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BOI Approves Western Digital's 2.3B Baht HAMR Investment

BOI Approves Western Digital's 2.3B Baht HAMR Investment

Matichon•Economy•1d ago

Reader Briefing

Western Digital is investing 2,300 million baht in HAMR technology R&D in Thailand, aiming to boost HDD data storage capacity and solidify Thailand's role as a global production hub.

  • •Thailand's Board of Investment (BOI) has approved Western Digital's investment of over 2,300 million baht.
  • •The investment is for research and development of HAMR technology to increase HDD data storage capacity.
  • •The project aims to elevate Thailand's position as a global production hub for Hard Disk Drives (HDDs).
  • •This initiative is a collaborative effort between the USA, Japan, and Thailand, with a focus on R&D of critical components.

Overview

  • •The Board of Investment (BOI) approved the investment application from Western Digital Storage Technologies (Thailand) Co., Ltd.
  • •The approval for Western Digital's investment in HAMR R&D occurred recently within the 2026 BE timeframe.
  • •Western Digital's investment in HAMR R&D is valued at over 2,300 million baht.
  • •Western Digital aims to increase HDD data storage capacity from 32 TB to 100 TB per unit by 2029 BE.
  • •The R&D involves a three-country collaboration, with Thailand focusing on laser recording component development for HAMR.
  • •The project is expected to lead to tens of billions of baht in further HAMR HDD investment in Thailand.
  • •Thailand has been a key production base for Western Digital since 1997 BE, with accumulated investment exceeding 120,000 million baht.
  • •The BOI emphasized that this R&D will develop human resources and the smart electronics industry supply chain in Thailand.

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Key Quotes

Narit Therdsthirasaka
"This crucial R&D will be a collaboration between three countries: the USA, Japan, and Thailand, with Thailand focusing on R&D of components and laser recording processes, key elements of HAMR technology."
การวิจัยและพัฒนาเทคโนโลยีสำคัญครั้งนี้ จะเป็นความร่วมมือ 3 ประเทศ คือ สหรัฐอเมริกา ญี่ปุ่น และไทย โดยประเทศไทยจะเน้นการวิจัยและพัฒนาชิ้นส่วนและกระบวนการบันทึกข้อมูลด้วยเลเซอร์ ซึ่งเป็นองค์ประกอบสำคัญของเทคโนโลยี HAMR
Narit Therdsthirasaka
"Thailand is considered the most important key production base for the company, with continuous investment in Thailand for a long time since 1997 BE."
ประเทศไทยถือเป็นฐานการผลิตหลักที่สำคัญที่สุดของบริษัท และมีการลงทุนต่อเนื่องในประเทศไทยมายาวนานตั้งแต่ปี 1997
Narit Therdsthirasaka
"HDDs are becoming a core technology in the digital age as Data Centers choose them as the main storage device due to high data capacity, stability, and lower unit costs."
HDD กำลังกลายเป็นเทคโนโลยีหลักในยุคดิจิทัล เนื่องจาก Data Center เลือกใช้ HDD เป็นอุปกรณ์หลักในการจัดเก็บข้อมูล เพราะสามารถบันทึกข้อมูลได้ปริมาณมาก มีความเสถียร และต้นทุนต่อหน่วยต่ำกว่า
Narit Therdsthirasaka
"This new technology R&D project by Western Digital will play a significant role in human resource development and the smart electronics industry supply chain in Thailand."
โครงการวิจัยและพัฒนาเทคโนโลยีใหม่ของบริษัท เวสเทิร์น ดิจิตอล ครั้งนี้ จะมีบทบาทสำคัญต่อการพัฒนาทรัพยากรมนุษย์และห่วงโซ่อุปทานอุตสาหกรรมอิเล็กทรอนิกส์อัจฉริยะในไทย

Key Entities

Organization

BOI(บีโอไอ)ℹ️
The government agency responsible for promoting investment in Thailand, approving Western Digital's HAMR R&D project.
Western Digital(เวสเทิร์นดิจิตอล)ℹ️
A major American manufacturer of Hard Disk Drives (HDDs) investing in HAMR technology R&D in Thailand.
Western Digital Storage Technologies (Thailand) Co., Ltd.(บริษัท เวสเทิร์น ดิจิตอล สตอเรจ เทคโนโลยีส์ (ประเทศไทย) จำกัด)
The Thai subsidiary of Western Digital, undertaking the HAMR R&D investment.
HDDℹ️
Hard Disk Drive, the storage technology Central to Western Digital's investment and production in Thailand.
Data Centerℹ️
An industry sector driving the demand for HDDs, which Western Digital's HAMR investment aims to support.
AIℹ️
Artificial Intelligence, another growth sector increasing demand for advanced data storage solutions like those developed with HAMR.
Fujitsuℹ️
A technology company whose HDD and memory business was acquired by Western Digital, contributing to its expansion.
Hitachiℹ️
A company whose HDD business was acquired by Western Digital, expanding its market presence.
SanDiskℹ️
A flash memory company acquired by Western Digital, contributing to its broader storage solutions portfolio.
SSDℹ️
Solid State Drive, a competing storage technology where HDDs offer cost advantages for data center applications.
Cloud Computingℹ️
A rapidly expanding technology sector that is increasing the demand for large-scale data storage solutions.

Person

Narit Therdsthirasaka(นายนฤตม์ เทอดสถีรศักดิ์)
Secretary-General of the Board of Investment (BOI), providing updates on Thailand's investment progress.

Place

United States of America(สหรัฐอเมริกา)ℹ️
One of the three countries collaborating on HAMR technology R&D with Thailand and Japan.
Japan(ญี่ปุ่น)ℹ️
One of the three countries collaborating on HAMR technology R&D with Thailand and the United States.
Thailand(ไทย)ℹ️
The country designated as a key production hub for Western Digital's HDD manufacturing and HAMR R&D.
Ayutthaya Province(จังหวัดพระนครศรีอยุธยา)ℹ️
A location in Thailand where Western Digital has established a manufacturing plant, contributing to its significant investment in the country.
Prachinburi(ปราจีนบุรี)ℹ️
A province in Thailand where Western Digital operates a manufacturing facility, highlighting its long-term commitment to production in the country.