First Blu-Ray Production Line for Eastern Europe
First Blu-Ray Production Line for Eastern Europe
Month Date, 2007: Lazer-Video Multimedia (LVM), an optical disk manufacturer based in Russia has finalised the deal that will see the purchase of an INDIGO Blu-Ray manufacturing line, provided by Oerlikon.
LVM will become the first Eastern European manufacturer of Blu-Ray disks, as well as the first Russian producer. The deal was initially inked back in April, and is just now seeing installation and operation testing come to a close. The production line will be officially demonstrated at the BD 50GB Summit on October 18th.
"The next generation Blu-ray market offers many new opportunitiesfor media manufacturers," says Hans Ebinger, Head of SBU Optical Discwithin Oerlikon.
Oerlikon’s INDIGO production lines saw it become a surprise star performer in 2006, with the companies share price tripling over the course of the year. The growth was so impressive that it was included in the European STOXX 600 index and named the best stock of 2006. Oerlikon are currently developing their existing production line technology to be able to handle and produce the new 50 GB Blu-Ray disks.
“This is a great reward for our effort to develop the Blu-ray market” said Ebinger.
With the HD DvD versus Blu-Ray fight being wound so tight, any small advances for either side are a big deal, and a production line of this size opening up in Eastern Europe is a big plus for the Blu-Ray camp. Traditionally these kind of announcements are followed up within days by the other side with a counter-announcement of sorts, so it would be surprising if the HD DvD camp didn’t hit back with a production line announcement of their own.