DVD+RW is the new video recording and data storage DVD standard from PHILIPS, SONY and several other consumer electronic companies. The DVD+RW disc employs phase change technology, which allows minimum 1000 times overwriting of recorded digital information. This makes the disc suitable for home video recording applications as well as computer data storage. A DVD+RW disc can hold up to 6 hours of motion picture and can be played back on most of the existing DVD players in the market. It is widely expected that this format will capture major market share in the coming years and replace the VHS cassette for home video recording. Alternatively 4.7 GB of binary computer data can be stored. Major PC manufacturers as HP and DELL are expected to feature DVD+RW drives in their future products.
In order to assure high quality disc products on the market, PHILIPS has established a central quality control laboratory in Eindhoven, the Netherlands. Each disc manufacturer has to clear a verification process, in which the recording and playback characteristics of sample discs are carefully checked against the DVD+RW specification. Only after passing this test, discs can be released to the market. At this moment only a few technology leaders among the recordable media manufacturers are verified DVD+RW disc suppliers. A complete list of verified DVD+RW products is posted on the website of PHILIPS Intellectual Properties & Standards at www.licensing.philips.com/services/db/midcodes.html. Many blank media producers are interested to manufacture DVD+RW discs in the future, however are not in possession of the required process technology.
On November 7th, 2002, SINGULUS TECHNOLOGIES, as the first optical disc equipment manufacturer, has successfully passed the DVD+RW verification test with discs produced on its new SUNLINE manufacturing system. SUNLINE is a new style of production line for rewritable optical discs, which integrates all required manufacturing steps including disc moulding, sputter deposition, disc bonding, initialization and inspection. For customer support, SINGULUS TECHNOLOGIES has assembled a team of process engineers, to develop state of the art SUNLINE process technology for rewritable optical discs. The availability of such extended support is a key decision factor for manufacturers to select their equipment supplier, as delicate and machine specific process adjustment is required. The successful DVD+RW verification marks an important milestone for the SINGULUS RW team and gives final proof to a customer, that SINGULUS RW equipment + process technology is ready for the market.