2001

Sept.27, 2001

Minebea to boost production capacity of fluid dynamic bearing type HDD spindle motors

To expand monthly production capacity to 2.5 million units

Since July, orders for Minebea's fluid dynamic bearing type hard disk drive (HDD) spindle motors have been exceeding the plan. Minebea has recently confirmed firm orders for 800,000 units for September, 1.2 million units for October, 1.4 million units for November, 1.8 million units for December and over 2 million units for January 2002 and onward.

Ball bearing type HDD spindle motors, centering on RO bearing type motors, are also enjoying brisk orders and their production should exceed 3 million units from October onward, thereby making the total HDD spindle motor production volume to be over 5 million units from January 2002.

Minebea's fluid dynamic bearing type HDD spindle motors are manufactured at the new HDD spindle motor plant* constructed within the Bang Pa-in Plant site in Thailand in March this year. The monthly production capacity of the new plant will be raised from the previous 1 million units to 1.5 million units by the end of September and 2.5 million units by the year-end. Capital expenditure associated with the expansion is expected to be 3.7 billion yen.

* With the floor space of 25,000m², the new plant can accommodate monthly production of 6 million units. Together with the existing plant's production capacity of 4 million units, total maximum production capacity is 10 million units. Capital investment at the old plant has already been completed.

To begin sales to users other than Seagate Technology from November 2001

According to the contract with Seagate Technology, Minebea will be able to ship fluid dynamic bearing HDD spindle motors to HDD makers other than Seagate Technology from November 2001. Final assessment and improvement of manufacturing technologies, reliability and production costs have already been completed through the past months' production for Seagate Technology. We plan to commence active marketing and promotion to potential users from November, thereby expanding sales and production further.

Since Minebea commenced mass production of fluid dynamic bearings in November 2000, it has become clear that like other Minebea's products, how precise parts are processed is the key determinant in production of fluid dynamic bearings. With the ultraprecision machining technologies and mass production technologies, which have been cultivated through production of miniature ball bearings over half a century, the company strives to secure a leading position in the market of fluid dynamic bearings and fluid dynamic bearing type HDD spindle motors, which are indeed the ideal products for Minebea.

For further information and inquiries, please contact :

Minebea Co., Ltd.
Corporate Communications Office, Corporate Planning Dept.

Shoji Sato, General Manager

Yasuaki Miyahara

Tel : 81-3-5434-8637
Fax : 81-3-5435-8607

E-mail : ymiyahar@minebea.co.jp

URL : http://www.minebea.co.jp

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