Imation Corp. announced an agreement with Germany-based BDT AG under which the two companies intend to market and commercialize new automated multi-cartridge RDX removable hard disk drive devices.
For more information visit: www.imation.com ; www.bdt.de
Unedited press release follows:
Imation Announces Strategic Partnership with Storage Automation Leader BDT
Companies to jointly market and commercialize affordable RDX multi-cartridge devices to address backup needs of small and medium-sized businesses
DALLAS, Oct 12, 2010 — Imation Corp. (NYSE: IMN), a leading global technology company dedicated to helping people and organizations store, protect and connect with their digital world, today announced a Strategic Partnership agreement with Germany-based BDT AG (“BDT”), a global leader in designing, developing, and manufacturing storage automation products for the OEM market. Under the agreement, the two companies intend to market and commercialize new multi-cartridge RDX(R) devices that combine the ease of automation with the benefits of RDX removable hard disk drive backup systems. The RDX system is designed to provide small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) with easy and reliable backup, data security and expandable storage.
“Our partnership with BDT will extend the highly popular RDX platform into affordable, high-quality automated solutions,” said Subodh Kulkarni, chief technology officer and senior vice president for Imation. “The RDX solution is being widely adopted by leading server OEMs because it addresses the need for cost-effective, scalable storage for small and medium businesses. With RDX, users have speed, instant access, and disk reliability combined with the ruggedness, removability, and offsite storage capabilities of tape. Now by bringing the benefits of library automation to RDX, we can offer users even more efficiency and capacity in a very cost-effective solution.”
“Imation is well known as both a technology innovator and trusted global brand in removable data storage with a broad reach across markets and geographies,” said Dan Jan, President, BDT Products, Inc. “We are very pleased to be partnering with Imation to bring the strengths of both companies together to develop next-generation, automated RDX solutions. We believe that the RDX platform will continue to be rapidly adopted by OEM server manufacturers, driven by the demand from small-medium businesses for this ideal storage solution. We look forward to developing leading-edge RDX solutions to support this important storage platform.”
“Imation continues to demonstrate its commitment and continued investment in the removable hard disk drive market with its partnership with BDT,” said Robert Amatruda, research director for data protection and recovery at IDC. “The partnership will address the growing needs of SMB’s for a cost-effective, efficient, scalable storage solution that marries the ease of automation with the benefits of removable hard disk drive systems.”
Imation’s Investment and Commitment to RDX
In March, Imation announced that the company has extended its license agreement with ProStor Systems to manufacture, market and sell RDX removable hard disk systems through 2020 Imation, a founding member of the RDX Storage Alliance, has also made a $5 million investment in ProStor Systems, which provides industry-leading solutions for the cost-effective, long-term storage of digital information and is the inventor and licensor of RDX technology. In addition to multi-cartridge RDX devices, Imation intends to extend its RDX offerings with additional interface options, such as a USB 3.0-enabled docking station, and RDX products with enhanced security.
Information regarding pricing and availability of automated RDX solutions will be provided in a future announcement. Representatives of Imation and BDT will be available to discuss the benefits of automation in RDX systems at this week’s Storage Networking World Conference (booth 425), October 11-14, at the Gaylord Texan in Dallas.
About Imation’s Current Imation RDX Offerings
Imation’s current RDX solution includes a high-capacity, rugged and removable 2.5-inch hard disk drive cartridge and a docking station with USB and SATA connections. Offering complete data protection with easy and reliable backup, data security and expandable storage, RDX removable hard disk drive cartridges are available in 160GB, 320GB, 500GB, 640GB, 750GB and 1TB capacities. The docking station and cartridges are fully forward and backward compatible. Imation’s RDX system combines robust RDX technology with award-winning Retrospect(R) software with government certified 256-bit AES encryption to make protecting data even easier.
About Imation Corp.
Imation Corp. (NYSE: IMN) is a leading global technology company dedicated to helping people and organizations store, protect, and connect their digital world. Our portfolio of data storage and security products, electronics and accessories reaches customers in more than 100 countries through a powerful global distribution network. Imation Corp.’s global brand portfolio includes Imation, Memorex, XtremeMac, and TDK Life on Record brands.
About BDT
For over 40 years BDT has been an innovator in the technology of moving media. BDT is a leader in storage automation, paper handling technology and data management software. BDT designs, develops, and manufacturers industry-leading automation products for multiple markets at its worldwide locations. As the leading storage automation OEM provider to major computer systems companies, BDT has been instrumental in promoting and is on the forefront of embracing new technologies that advance storage functionality.