PANASONIC DEBUTS CAPSULE/GLOBAL MASTERING SYSTEMS.

Panasonic Factory Automation has introduced their latest mastering units the Capsule and Global. Both are designed for CD and DVD production.

Capsule(tm), at just 2.8m (w) x 1.5m (d) x 1.6m (h) in size, it is roughly half the size of traditional mastering machines. It features a self-contained air-handling system and requires no clean room.

"Our research shows there is a growing demand for smaller mastering systems," said Martin van Overbeek, Panasonic DVD group sales manager. "Plus, we have experienced a number of inquiries regarding a system that does both CD and DVD production, operating without the need for a clean room. For these reasons, we had our engineers design this new unit."

The "Capsule" can make stampers at 6X for CDs and 2R for DVDs, with 3R optional (even higher speeds are anticipated for the Capsule). Its laser beam recorder high-accuracy head translation is enhanced by a unique air-bearing guide and linear motor. The beam guide is changeable by a beam expander ratio and aperture. The system comes standard with one LBR unit, with the ability to add an additional unit if warranted.

Capsule(tm) is one of Panasonic's first pieces of machinery to feature the company's new slider and spindle system, which was originally developed for HD DVD production. Van Overbeek added that this new compact mastering system has an ergonomic, forward-thinking design, as it can be adopted for a semiconductor laser when it becomes available.

Capsule(tm) joins Global(tm), the company's other DVD mastering machine, a turn-key, in-line, full-size system for high-quality DVD/CD glass master production that can be upgraded to DVD-RAM production.

Recently a growing number of replicators in North America and Asia have moved to the highly reliable Panasonic line of mastering and replication equipment. These include the following: RITEK Global Media, Vigobyte, CMC Corp., Panasonic Disc Services, KD Media (Korea) and Polystar Digidisc Co. (China)

About Panasonic

Panasonic is a division of Matsushita Electric Corporation of America and has been a leading developer of critical DVD technologies and holds numerous patents for production of optical media and DVD mastering, bonding and replication equipment.

As one of the world's largest and most respected DVD disc producers the firm began to market its patented DVD manufacturing machinery in 1997 for the benefit of disc replicators in the Americas and Asia. For the last 17 years Panasonic has been a leading producer of CD, CD-R and other optical media and the factory automation machinery to produce it.

The following Panasonic DVD manufacturing machinery is available in the Americas:

DVD manufacturing machinery available in the Americas includes four key areas:

DVD Mastering Systems - turnkey systems for high-quality DVD/CD glass master production.

DVD Burst Cutting Area recorders

DVD Bonding Machine - a compact high quality DVD-9 bonding process, providing bubbleless bonding, constant thickness glue layer and high disc flatness with low tilt.

DVD In-Line Replication System - Dual Injection molding systems producing 120mm DVD 5, 9 and 10.

For more information, call 949/753-0166 or visit http://www.panasonicfa.com.