Sony DADC Opens Australia's First BD Replication Plant

Sony Australia has just announced the opening of its new Blu-ray Disc replication plant in Huntingwood, near Sydney. The plant is the first of its kind in the southern hemisphere. Its launch is due to the continued demand the technology has attracted since it came to market in Australia in February 2007.

The production plant includes three Blu-ray lines: one dedicated solely to the production of PS3 games and two for movies and other content. It is expected to have a production capacity of 12 million discs a year.

"Australian consumers are already adopting Blu-ray faster than DVD, pushing Australia forward as one of the global leaders of the format growth, with the third highest per capita attachment rate behind the USA and UK," said Michael Ephraim, managing director of Sony Computer Entertainment Australia and New Zealand.

Ephraim stated that the opening of the local production plant "should send a clear message to consumers that Blu-ray is now a permanent fixture on the format landscape and that their investment in Blu-ray hardware will be relevant for many years to come." He also highlighted the strong role the Sony Playstation 3 has had in the adoption of Blu-ray, with over half a million consoles sold in the country.

Carl Rose, managing director of Sony Australia, also commented on the strong uptake of the technology: "One in every three [Australian] households now owns a high definition LCD TV and this growth has really helped drive Blu-ray player uptake. After investing in a high definition TV, consumers should make the most of this by enjoying the best possible content on their TV. Blu-ray delivers this rich experience," he said.