Following the growing global demand, Ritek and CMC Magnetics plan to expand their monthly production capacities of DVD DL discs. Ritek will monthly produce five million discs, which is two illions more than current output, while CMC Magnetics will increase its production to from three million discs to two million discs.

The DigiTimes.com website reports that Ritek is currently mainly produces 2.4x and 4x DVD+R discs and the remainder are 8x DVD+R DL and 2.4x and 4x DVD-R DL. Ritek ships two million DVD DL discs a month at present. CMC?s production capacity of DVD DL discs is mostly for 2.4x DVD+R, with the remaining for 8x DVD+R.

Prodisc Technology and Optodisc Technology are currently the only other makers of DVD DL discs in Taiwan, with both producing in small volumes. Many second-tier and small Taiwanese makers of optical discs have focused on production of 8x and 16x single-sided single-layer DVD+D/-R discs and are unable to compete in the DL segment do to a lack of technology and capital, both Ritek and CMC pointed out. Consequently, their DVD DL discs are for a segmented market with higher prices.

The global demand for DVD DL discs is forecast to skyrocket from 50 million discs this year to 200 million next year, Ritek indicated.