FUJIFILM launches high-speed, high storage LTO-8 data cartridge
Up to 30TB of storage, twice the capacity of LTO-7, cost effective, secure and long term data storage with fast data transfer rate of 750MB/sec

SYDNEY, 10 September 2019 – FUJIFILM has launched the LTO Ultrium8 Data Cartridge (LTO-8). Adhering to the 8th-generation LTO Ultrium*1 standards for magnetic tape storage media, the LTO-8 will allow for backup and archive of　large-capacity data, using the barium ferrite (BaFe) magnetic particles with its outstanding recording/retrieval performance and long-term durability. It offers a storage capacity of 30TB (12TB for non-compressed data), twice the capacity of the previous generation*2.

It is also capable of transferring data at 750MB/sec. (360MB/sec. for non-compressed). With its ability to provide secure and long term storage of massive data at a low cost, LTO-8 responds to the increasing demand for data storage.

The amount of data generated worldwide has exponentially increased in recent years with the expansion of high-definition 4K and 8K video, development of IoT and ICT and the utilisation of AI for Big Data analysis. This includes “cold-data,” or data that was generated a long time ago and rarely accessed, and is estimated to account for more than 80% of all data. As the utilisation of accumulated data, including cold data, rapidly increases, so does the need for reliable and cost effective long term storage of such data for future use.

Magnetic tapes have been used among major data centres and research organisations for many years as magnetic tapes not only offer large storage capacity, low cost and long-term storage performance, but also create “air gap” data protection, physically isolated from the network, which minimise the risk of data damage or loss caused by cyber attacks.

In the future, magnetic tapes are expected to be used in cutting edge research fields where generate a large amount of data, such as AI / IoT-based smart manufacturing to achieve high-quality and highly efficient production, and future connected cars.

FUJIFILM has developed fine BaFe magnetic particles with outstanding magnetic properties and long-term storage performance and launched the world’s first commercial BaFe data storage cartridge in 2011.

In 2012, the company launched LTO-6, the first LTO Ultrium Standard data cartridge product using BaFe magnetic particles. Foreseeing the capacity limitations in the traditional metal magnetic particles, Fujifilm’s early commercialisation of BaFe magnetic tapes has allowed the company to consistently lead the market.

With LTO-8, Fujifilm has further developed its unique “NANOCUBIC technology*3” to produce even smaller BaFe magnetic particles than those used in LTO-7. The magnetic particles are separated by highly controlled dispersion process and the tape surface roughness is controlled, achieving smooth surface of magnetic layer with enhanced NANO coating technology. In this way, Fujifilm has increased the storage capacity up to 30TB (12TB for non-compressed data), twice the capacity of LTO-7, high speed data transfer reaching 750MB/sec (360MB/sec. for non-compressed data). Furthermore, appropriate material design has allowed for high tracking performance and durability for the magnetic heads in the tape drives, boost reliability showing stable and excellent performance.

Since the launch of LTO-1 in 2000, Fujifilm has consistently developing high-performance and high-quality magnetic tapes with large data capacity. As the world’s top*4 manufacturer of magnetic tapes for data storage, Fujifilm will continue to develop and supply high-performance and high-quality media and services that satisfy customer needs and expectations, thereby helping to solve social issues.

Main specifications
Capacity (at 2.5x compression) – 12TB (30TB)
Maximum transfer rate (at 2.5x compression) – 360MB/sec (750MB/sec.)
Number of tracks – 6,656 (32 track heads in the serpentine format)
Cartridge memory – 130,816Bits (16,352byte); internal EEPROM with electromagnetic induction antenna
Tape width – 12.65mm
Tape thickness – 5.6μm
Tape length – 960m

*1 Linear Tape-Open, LTO, the LTO logo, Ultrium and the Ultrium logo are registered trademarks of Hewlett Packard Enterprise, IBM and Quantum in the United States of America and in other countries.
*2　FUJIFILM LTO Ultrium7 Data Cartridge that complies with the 7th-generation LTO Ultrium standards
*3　Fujifilm’s nanotechnology-based magnetic tape technology with thin coating to achieve high-density magnetic data recording. It consists of the “nano-particle technology” for formulating magnetic particles into nano-sized particles, “nano-dispersion technology” for evenly dispersing and arranging nano-sized magnetic particles, and “nano-coating technology” for achieving the coating of the ultra-thin layer.
*4　Manufacturer share, according to Fujifilm data

Picture credits
The new FUJIFILM LTO-8 data cartridge tape

-Brad