News - Hard disk drive availability

*Computer Solutions Update* 13th January 2012*

We have been monitoring the hard drive situation since the flooding occurred back in October 2011 and are pleased to announce that although stock levels with our suppliers are still limited we can now can hold of the majority of hard drives. Due to the flooding however prices throughout the industry have increased and you will be looking at paying around twice the price for a drive as what it would have been before the flooding. This is however unavoidable and out of our and our suppliers' control. With the current high demand prices will remain this way for the foreseeable future.

 

*Update from Western Digital* 13th December 2011*

Some areas where Western Digital facilities have been flooded remain partly inundated however water levels have slowly been receding and additional efforts by industrial estate authorities to pump water from factory areas have also begun.

 

Significant progress in their recovery in underway and this what has been done so far:

1.Production of hard drives has re-started in our of their buildings, one week ahead of internal schedules. This facility had been submerged in some six feet of water since October 15th, the estate was pumped dry on November 17th and mains power was restored on November 26th with production restarted on November 30th.

2. All submerged manufacturing equipment has been removed and the facility itself has commenced decontamination and restoration of their remaining buildings.

3. They expect to recommence production in March 2012 in this facility and also being production in a new facility located in Penang, Malaysia in the same time frame.

4. Their other Thailand hard drive facility remains under nearly two feet of water. The industrial estate is expected to be pumped dry by the 24th December at which point the work of decontamination and refurbishment will commence.

 

Western Digital wants to assure it's customers' that it's focus on quality will be maintained throughout the recovery process and they will not sacrifice one of the most important attributes they deliver to it's customers' on a daily basis for the sake of a fast recovery.

 

They are also making temporary adjustments to minimize costs which include adjusting production schedules, extending holiday shut-down periods, streamlining certain resources and curtailing travel in order to save it's customers money and keep it's prices at the lowest possible.

 

Western Digital appreciate your support throughout this difficult time and want to thank you for your patients.

 

*Update from our suppliers* 9th December 2011*

Currently there is a worldwide shortage on both internal and external hard disk drives due to the significant impact of the flooding in Thailand. We are currently working in close partnership with Western Digital to ensure we are able to provide a certain stock level to our customers.

 

*Update from Western Digital* 2nd November 2011*

Following the first release (see below) Western Digital have now release a further update on the situation.

 

In October Western Digital temporarily suspended production at their two factories in Thailand, which had been inundated by floodwater, to protect their employees, equipment and facilities. They manufacture approximately 60 percent of their hard drives in Thailand and the impact on their business in the short term will be greater than that of other hard disk drive manufacturers.

 

In addition many of our component suppliers have been impacted, leaving material for hard drive production overall considerably constrained. Western Digital are working with their suppliers in order to devise short and long term solutions. Limited component availability throughout the supply chain and extraordinary acts by manufacturers to bring systems back online as quickly as possible with ultimately raise the costs of some of their products.

 

Western Digital will continue to invest in the near and long term to provide it's customers with a reliable supply of high quality hard drives. They appreciate your understanding and patience during this crisis and as the situation evolves will provide you with more updates.

 

*Update from Seagate* 31st October 2011*

Following the first release (see below) Seagate have now released a further update on the situation.

 

Currently all Seagate facilities in Thailand are operational and their production is not constrained by internal component supply or the ability to assemble finished products. They are however constrained by the availability of externally soured components and as a result suggest that industry demand will significantly outstrip supply for at least the December quarter.

 

Their priorities are to support their external component suppliers' efforts to rebuild the supply chain as quickly as possible and to work with their customers to align their short and long term requirements.

 

Seagate will continue to monitor the evolving situation on a daily basis and continue to work with their suppliers, partners and customers relationships and their satisfaction remains their highest priority.

 

*First Released*October 2011*

Following the recent flooding in Thailand the availability of hard disk drives has become significantly reduced through-out the IT sector as production has been stopped until future notice in certain area's.

 

This may result in job times being increased if a replacement hard disk drive is required.

 

We will advise you of this at the time of repair and will provide you with an estimated repair time to account for this.

 

This shortage of availability is likely to continue for the foreseeable future whilst manufactures wait for flood waters to reduce and replace essential equipment needed to start production again.

 

When we have any more information regarding this we will update you.

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