Panasonic to Produce 50 GB Blu-Ray Discs

Panasonic has modified its existing pilot production line for single-layer Blu-ray Discs, called BD-ROM, so that it is now able to replicate dual-layer BD-ROM discs with 50 GB of storage capacity. The new pilot replication line is located in Torrance, California, USA.

Panasonic expects to highlight the new replication process for dual-layer BD-ROM discs at the Blu-ray Disc Association's booth during the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, January 5-8, 2006.

Single-layer Blu-ray Discs have 25 GB of storage capacity for holding video and other data, while current DVD discs have 8.5 GB of storage at most.

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, resulting in a reduction in disc replication costs.

The additional capacity will allow movies and other High Definition video titles to be stored, along with value-added features, on a single Blu-ray Disc. The BD-ROM format is expected to succeed DVDs as the preferred medium for High Definition movies and other packaged entertainment content.