Maxell's new medical-grade media incorporates the innovative MAXPRO(TM) Hardcoat technology to produce enhanced DVD-R media that delivers the highest level of data protection for up to twice the archival shelf life. Maxell Medical DVD-R is HIPAA- and DICOM-compliant, and with its superior scratch, dust and smudge resistance and extended archival life, is ideal for critical medical images, patient records, backup and fixed content storage.

Maxell Medical DVD-R's hardcoat top layer delivers increased data longevity and protection for twice the archival and storage lifespan. Compared to conventional DVDs, Maxell Medical DVD-R is:

-- 40 times more scratch-resistant

-- 20 times more dust-resistant

-- 20 percent more light-resistant

-- Smudge- and fingerprint-repellent

With the increasing trend toward recording medical images on DVD instead of film, medical professionals are realizing significant cost savings and greater efficiency. A typical X-ray film can cost $75 each, while the cost of premium-grade DVD can be as little as a few dollars per piece. Compared to film, DVDs offer greater image clarity, allowing more manipulation and zoom for better diagnostics, and can even enable 3D imaging. DVDs also are more portable and more easily stored than X-ray films. Maxell Medical DVD-R will have a capacity of 700 MB and will be able to store up to 700 X-rays or 550 high-resolution images.

The protective layer and extended archival performance make Maxell Medical DVD-R media the ideal recordable DVD standard for the full spectrum of medical storage applications, from the large capacity requirements of radiology and cardiology digital image archiving demanded by HIPAA, to medical training and education, to the day-to-day backup of business operations and patient records. Additionally, the scratch- and dust-resistant protective coating enables Maxell Medical DVD-R media to perform seamlessly with mechanical media handling devices, such as duplicators that produce DVD-based reference materials and large-scale robotic libraries and jukeboxes.

"The increased use of digital imaging and long-term archiving of records for HIPAA compliance are driving the demand for storage capacity in the medical industry like never before," said Steven Pofcher, Senior Marketing Manager at Maxell. "The critical nature of diagnostic imaging and the archival demands of HIPAA requirements place a premium on the reliability and durability of DVD media for the medical industry. Maxell understands these unique requirements and has responded with the medical-grade reliability of our DVD-R Medical solution."

Maxell's 700 MB, 8X speed Medical DVD-R media will be available in March as a single disc in a jewel case and in 50-pack spindles with printable white surfaces for either thermal or inkjet printers. Pricing will be affordable compared to other backup media.

About Maxell

A technology and marketing leader in advanced recordable media products since 1969, Maxell Corporation of America is a full-line manufacturer of digital and analog media products for the data storage, consumer and broadcast markets. Maxell's Data Storage Group serves the needs of customers from the desktop to the data center with one of the industry's broadest lines of premium digital recording media. Offerings include DLTtape, Super DLTtape, LTO and DDS data cartridges. Maxell is a full line supplier of recordable DVD media, including DVD-R/RW, DVD+R/RW, DVD-RAM, as well as CD-R/RW media. All Maxell data storage products are backed by a limited lifetime warranty and 24-hour toll-free technical support. Additional information on Maxell can be found on the company's web site: www.maxell-data.com.