While supply of components for use in half-height DVD burners has been running tight since the second quarter of this year, shortages have now extended to the DVD-ROM and slim DVD burner segments, according to industry sources in Taiwan.

Hitachi-LG Data Storage (HLDS), the largest global OEM/ODM maker of optical disc drives (ODDs), is currently only able to meet 85-90% of its order volume due to a shortage of main components, especially pick-up heads (PUHs), the sources said.

Pioneer's existing production capacity can only satisfy 80-90% of its received OEM/ODM orders for DVD burners, according to the company's Taiwan subsidiary, Pioneer High Fidelity Taiwan.

Lite-On IT, Taiwan's largest ODD maker, indicated its production capacity in China is completely booked, but the company still has to compete with HLDS for supply of DVD PUHs produced by Japan-based Hitachi and Sanyo Electric, the industry sources pointed out.

In addition, demand for optical drives used in the Xbox 360, Wii and other game consoles has contributed to the tight supply of DVD burners components, the sources noted. (source: digitime.com)

Story filed 19.10.07