Toshiba and Western Digital to Jointly Invest in Flash

Toshiba Memory Corporation and Western Digital Corp. have finalized a proper settlement to collectively put money into the “K1” manufacturing facility that Toshiba Memory is presently establishing in Kitakami, Iwate Prefecture, Japan. The K1 facility will produce 3D flash reminiscence to help rising demand for storage in purposes akin to knowledge facilities, smartphones and autonomous vehicles. Construction of the K1 facility is predicted to be accomplished within the fall of calendar 2019. The firms’ joint capital investments in tools for the K1 facility will allow preliminary manufacturing output of 96-layer 3D flash reminiscence starting in calendar 2020, with significant output anticipated to start later within the 12 months.

Toshiba Memory and Western Digital will proceed to domesticate and prolong their management of their respective reminiscence companies by actively growing initiatives aimed toward strengthening expertise competitiveness, advancing joint improvement of 3D flash reminiscence, and making capital investments in accordance with market tendencies.

“We are determined to demonstrate Toshiba Memory’s leadership in the market, including collaborating with Western Digital to actively execute initiatives that will strengthen our mutual competitiveness,” stated Yasuo Naruke, President and CEO of Toshiba Memory. “We look forward to jointly developing 3D flash memory and carrying out investments tailored to promising market opportunities.”

“The agreement to jointly invest in the K1 facility marks the continuation of our highly successful collaboration with Toshiba Memory, which has fostered growth and innovation of NAND flash technology for two decades,” stated Steve Milligan, chief govt officer of Western Digital. “Western Digital’s long-term investment strategy for the Kitakami site reflects our ongoing commitment to drive flash technology development and manufacturing along with Toshiba Memory. This expansion positions us well to provide the industry’s most competitive flash supply to meet long-term demand trends driven by the growing volume, velocity, variety and value of data.”