Key points
- Fujifilm will invest 10 billion yen ($63.3 million) to expand magnetic tape production capacity through fiscal year 2028.
- The expansion aims to produce tapes with capacities up to 100TB, driven by demand from global AI data centre buildouts.
- Magnetic tape storage costs approximately one-quarter of hard disk drives and less than solid-state drives for cold data.
Fujifilm plans to increase magnetic tape production by as much as five times to meet rising demand for AI data centre storage, according to a report by Tom's Hardware.reported The Japanese company will invest 10 billion yen, equivalent to $63.3 million, to expand capacity at its Odawara plant throughout fiscal year 2028.Fujifilm is spending $63.3 million to make five times more magnetic tape because AI companies need cheap places to store old data.Fujifilm's 10 billion yen investment in Odawara capacity expansion targets 100TB tape production to address cold storage bottlenecks in AI data centre architectures. Nikkei Asia reports this move will enable the production of advanced tapes with capacities of up to 100TB each.reported
Evidence: reported
Fujifilm plans 5x production boost of 100TB magnetic storage tapes driven by skyrocketing AI storage demandaifleet-tomshardware
Evidence: reported
Fujifilm plans 5x production boost of 100TB magnetic storage tapes driven by skyrocketing AI storage demandaifleet-tomshardware
The figures
- 10 billion yen ($63.3 million): Investment amount for the Odawara plant expansion.
- 5x: Planned increase in production capacity.reported
Evidence: reported
Fujifilm plans 5x production boost of 100TB magnetic storage tapes driven by skyrocketing AI storage demandaifleet-tomshardware
- 100TB: Maximum capacity of the new advanced tapes.reported
Evidence: reported
Fujifilm plans 5x production boost of 100TB magnetic storage tapes driven by skyrocketing AI storage demandaifleet-tomshardware
- 365TB: Theoretical maximum capacity per cartridge under the Linear Tape-Open roadmap.
- 256TB: Top capacity for solid-state drives.
- 20 years: Time since Fujifilm's last major investment in tape-based storage.reported
Evidence: reported
Fujifilm plans 5x production boost of 100TB magnetic storage tapes driven by skyrocketing AI storage demandaifleet-tomshardware
- 1954: Year Fujifilm began working on magnetic tape technology.reported
Evidence: reported
Fujifilm plans 5x production boost of 100TB magnetic storage tapes driven by skyrocketing AI storage demandaifleet-tomshardware
- 332-layer: Density of 3D NAND flash detailed by Kioxia and SanDisk.
Behind the figures
Tom's Hardware attributes the production boost to a jump in popularity for magnetic tape amid ongoing global AI data centre buildouts. Nikkei Asia provides the specific investment figure and timeline for the Odawara facility. The capacity limits for Linear Tape-Open and SSDs are cited from industry roadmaps and current market specifications. Cost comparisons are based on research indicating tape is cheaper for storing huge amounts of data.
What changes, what does not
Magnetic tape remains the preferred option for long-term data backup and cold data storage, despite lagging behind solid-state drives and spinning hard disks in performance. The expansion marks Fujifilm's largest investment in tape storage in approximately two decades. While tape capacity increases, solid-state drives remain more expensive and top out at lower capacities than the theoretical LTO roadmap. Other companies, including Toshiba, Seagate, WD, Kioxia and SanDisk, are also increasing production or density of other storage types.
What builders can do with it
Developers can leverage magnetic tape for storing mission-critical cold data that is rarely accessed but requires safe, durable retention. The lower cost of tape, at one-quarter of hard disk prices, allows for more economical long-term archival strategies. Builders can plan for storage solutions that align with the Linear Tape-Open roadmap's potential for 365TB cartridges, offering higher density than current 256TB SSDs.reported The durability and lower pollution footprint of tape make it a viable option for sustainable data centre architectures focused on infrequent access patterns.
Evidence: reported
Fujifilm plans 5x production boost of 100TB magnetic storage tapes driven by skyrocketing AI storage demandaifleet-tomshardware
Why it matters
- AI data centres require massive, cost-effective storage for cold data, driving a resurgence in magnetic tape adoption.
- Fujifilm's investment signals a significant supply-side response to the growing demand for high-capacity archival media.
- The cost disparity between tape and SSDs influences architectural decisions for long-term data retention strategies.
- Environmental considerations may favour tape over solid-state drives for large-scale, low-access storage deployments.
Topics: storage, AI infrastructure, Fujifilm, magnetic tape, data centres
Updated
Then / now / next
Magnetic tape was primarily used for television broadcasting equipment when Fujifilm began working on the technology in 1954.
Tape is the go-to storage option for data centres for long-term backup, driven by AI demand and cost efficiency.
Watch for the actual production output from the Odawara plant expansion and how it meets the projected fivefold increase.
Story timeline
- Then Magnetic tape was primarily used for television broadcasting equipment when Fujifilm began working on the technology in 1954.
- 29 Oct 2026 Fujifilm plans 5x production boost of 100TB magnetic storage tapes driven by skyrocketing AI storage demand
- Now Tape is the go-to storage option for data centres for long-term backup, driven by AI demand and cost efficiency.
- Next Watch for the actual production output from the Odawara plant expansion and how it meets the projected fivefold increase.
For readers
Policy
- AI infrastructure growth is driving demand for diverse storage solutions, including legacy technologies like magnetic tape.
Investors
- Fujifilm's $63.3 million investment indicates strong market confidence in the long-term viability of magnetic tape storage.
Researchers
- Research shows magnetic tape is less polluting than hard disks and SSDs, offering an environmentally friendly storage option.
Ask the article
Local keyword search of this article; no generated answers.Did this article give you the evidence you needed?
Your choice stays on this device. No public tally.Terms in this story
Cold data
Information that is rarely accessed but considered mission-critical and must be stored safely.
Linear Tape-Open
A standard for magnetic tape data storage that allows for capacities up to 365TB per cartridge.
3D NAND flash
A type of memory technology used in SSDs, with Kioxia and SanDisk detailing 332-layer versions.
Questions readers ask
Why is Fujifilm increasing magnetic tape production?
To meet skyrocketing demand for AI data centre storage, particularly for cold data that requires durable, low-cost archival solutions.
How much will Fujifilm invest in this expansion?
The company will spend 10 billion yen, or $63.3 million, to boost capacity at its Odawara plant through fiscal year 2028.
What is the capacity of the new tapes?
The new advanced tapes will have capacities of up to 100TB, with the LTO roadmap allowing for up to 365TB per cartridge.
Connected stories
Reading receipt
- Fujifilm will invest 10 billion yen ($63.3 million) to expand magnetic tape production capacity through fiscal year 2028.
- The expansion aims to produce tapes with capacities up to 100TB, driven by demand from global AI data centre buildouts.
- Magnetic tape storage costs approximately one-quarter of hard disk drives and less than solid-state drives for cold data.
Still open: How quickly will the Odawara plant achieve the fivefold production increase?
Still open: Will other manufacturers follow Fujifilm's lead in expanding tape capacity?