May 20 2014
Citing its use of proprietary NANOCUBIC™ and Barium Ferrite (BaFe) particle technologies, FUJIFILM Recording Media U.S.A., Inc., a subsidiary of FUJIFILM Corporation, the leading global manufacturer of data storage media, today announced that in conjunction with IBM, a new record in areal data density of 85.9 billion bits per square inch on cost-efficient linear magnetic particulate tape has been achieved.
This breakthrough in data density equates to a standard LTO cartridge capable of storing up to 154 terabytes of uncompressed data, which is 62 times greater than today’s current LTO6 cartridge capacity.
“The team at IBM has focused on improving head technology to produce significantly stronger magnetic fields needed for improved tape capacity, speed and reliability, while leveraging Fujifilm’s advanced NANOCUBIC technology”
This new record was reached using an advanced prototype tape incorporating NANOCUBIC technology developed by Fujifilm, with advanced tape-drive technologies developed by IBM.
“This data density achievement is significant as corporate data is growing at an incredible rate, and secure and reliable storage remain critical considerations in today’s market,” said Peter Faulhaber, president, FUJIFILM Recording Media U.S.A., Inc. “Together with our partners at IBM, we have been able to create the basis for extraordinary data density on tape that is fast, cost effective and energy efficient – characteristics that benefit every organization.”
Fujifilm’s research addresses previous shortcomings associated with decreasing the magnetic particle size and thermal stability degradation. The enhanced NANOCUBIC technology decreases the BaFe magnetic particle volume, which is essential for high density data recording, while maintaining its thermal stability to ensure long term archivability of recorded data.
Since the surface roughness of tape is directly related to both signal-to-noise ratio and high quality output, NANOCUBIC technology incorporates NANO coating and dispersion techniques to strictly control surface smoothness. In addition, NANO perpendicular orientation precisely aligns the BaFe particles to produce high quality read signal over a wide frequency.