A single-layer Blu-ray Disc provides 25 gigabytes of storage, while a dual-layer disc provides 50 gigabytes. Initial feasibility studies even refer to a four-layer version with 100 gigabytes and a six-layer version with 200 gigabytes of storage capacity, “although some time is likely to pass before such archival giants enter mass production,” Andreas Hoffmann noted.
Even the current Blu-ray Disc is impressive: it can hold around 13 hours of normal PAL-standard video files and about two hours in the considerably higher-quality high-definition television format. While this development will especially please consumers who can archive their favorite films in this way, Primera also considers the disc useful in business. “We know from various studies that the economy will soon produce more data than can be stored on a hard drive,” Hoffmann said. “Customers also frequently ask manufacturers for external hard drives that they can lock in a safe after backing up their data. It makes more sense to move data that must be retained for legal reasons but is not needed in day-to-day business to optical media.” The use of specially hardened media and correct storage also provides a very long service life of up to 90 years.
Primera offers a suitable duplication system for virtually every requirement. The consumer model, the Disc Publisher SE, can process up to 20 optical media in one operation without manual intermediate steps. The professional model, the Disc Publisher XRP, targets self-employed professionals and small and medium-sized businesses and produces up to 100 optical media in one operation. The latter provides storage capacity of 2.5 terabytes with single-layer Blu-ray or five terabytes with dual-layer optical media. The manufacturer of duplication and printing systems has just launched the second phase of its “Blu-ray campaign” and drastically reduced device prices. The Disc Publisher SE Blu with Blu-ray burner now costs €1,995 instead of €2,582, excluding VAT. Customers now pay €5,495 excluding VAT for the Disc Publisher XRP Blu, a saving of €1,500 compared with the previous price.
