2025 WD Supplier Day award ceremony

TANAKA PRECIOUS METAL TECHNOLOGIES Co., Ltd. has been honored with a prestigious “Best Supplier Award” from Western Digital at the 2025 WD Supplier Day, held on July 10th in Yokohama, Japan.

Out of more than 1,000 suppliers worldwide, this award underscores TANAKA’s standing as a key partner in Western Digital’s global supply chain. Notably, TANAKA was the only manufacturer of precious metal targets for hard disk drives present—highlighting our long-standing track record of delivering high-quality products. This recognition is a testament not only to our cutting-edge sputtering target products, but also to the dedication and professionalism of our sales and technical teams, whose tireless efforts ensure consistent quality and reliability for our customers.

TANAKA’s Longstanding Leadership in Precious Metal Sputtering Targets for the HDD and AI Data Storage Era

TANAKA`s sputtering targets for thin film deposition used for electronics industry

TANAKA began mass-producing sputtering targets using precious metals in the 1980s as materials for thin film formation using physical vapor deposition (PVD). In the 2000s, in line with the evolution of Hard Disc Drives (HDDs), we began development and production of targets made of platinum alloys, and ruthenium for perpendicular magnetic recording, continuously providing stable supply to the HDD industry. We have also established recycling technology to recover and reuse the scrap generated from our customers’ manufacturing processes and sputtering equipment, contributing to the circular economy of precious metals. 

HDD is a storage technology known for its cost performance and large-capacity storage and is expected to see stable market growth. There are expectations of accelerated investments in the data center and AI fields in recent years. This strategic focus on AI is expected to further accelerate the need for next generation storage technologies—an area where TANAKA’s expertise in manufacturing high-grade sputtering targets using precious metal materials will remain indispensable. 

As a precious metal professional, TANAKA remains committed to meeting customer needs by delivering high-quality, high-performance products through advanced manufacturing and innovation. 

For more information about TANAKA`s Sputtering Target Production Methods:
1. Using Sintering Methods: Sputtering Target Production Using Sintering Methods｜TANAKA
2. Using Melting Methods: Sputtering Target Production Using Melting Methods and Vapor Deposition Materials｜TANAKA