Western Digital Announces World’s First 64 Layer 3D NAND Technology
July 26 2016 - 9:00AM
Business Wire
256 Gigabit 3-Bits-Per-Cell Chip is the
Smallest in the Industry
Western Digital Corp. (NASDAQ: WDC) today announced that it has
successfully developed its next generation 3D NAND technology,
BiCS3, with 64 layers of vertical storage capability. Pilot
production of the new technology has commenced in the Yokkaichi,
Japan joint venture facilities and initial output is expected later
this year. Western Digital expects meaningful commercial volumes of
BiCS3 in the first half of calendar 2017.
“The launch of the next generation 3D NAND technology based on
our industry-leading 64 layer architecture reinforces our
leadership in NAND flash technology,” said Dr. Siva Sivaram,
executive vice president, memory technology, Western Digital.
“BiCS3 will feature the use of 3-bits-per-cell technology along
with advances in high aspect ratio semiconductor processing to
deliver higher capacity, superior performance and reliability at an
attractive cost. Together with BiCS2, our 3D NAND portfolio has
broadened significantly, enhancing our ability to address a full
spectrum of customer applications in retail, mobile and data
center.”
BiCS3, which has been developed jointly with Western Digital’s
technology and manufacturing partner Toshiba, will be initially
deployed in 256 gigabit capacity and will be available in a range
of capacities up to half a terabit on a single chip. Western
Digital expects volume shipments of BiCS3 for the retail market in
the fourth calendar quarter of 2016 and to begin OEM sampling this
quarter. Shipments of the company’s previous generation 3D NAND
technology, BiCS2, continue to customers in retail and OEM.
About Western Digital
Western Digital is an industry-leading provider of storage
technologies and solutions that enable people to create, leverage,
experience and preserve data. The company addresses ever-changing
market needs by providing a full portfolio of compelling,
high-quality storage solutions with customer-focused innovation,
high efficiency, flexibility and speed. Our products are marketed
under the HGST, SanDisk and WD brands to OEMs, distributors,
resellers, cloud infrastructure providers and consumers. Financial
and investor information is available on the company's Investor
Relations website at investor.wdc.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
This news release contains certain forward-looking statements,
including expectations for 3D NAND technology, including its
development, timing for initial output, commercial volume
production, product sampling and shipment, capabilities,
performance improvements, applications, capacities and customers.
There are a number of risks and uncertainties that may cause these
forward-looking statements to be inaccurate including, among
others: volatility in global economic conditions; business
conditions and growth in the storage ecosystem; impact of
competitive products and pricing; market acceptance and cost of
commodity materials and specialized product components; actions by
competitors; unexpected advances in competing technologies; our
development and introduction of products based on new technologies
and expansion into new data storage markets; risks associated with
acquisitions, mergers and joint ventures; difficulties or delays in
manufacturing; and other risks and uncertainties listed in the
company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the
"SEC"), including the company's Form 10-Q filed with the SEC on May
9, 2016, as well as SanDisk's Form 10-Q filed with the SEC on May
2, 2016, to both of which your attention is directed. We do not
intend to update the information contained in this release.
Western Digital, WD, the HGST logo and SanDisk are registered
trademarks or trademarks of Western Digital Corporation or its
affiliates in the U.S. and/or other countries. Other trademarks,
registered trademarks, and/or service marks, indicated or
otherwise, may be the property of their respective owners.
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version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160726005589/en/
Western Digital CorporationBob BlairInvestor
Relations949.672.7834robert.blair@wdc.comorJim PascoeMedia
Relations408.717.6999jim.pascoe@wdc.com
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