once discs.

Vacuum-Bonding Process. Imation uses a vacuum-bonding process for the final and critical manufacturing stage of bonding the 100 micron cover layer on Blu-ray discs and the 0.6 mm substrates for HD DVD discs. Through vacuum-bonding, Imation achieves excellent uniformity and adhesion in this cost-effective bonding technique, ensuring consistent high-performance and reliable media.

Hard Coating. A protective disc coating that provides scratch- resistance, anti-static dust resistance and smear-resistance provides a more durable, protected media surface.

Industry Compatibility. Through participation and contribution in the DVD Forum and BDA testing and verification processes, all Imation Blu-ray and HD DVD media will be manufactured to meet format and content protection specifications to achieve compatibility with industry hardware that also meets these standards.

"Producing both Blu-ray and HD DVD recordable optical media requires advanced manufacturing processes and technology savvy," said Richard Weiss, vice president of research and development, Imation. "Imation's continued technology inventions and innovative approaches to modular manufacturing at our Discovery Technology Center position us well to scale-up both new optical formats."

Throughout 2006, Imation plans to launch the BD-RE (rewritable) and BDR (recordable) 25GB single layer and 50GB double layer Blu-ray formats. Also in 2006, Imation plans to launch the HD DVD-R (recordable) and HD DVD-RW (rewritable) 15GB single layer and 30GB double layer HD DVD formats. Select formats will be available starting the first half of 2006, based on drive and recorder availability. For more information, go to http://www.imation.com .

About Imation

Imation Corp is a leading developer, manufacturer and supplier of magnetic and optical removable data storage media.

Imation and the Imation logo are trademarks of Imation Corp. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

SOURCE Imation Corp

http://ir.imation.com/phoenix.zhtml?...004&highlight=

[kpmedia]

I'm checking on this. Nothing so far.
I need to make a few calls when I get more time over the holidays.