7 Magnetic Tape Manufacturers in 2024
This section provides an overview for magnetic tapes as well as their applications and principles. Also, please take a look at the list of 7 magnetic tape manufacturers and their company rankings. Here are the top-ranked magnetic tape companies as of November, 2024: 1.FUJIFILM Holdings America Corporation, 2.Arnold Magnetic Technologies, 3.Magnum Magnetics.
Table of Contents
What Is a Magnetic Tape?
Magnetic tape is a type of storage media that records electronic data by magnetizing a medium attached to the tape.
Capable of storing large volumes of data for extended periods without power, it was widely used in videotapes and cassette tapes.
While originally used for analog data, magnetic tape can also record digital data. Its advantage over hard disks and optical disks, both digital storage media, is the absence of electricity consumption during recording and playback.
Applications of Magnetic Tapes
Magnetic tapes have been used in various applications, including:
1. Cassette Tape
Introduced in the 1960s and popularized by Sony's Walkman, cassette tapes saw global expansion in sales. Magnetic tapes in cassettes are 3.81 mm wide and coated with a magnetic alloy of pure iron.
2. Data Archives
They serve as data warehouses, safely storing confidential data for long periods and allowing quick retrieval when necessary. Their use reduces costs, as electricity is not needed for storage.
Principle of Magnetic Tapes
The principle behind recording music and storing data on magnetic tapes involves a brown vinyl tape coated with a magnetically active material. Sound recordings are converted from audio signals into electrical signals by a tape recorder, which is then converted into magnetic signals by the recording head, an electromagnet that interacts with the tape's surface.
Though invisible to the eye, S (South) and N (North) signals are recorded on the tape. During playback, these signals are read by the playback head, amplified, and converted back into sound through the speakers.
Types of Magnetic Tapes
Magnetic tapes are categorized into video tapes and audio cassette tapes, with audio cassettes further divided into normal, high, ferrichrome, and metal position tapes.
1. Videotape
Available in various grades such as normal, professional, hi-fi, and high grade, with recording formats including VHS and S-VHS.
2. Normal Position Tape
Coated with brown ferric oxide for magnetic recording. Optimized for music, these tapes offer excellent maximum output levels (MOL) in the mid-low frequency range.
3. High Position Tape
Coated with chromium oxide or cobalt oxide, known as chrome position tapes. They provide superior signal-to-noise ratio and reproducibility in the mid-high range but are less effective in the mid-low range compared to normal position tapes.
4. Ferrichrome Position Tape
Features a dual-layer coating that combines the strengths of both normal and high-position tapes, offering excellent performance across all ranges. They are compatible with devices that do not specifically support ferrichrome tapes.
5. Metal Position Tape
Uses a vapor-deposited non-oxidized metal magnetic material, allowing for high-density recording with excellent coercive force. Though suitable for use as a master tape, it is not ideal for mass duplication.
How to Choose Magnetic Tapes
Magnetic tapes offer larger storage capacity than semiconductor memory or hard disks, making them suitable for long-term storage due to their reliability, low error rate, cost-effectiveness, and space efficiency.
However, their structure limits random data access, and management becomes more challenging as the number of tapes increases.
List of 7 Magnetic Tape Manufacturers
*Including some distributors, etc.
Sort by Features
- Default
- Company Size: largest first
- Year Founded: oldest first
- Year Founded: earliest first
Sort by Area
- United States of America
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FUJIFILM Holdings America Corporation
LTO Ultrium
Manufacturer Overview
FUJIFILM Holdings America Corporation, founded in 1934 and located in Valhalla, New York, is a manufacturer of imaging and information solutions. The company is the regional headquarters for the Americas and is comprised of more than 20 affiliate companies spanning across a broad spectrum of industries, including medical and life sciences, electronics, chemicals, graphic arts, and information systems. Its industrial segments include data storage, electronic materials, chemicals, industrial testing products, and graphic arts products and services.
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Magnum Magnetics
Flexible Magnet Products
Manufacturer Overview
Magnum Magnetics is a manufacturer of flexible magnetic materials that was established in 1991, and is headquartered in Marietta, Ohio, USA. The company's main activities involve producing multiple magnetic products, including printable magnetic sheets, strips, and rolls. Its service product such as Advertising Magnet, Back Coating, Back Printing, Business Cards and Direct Mail cater to industries such as signage, printing, and advertising. Magnum Magnetics offers services like technical consultation, customized magnetic solutions, logistics, and production or processing services such as back printing, back coating and die cutting.
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Duraco Specialty Materials Company
Magnetic Tapes
Manufacturer Overview
Duraco Specialty Tapes LLC. is a manufacturer and supplier of pressure-sensitive tapes and specialty materials, established in 1947 and headquartered in Forest Park, United States. The company manufactures film tapes, foam tapes, fasteners, and magnetic products. It also produces tissue tapes, transfer tapes, and weather stripping/gaskets. The products can be used for the following applications: wall décor, transit packaging, appliances, trucks and trailers, windows and doors. It is ISO 9001:2015 certified, signaling that its quality management system has met the standard.
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Arnold Magnetic Technologies
FLEXIBLE MAGNETIC TAPE
Manufacturer Overview
Arnold Magnetic Technologies is a manufacturer of magnets, magnetic assemblies, and precision thin metals based in New York since 1895. The company deals in permanent magnets, flexible composites, electromagnets, magnetic assemblies, and precision thin metal foils. The permanent magnets, such as L-Type Laminated ones have various applications in the aerospace, automotive, motorsport, and industrial markets. Similarly, alloy strips and foils are used in industries that need to improve the power density of motors, transformers, and batteries. The composite sheets and strips are used for X-ray and gamma-ray radiation absorption, and RFI/EMI shielding and electromagnets are vital for defense projects.
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R.S. Hughes Co., Inc.
Black Magnetic Tape
Distributor Overview
R.S. Hughes Co., Inc., Sunnyvale, CA, in 1954 is a distributor of industrial safety supplies. The company's product portfolio includes adhesives, abrasives electrical and static control tapes, labeling and safety products. Their products are used in industries such as Food and Beverage, Pharmaceutical and Biotechnology, Chemical and Petrochemical, Industry safety and healthcare. They offer custom packaging, warehousing, customer support and distribution services and they have 46 warehouse sites in the United States and Mexico.
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Budnick Converting
MAGNET 5200 30Mil Indoor Magnetic Tape
Manufacturer Overview
Budnick Converting, Inc. was founded in 1952 and is headquartered in Columbia, Illinois. The company is an adhesive coating converter, converting adhesive-coated tapes, foams, films, foils, and other specialty materials from other major manufacturers. Many customers are in industries such as aerospace, automotive, electronics, energy, and marine industries. The company offers a host of other converting services including precision and die cutting, spooling and finishing, laminating and coating, and printing. The company also provides process audit, prototyping, and inventory management assistance.
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The Hillman Group, Inc.
Hillman Magnetic Tape
Company Overview
The Hillman Group is a manufacturer and distributor of building solutions that is headquartered in Forest Park, Cincinnati, Ohio and was established in 1964. The company engineers and delivers over 112,000 products, including fasteners and hardware, electrical and plumbing supplies, safety and security, keys, and home improvement to nearly 26,000 retailers across America and Canada. The Hillman Group's products are used in numerous industries, including the construction, retail, and manufacturing industries. The company offers several services, such as product development, packaging, and logistics through its ecommerce platform as well as helping inventors with a marketing products.
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Magnetic Tape Manufacturer Ranking
*Including some distributors, etc.Ranking as of November 2024
Derivation Method| Rank | Company | Click Share |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Arnold Magnetic Technologies |
31.3%
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| 2 | FUJIFILM Holdings America Corporation |
29.6%
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| 3 | Magnum Magnetics |
13.3%
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| 4 | The Hillman Group, Inc. |
8.8%
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| 5 | R.S. Hughes Co., Inc. |
7.5%
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| 6 | Duraco Specialty Materials Company |
7.1%
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| 7 | Budnick Converting |
2.5%
|
Derivation Method
The ranking is calculated based on the click share within the magnetic tape page as of November 2024. Click share is defined as the total number of clicks for all companies during the period divided by the number of clicks for each company.Number of Employees
- FUJIFILM Holdings America Corporation: 78,150
Newly Established Company
- FUJIFILM Holdings America Corporation: 1934 (90 years ago)
Company with a History
- FUJIFILM Holdings America Corporation: 1934 (90 years ago)
Magnetic Tape Manufacturers in United States
*Including some distributors, etc.
- FUJIFILM Holdings America Corporation
- Magnum Magnetics
- Duraco Specialty Materials Company
- Arnold Magnetic Technologies
- R.S. Hughes Co., Inc.
Global Distribution of Magnetic Tape Manufacturers by Country
*Including some distributors, etc.
| Country | Number of Companies | Share (%) |
|---|---|---|
United States of America
|
5 | 100.0% |
