Panasonic starts pilot production of 50 GB Blu-ray Discs

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style=" FONT-FAMILY: Verdana">Torrance, CA (December 5,
2005) ‘” 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 50 gigabytes (GB) of storage capacity. The new
pilot replication line is housed within the Panasonic Disc Manufacturing
Corporation of America, which is located here in Torrance, Calif. 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. style="mso-spacerun: yes"> 

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style=" FONT-FAMILY: Verdana">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. Video and other data is then embedded in the layers
for playback later using a blue laser-equipped Blu-ray Disc player, recorder or
BD-ROM drive-equipped PC. 

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style=" FONT-FAMILY: Verdana">The ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" /> w:st="on">Torrance pilot production
line is able to produce dual-layer BD-ROM discs with the attachment of a
dual-layer replication line module to the existing single-layer line.
Single-layer BD-ROM discs are currently being produced on the pilot line with
more than 80% yield rates. Panasonic expects to provide sample dual-layer BD-ROM
discs to the industry for testing by the end of this month.

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style=" FONT-FAMILY: Verdana">‘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. 

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style=" FONT-FAMILY: Verdana">Panasonic expects to highlight the
new replication process for dual-layer BD-ROM discs at the Blu-ray Disc
Association’s booth (#9444, Main Hall, Las Vegas
Convention Center) during the Consumer Electronics Show in w:st="on">Las Vegas, January 5-8,
2006. 

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style=" FONT-FAMILY: Verdana">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 for the home as the nation moves from analog TV
to digital and High Definition Television.

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style=" FONT-FAMILY: Verdana">About
Panasonic

style=" FONT-FAMILY: Verdana">Best known by its Panasonic brand
name, Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. is a worldwide leader in the
development and manufacture of electronic products for a wide range of consumer,
business, and industrial needs. Based in w:st="on">Osaka, w:st="on">Japan, the company recorded
consolidated net sales of $81.44 billion for the year ended March 31, 2005. The
company’s shares are listed on the Tokyo,
Osaka, Nagoya,
New York (NYSE:MC), Euronext Amsterdam and
Frankfurt stock exchanges. For more information
on the company and the Panasonic brand, visit the company’s website at href="http://www.panasonic.com/"
target=_new>www.panasonic.com.