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posted on 06 May 2008 11:04

AUSTIN, TX. 6th MAY, 2008 Ð Molecular Imprints, Inc., the market and technology leader for nanopatterning systems and solutions, today introduced the Imprio HD 2200, the latest addition to its family of low-viscosity-liquid (LVL) imprint lithography tools for hard disk drive (HDD) applications.

The Imprio HD 2200 is the first system to enable both development and pilot-production of patterned media applications. Its precision patterning fidelity, fully automated double-sided disk patterning capability and high throughput of 180 disks per hour all contribute to significant advantages in performance and cost of ownership (CoO) over alternative technologies.

Molecular Imprints has received multiple advance orders for the new Imprio HD 2200 tool, and will deliver the first unit to Hitachi Global Storage Technologies (Hitachi GST) in mid-2008. Additional tool deliveries to customers will occur in the second half of the year. These initial orders follow customer acceptance for Molecular Imprints' single-sided Imprio 1100 system bringing the total number of Imprio systems ordered by HDD customers to seven, including Hitachi GST. By using these systems to pattern the media in the drive, the HDD industry can significantly increase memory density in next-generation hard disk drives.

"Hitachi Global Storage Technologies has set in motion a series of developments to usher in patterned media innovation, which is the next big technology transition in the hard disk drive industry," said Ryo Suzuki, General Manager of Research and Advanced Technology for Hitachi GST. "We expect the Imprio HD 2200 and Molecular Imprints' LVL imprint technology to play a critical role in our efforts to accelerate the advancement of storage technologies. The pattern fidelity, CD uniformity and other important product characteristics demonstrate an advanced level of quality today that will be critical to the success of this breakthrough technology."

"We developed the Imprio HD 2200 to meet the pressing needs of our disk drive customers, who must transition to patterned media applications in the near future both to increase storage capacities and reduce the cost per bit stored," said Mark Melliar-Smith, CEO of Molecular Imprints. "With this advanced system, disk drive manufacturers can move from researching patterned media applications to full-scale development and pilot-production efforts. At the heart of the Imprio 2200 is our core LVL imprint technology, which will ensure that the industry's future high-volume production needs are also met for both discrete track recording (DTR) and bit patterned media (BPM)."

The Imprio HD 2200 represents part of a comprehensive LVL imprint lithography solution, encompassing expert process support, LVL resists and template fabrication. Molecular Imprints' LVL imprint technology provides unmatched CoO, resolution and extendibility advantages over other technologies, such as spin-on UV imprint and thermal imprint. Because the LVL imprint process leverages Molecular Imprints' proprietary pico-jetting technology, which places LVL resists only where needed, consumables are not wasted and there is no need to purchase a costly and space-consuming track as required by spin-on UV processes.

Spin-on UV processes also use considerably more resist, some 99 percent of which is spun off as expensive waste that must be disposed. In addition, since Molecular Imprints' LVL imprint technology is a liquid, room-temperature process, it does not encounter the thermal distortions associated with the baking step or the defect issues associated with the lamination pressure of thermal imprint processes. Due to these and other advantages, HDD manufacturers are quickly standardizing on Molecular Imprints' imprint technology for their commercial DTR and BPM roadmaps.

About Molecular Imprints, Inc.
Molecular Imprints, Inc. (MII) is the technology leader for high-resolution, low cost-of-ownership nanopatterning systems and solutions in the semiconductor and hard disk drive (HDD) industries. MII is leveraging its innovative low-viscosity-liquid (LVL) imprint lithography technology to become the worldwide market and technology leader in high-volume patterning solutions for nanoscale memory devices, while enabling emerging markets in optics, biotechnology, and other industries. Employing its proprietary pico jetting, LVL resist and pattern alignment technologies, MII enables nanoscale patterning by delivering a comprehensive LVL imprint lithography solution that is affordable, compatible and extendible to sub-10-nanometer resolution levels. For more information, visit http://www.molecularimprints.com/.

About Hitachi Global Storage Technologies

Hitachi Global Storage Technologies develops advanced hard disk drives to store and preserve the world's valued data. Founded by the pioneers of hard drives, Hitachi GST enables users to fully engage in the digital lifestyle by providing high-value, high-capacity storage in formats suitable for the office, in the home or on the road. With vertically integrated research, design and manufacturing capabilities, Hitachi GST delivers leadership technology and quality to its global customer base.

With approximately 33,000 employees worldwide, Hitachi GST offers a comprehensive range of hard drive products for desktop computers, high-performance storage systems and servers, notebooks and consumer devices. For more information, please visit the companyÕs website at http://www.hitachigst.com/.

About Hitachi, Ltd.

Hitachi, Ltd., (NYSE: HIT/TSE: 6501), headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, is a leading global electronics company with approximately 384,000 employees worldwide. Fiscal 2006 (ended March 31, 2007) consolidated revenues totaled 10,247 billion yen ($86.8 billion). The company offers a wide range of systems, products and services in market sectors including information systems, electronic devices, power and industrial systems, consumer products, materials and financial services. For more information on Hitachi, please visit the company's website at http://www.hitachi.com/.

^{[Formatted by Majid Soltani.]}