Singapore, April 25, 2003 - TDK Corporation, a world leader in advanced, high-performance data storage media, today announced it is now manufacturing the highly anticipated LTO (Linear Tape-Open) Ultrium 2 cartridges. The new TDK D2405-LTO2 cartridges will be available May 2003, providing large-volume data storage users with ultra-high-capacity, cost-effective solutions to their growing data archiving needs.

LTO Ultrium 1 has become one of the most widely adopted tape-based data archiving technologies, offering exceptional reliability and high-capacity performance. TDK's LTO Ultrium 2 data cartridges take Ultrium performance to the next level with a number of significant advantages over Generation 1 products, including an increase in data storage capacity to 400 GB (2:1 compression, 200 GB uncompressed). LTO Ultrium 2 also delivers enhanced data transfer speeds, up to 40MB per second (80MB compressed).

"TDK has been at the forefront of every major development in recording media for more than 65 years," noted Toshikazu Yahata, Product Planning Manager of TDK Singapore (Pte) Ltd. "With our entry into LTO Ultrium 2 manufacturing, we are once again bringing our unmatched expertise in magnetic recording technology in support of this advanced ultra high-capacity data storage medium."

Yahata further added, "As part of TDK's stringent approach to achieving the highest levels of product compatibility, reliability and durability, every step of our manufacturing process for LTO Ultrium 2 cartridges encompasses strict quality control standards, coupled with comprehensive testing procedures. The result is a breakthrough storage solution in large-volume backup and archiving applications that will provide our customers with new levels of performance and cost-effectiveness."

TDK's LTO Ultrium 2 Cartridges: Ultimate Performance and Data Integrity
Measuring just 4.1" x 4.0" x 0.8" (105.4 x 102.0 x 21.5 mm), TDK LTO Ultrium 2 cartridges utilize a proprietary unified mechanism that offers total hardware compatibility with the widest variety of drives, along with exceptional durability. Each mechanical component is specially composed of materials optimized to their specific functions for unsurpassed durability and long-term operational stability, enabling the cartridges to withstand accidental drops and endure long-term use. TDK LTO Ultrium 2 cartridges have been put through a rigorous battery of tests, withstanding over 25,000 loads/unloads into LTO drives while maintaining full mechanical integrity.

To assure maximum data integrity, TDK LTO Ultrium 2 cartridges feature a specially developed, proprietary Super Finavinx metal particle magnetic tape formulation optimized for ultra high data storage and exceptionally low error rates. The tape utilizes TDK's exclusive Three Dimensional Compound (3DC) binder system, which yields high magnetic particle packing density along with superior resistance to particle shedding. The superior adhesive qualities and durability of the 3DC binder system provide stable high-output characteristics, long-term resilience and strength, and assure extremely low error rates even under the stresses of rapid tape speeds, and repeated read/write cycles.

Furthering TDK's commitment to total quality control, every TDK LTO Ultrium 2 cartridge incorporates a tracking system to trace individual tapes and their manufacturing history. Each tape contains a unique ID tag for complete manufacturing lot traceability.

TDK LTO Ultrium 2 cartridges join the company's broad lineup of high-performance data storage solutions, including LTO 1, DVD-R/RW, DVD+R/RW, DDS, CD-R/RW, MO and 3.5" floppy disk media.

TDK D-2405-LTO2 LTO Ultrium 2 cartridges will be available in May 2003.

About Linear Tape-Open (LTO) Technology
LTO technology is a powerful, scaleable, open tape format created by technology providers HP, IBM Corporation and Seagate Removable Storage Solutions to meet the growing demands of data protection in the midrange to enterprise-class server environments. This new generation of tape storage products is designed to deliver outstanding performance, capacity and reliability combining the advantages of linear multi-channel, bi-directional formats with enhancements in servo technology, data compression, track layout, and error correction.

The LTO Ultrium format storage solution is a single-reel, high-performance tape cartridge suitable for backing up, restoring, and archiving applications. As a technology for ultra-high capacity storage, the LTO Ultrium format is the only tape storage technology with a well-defined four-generation roadmap for growth and scalability -- a roadmap that projects a doubling of speed and capacity with each new generation, and the delivery of significant data integrity improvements over current tape storage formats.

While the LTO Program gives licensees wide latitude in implementing mechanical and electrical designs, strict adherence is required to format specifications impacting the ability to read and write Ultrium format tape cartridges. Independent compliance verification is vital to meet the
free-interchange objectives that are at the core of the LTO Program. With numerous compliance checkpoints for each LTO technology product, end-users and OEMs can benefit from data interchangeability between LTO products regardless of the manufacturer.

Ultrium tape mechanism and tape cartridge interchange specifications are available on a licensee basis. For additional information on LTO Ultrium technology, visit the Ultrium Web site at http://www.ultrium.com.

Note: Linear Tape-Open, LTO, and Ultrium are U.S. trademarks of HP, IBM and Seagate.

About TDK
TDK Corporation (NYSE: TDK) is a leading global electronics company based In Japan. Established in 1935 to commercialize "ferrite," a key material in electronics and magnetics, TDK today is a world leader in high-performance digital audio/video recording and playback solutions. TDK's long tradition of leadership in magnetic recording media is also reflected in the company's full line of advanced optical recording media, including LTO, CD and DVD recordable/rewritable discs.

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