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{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2023}}
{{multiple issues |
{{Short description|Taiwanese CD, DVD and Blu-ray disc manufacturer and electronics company}}
{{notability|companies|date=August 2017}}
{{third-party|date=August 2017}}
{{third-party|date=August 2017}}
{{Infobox company
}}{{short description|Taiwanese CD, DVD and Blu-ray disc manufacturer and electronics company}}
| name = RITEK Corporation
{{Infobox company |
| logo = [[File:Ritek logo 含網址及中文.jpg|Ritek logo 含網址及中文]]

| type = [[Public limited company|Public]]<ref>[https://finance.yahoo.com/q?s=2349.TW TSEC:2357]</ref>
name = RITEK Corporation |
| founded = {{Start date and age|1988|12|29|df=y}}
logo = [[File:Ritek logo 含網址及中文.jpg|Ritek logo 含網址及中文]]|
| location_city = [[Hsinchu Industrial Park]]

| location_country = Taiwan
type = [[Public limited company|Public]]<ref>[https://finance.yahoo.com/q?s=2349.TW TSEC:2357]</ref> |
| key_people = Founder:Jintai Yeh<br /> Chairman:Gorden Yeh<br /> Vice President:Jennifer Yang
foundation = 29 December 1988 |
| industry = [[Computer hardware]]<br />[[Computer data storage]]<br />Green product
location_city = Hsinchu Industrial Park |
| products = {{Unbulleted list|[[Optical storage]]|[[Flash memory]]|[[OLED]]|[[ITO glass]]|[[Nanotechnology]]}}
location_country = Taiwan |
| revenue = {{profit}} 550 million USD (2016)
key_people = Founder:Jintai Yeh<br> Chairman:Gorden Yeh<br> Vice President:Jennifer Yang |
| num_employees = 5,900,<ref name="msn-finance">[https://www.msn.com/de-ch/finanzen/aktiendetails/firma/fi-anb3lh msn finanzen 11 September 2020, Ritek Corp Taiwan], retrieved 12 September 2020.</ref> 3,000 (Taiwan)
industry = [[Computer Hardware]]<br> Optical Media, Flash Memory, Green Product |
| subsid = {{Unbulleted list
products = [[Optical Storage]], Flash Memory, Portable Hard-Drive, PV Module & System, PMOLED Display, ITO Glass, Touch Panel, NANO-Technology Product, BIO-Technology Product, Plastic Product |
|RITEK Foundation
revenue = {{profit}} 550 million USD (2016) |
|PVNEXT Corporation
num_employees = 3000 (Taiwan) |
|AIMCORE Corporation
subsid = RITEK Foundation <br>PVNEXT Corporation <br>AIMCORE Corporation (Public)<br>U-TECH Corporation (Public)<br>UCHAIN Logistics. Co., LTD. <br>Prorit Corporation <br>RiTdisplay Corporation <br>RiteDia Corporation<br>CASHIDO Corporation <br>RitFast Corporation<br>Kunshan Zhonglai Electronic Technology Co., LTD. <br>Hutek Corporation<br>Advance Media Inc.<br/>Conrexx Technology<br/>Ritrax Corp. Ltd.(U.K.)|
|U-TECH Corporation (Public)
homepage = [http://www.ritek.com www.ritek.com] |
|UCHAIN Logistics. Co., Ltd.
|Prorit Corporation
|RiTdisplay Corporation
|RiteDia Corporation
|CASHIDO Corporation
|RitFast Corporation
|Kunshan Zhonglai Electronic Technology Co., Ltd.
|Hutek Corporation
|Advance Media Inc.
|Conrexx Technology
|Ritrax Corp. Ltd.
}}
| homepage = {{URL|https://www.ritek.com/}}
}}
}}
[[File:M-DISC 01.jpg|thumb|Ritek [[M-DISC]]-DVDs]]
'''RITEK Corporation''' manufactures [[optical disc]]s such as [[CD-R]], [[CD-RW]], [[DVD-R]], [[DVD-RW]], [[DVD+R]], [[DVD+RW]], [[DVD-RAM]], [[HD DVD]], [[Blu-ray Disc]] and Blu-ray [[M-Disc]], storage cards such as CF ([[CompactFlash]]) cards, [[SD cards]] and MMC cards ([[MultiMediaCard]]), [[USB flash drive|memory stick]]<ref name="msn-finance">[https://www.msn.com/de-ch/finanzen/aktiendetails/firma/fi-anb3lh msn finanzen 11 September 2020, Ritek Corp
Taiwan], retrieved 12 September 2020.</ref> and [[consumer electronics]]. RITEK also produces [[solar module]]s and touch panel products such as [[OLED|passive matrix OLED]] and ITO glass. RITEK has also launched a few products in nano and biotechnology.<ref name="ritek-met-mask-2020">[https://www.ritek.com/business2/index/3/title/Metal_Mask RITEK company profile, Metal Mask, retrieved 12 September 2020.]</ref>


'''RITEK Corporation''' is a Taiwanese company that manufactures [[optical disc]]s such as [[compact disc|compact discs]] (CDs), [[DVD|DVDs]], and [[Blu-ray]], as well as storage cards such as [[CompactFlash]] cards, [[SD cards]] and [[MultiMediaCard|MultiMediaCards]], [[Flash drive|flash drives]].<ref name="msn-finance" /> Ritek also produces [[solar module]]s and touch panel products such as passive-matrix [[OLED]] and [[ITO glass]].<ref>[http://www.digitimes.com/news/a20090717PB203.html digitimes.com Green energy 17 Juli 2009, Ritek succeeds in trial production of thin-film PV modules, paper says], retrieved 13 September 2020.</ref><ref name="cleanen-2020">[https://www.cleanenergyauthority.com/solar-equipment-manufacturers/ritek-solar cleanenergyauthority.com, Ritek solar], retrieved 12 September 2020.</ref> Ritek has also launched some products in [[Nanotechnology|nano-]] and [[biotechnology]].<ref name="ritek-met-mask-2020">[https://www.ritek.com/business2/index/3/title/Metal_Mask RITEK company profile, Metal Mask, retrieved 12 September 2020.]</ref>
The company's English name is a portmanteau of the words “right” and “technology”.


Ritek Corporation was established in 1988 with efforts to manufacture Compact discs.<ref name="hist-Ritek"/> In 1990, the company produced the first compact disc in Taiwan.<ref name="Ritek-Journey-1990">[https://www.ritek.com/about3 ritek.com, Our Journey, chapter 1990, retrieved 12 September 2020].</ref>
Ritek Corporation was established in 1988 with the goal of manufacturing CDs in Taiwan.<ref name="hist-Ritek">[https://www.ritek.com/about History of Ritek on company website, retrieved 12 September 2020].</ref> In 1990 the company produced the first CD in Taiwan.<ref name="Ritek-Journey-1990">[https://www.ritek.com/about3 ritek.com, Our Journey, chapter 1990, retrieved 12 September 2020].</ref> In November 2005, the company had a market share of 20 percent in rewritable DVDs and [[CD-RW|CD-RWs]] and was the biggest disc-manufacturer worldwide.<ref>[https://beta.blickpunktfilm.de/details/194669 beta.blickpunktfilm.de 28 November 2005, Ritek ist weltgrößter Disc-Hersteller] (German), retrieved 12 September 2020.</ref> {{Asof|2020}}, Ritek has 5,900 employees.<ref name="msn-finance" />

In November 2005 the company had a market share of 20 percent in rewritable DVDs and CD-RWs and was so the biggest disc-manufacturer worldwide.<ref>[https://beta.blickpunktfilm.de/details/194669 beta.blickpunktfilm.de 28 November 2005, Ritek ist weltgrößter Disc-Hersteller] (German), retrieved 12 September 2020.</ref>

== Prehistory and start ==

Yeh Ching-Tai, founder of RITEK, started to manufacture and market [[vinyl record]]s<ref name="hist-Ritek">[https://www.ritek.com/about History of Ritek on companywebsite, retrieved 12 September 2020].</ref> in 1957. In 1958, he published the album “[[Green Island Serenade]]”, performed by Zi Wei, a famous female singer of the time.<ref>[https://www.ritek.com/about3 www.ritek.com, Our Journey Chapter 1957, retrieved 12 September 2020].</ref> At that time, the production process was completely manual. Waste gases and toxic chemical solutions were all over the manufacturing environment at the high temperature of 45 degrees Celsius. Meanwhile, the materials deteriorated easily and as a result, the yield was low. Quality depended entirely on the experience of manufacturing supervisors and the process costed a lot of time and money.{{citation needed|date=September 2020}} During this period, Yeh Ching-Tai made improvements<ref name="hist-Ritek"/> introducing new technologies and machines from [[Japan]], looking for new materials and developing new manufacturing processes. Eventually the vinyl record industry in [[Taiwan]] finally began to produce better products on improved manufacturing environments.

Due to the insufficient quantity of recording equipment and facilities in Taiwan at that time, Mr. Yeh Ching-Tai felt it would be necessary to preserve Peking Opera, Nan-Guan and Bei-Guan as educational and cultural heritage. In 1980, he invested a significant amount on the creation of Platinum Studio in 1980, by importing from Switzerland a 24-track recorder.<ref name="ritek-journey 1980">[https://www.ritek.com/about3 ritek.com, Our Journey chapter 1980, retrieved 12 September 2020].</ref> It was the first multitrack recorder in Taiwan. The studio also invited technicians from Japan to give instructions. It was at that juncture that Mr. Yeh Ching-Tai learned that the Japanese people were starting to produce [[Compact disc]]s. In 1985, the R&D and ramp-up of compact discs were transforming the record industry as a new technology. Mr. Yeh Ching-Tai realized that digitalization was the trend for the record industry and he immediately initiated on R&D activities on compact discs.<ref name="ritek-journey 1985">[https://www.ritek.com/about3 ritek.com, Our Journey chapter 1985, retrieved 12 September 2020].</ref>

In 1988 the Ritek Corporation was established,<ref name="hist-Ritek"/> in 1990, the company produced the first compact disc in Taiwan<ref name="Ritek-Journey-1990">[https://www.ritek.com/about3 ritek.com, Our Journey, chapter 1990, retrieved 12 September 2020].</ref> and put an end to Taiwan's reliance on imports from Japan. This also directly contributed to the booming of the local music market.{{citation needed|date=September 2017}}


== Locations ==
== Locations ==
*[[Hsinchu]], Taiwan (headquarters)
*[[Chungli]], Taiwan
*[[Yangzhou]], China
*[[Kunshan]], China
*[[Ho Chi Minh City]], Vietnam
*[[Cheongwon County]], South Korea
*[[Ridderkerk]], Netherlands<ref>[https://www.riteksolar.com/eng/p1-ritek_solar-3.php riteksolar.com, RITEK Europe, Conrexx Technology B.V. retrieved 12 September 2020.]</ref><ref>[https://www.conrexx.com/index.php#Our_Brands conrexx.com, Our Brands], retrieved 12 September 2020.</ref>
*[[Los Angeles]], United States


== History ==
#'''Taiwan''' : [[Chungli]], [[Hsinchu]]
{{More refs|section|date=September 2023}}
#'''Mainland China''' : Yangzhou, [[Kunshan]]
In 1952, Yeh Ching-Tai created Min Li Plastics ({{Lang|zh|明理塑膠工廠}}). The factory produced plastic cigarette boxes and [[polyethylene]] milk bottles.<ref>[https://www.ritek.com/about3 www.ritek.com, Our Journey chapter 1952, retrieved 12 September 2020].</ref> During that period, he purchased a second-hand [[electroplating]] tool from Japan, with the original intention of plating [[chromium]] on plastics to enhance durability; this did not work. He then moved to electroplate copper and nickel on the stampers of [[vinyl records]], entering the record business. Yeh Ching-Tai established First Vintage Record and Platinum Studio. He set up vinyl record production facilities in [[Sanchung|Sanchungpu]] in 1960. As part of the business for First Vintage Record, he took singer Sally Yeh to perform and market albums throughout department stores. Mr. Yeh Ching-Tai also introduced the recording technology from Japan to establish Platinum Studio.
#'''Vietnam''' : [[Ho Chi Minh City]]
#'''South Korea''' : [[Cheongwon County]]
#'''The Netherlands''' : [[Ridderkerk]]<ref>[https://www.riteksolar.com/eng/p1-ritek_solar-3.php riteksolar.com, RITEK Europe, Conrexx Technology B.V. retrieved 12 September 2020.</ref><ref>[https://www.conrexx.com/index.php#Our_Brands conrexx.com, Our Brands], retrieved 12 September 2020.</ref>
#'''United States''' : Los Angeles


In 1980, Yeh imported from Switzerland 24-track recorders and invited a technician from Japan<ref name="ritek-journey 1980">[https://www.ritek.com/about3 ritek.com, Our Journey chapter 1980, retrieved 12 September 2020].</ref> for instructions. At that time, he mentioned that digitalization was the trend for the record industry. Japan was already trial producing compact disks. To ensure time to market, Mr. Yeh Ching-Tai recruited a group of engineers from the Industrial Technology Research Institute in 1985 to manufacture compact disks. They started with simple plastic pressing to accumulate technological expertise.
== Trade marks & brand ==
'''RITEK''', '''RIDATA''', '''TRAXDATA'''<ref>[https://www.channelpartner.de/a/traxdata-uebergabe-von-markenrechten-an-tochterunternehmen,216784 channelpartner.de 19 July 2001, Traxdata: übergabe von Markenrechten an Tochterunternehmen] (German), retrieved 12 September 2020.</ref>, '''ARITA'''


In 1988, Yeh founded RITEK Corporation.<ref name="hist-Ritek" /> The company's English name is a [[portmanteau]] of the words "right" and "technology".
== Milestones ==
=== Before founding ===
1952


In May 1990, the company manufactured the first compact disk in Taiwan with support from the Mechanical and Systems Research Laboratories, Industrial Technology Research Institute.<ref name="Ritek-Journey-1990" /> The company became a formal member of the [[IFPI Members Foundation in Taiwan]] in 1991. The company set up facilities for the production of compact discs in Australia in 1994.
*Former Chairman of Ritek Corporation, Mr. Yeh Ching-Tai, set up Min Li Plastics (明理塑膠工廠) after he graduated. The factory produced plastic cigarette boxes and polyethylene milk bottles.<ref>[https://www.ritek.com/about3 www.ritek.com, Our Journey chapter 1952, retrieved 12 September 2020].</ref> During that period, he purchased a second hand electroplating tool from Japan, with the original intention of plating chromium on plastics to enhance durability. However, this didn't work out. He then moved to electroplate copper and nickel on the stampers of vinyl records. This was how he got into the record business. Meanwhile, Mr. Yeh Ching-Tai established First Vintage Record and Platinum Studio.


[[File:Boot drive (cropped) 4G CF RiDATA.jpg|thumb|4 GB [[CompactFlash]] card from RiDATA ]]
1960
In 1996, Ritek Corporation had its [[IPO]] in Taiwan. The company created the Compact Disk Manufacturers Association (CMA), aiming to protect copyright for [[CD replication]]. The company set up facilities for the production of CDs in the United States, and manufactured the first CD-RW and the first DVD in Taiwan. The company manufactured the first DVD-R in Taiwan in 1997. Also in 1997, Ritek signed a copyright verification agreement with the Taiwan offices of the Music Publishers Association and became the first CD manufacturer in Taiwan to obtain [[ISO 9000#Contents of ISO 9001|ISO 9001]] certification. The company also set up facilities for the production of CDs in the United Kingdom.[[File:M-DISC 01.jpg|thumb|Ritek [[M-DISC]]-DVDs]]In 1998, Ritek manufactured the first [[DVD-RAM]] in Taiwan. In 1999, U-TECH Media Corporation was formed as the largest pre-recorded medium manufacturer in Taiwan. Ritek Foundation was established. Ritek became the first CD maker in Taiwan that obtained the [[ISO 14000#ISO 14001 standard|ISO 14001]] certification, and in 2000 it became the first Taiwanese CD maker to obtain [[QS9000]] certification., and Ritek's [[MiniDisc]] won a Taiwan Excellence Award.<ref name="excell-2000">[https://www.taiwanexcellence.org/en/award/product/31290 taiwanexcellence.org, Ridata Mini Disc (MD) - Taiwan Excellence 2000], retrieved 12 September 2020.</ref> In November 2006, Ritek became the exclusive producer of [[Maxell]] CD-Rs and DVDs.<ref name="max-ritek-2006-11">[https://www.cdrinfo.com/d7/content/ritek-become-exclusive-odm-maker-hitachi-maxell cdrinfo.com 14 November 2006, Ritek to Become Exclusive ODM Maker for Hitachi Maxell], retrieved 13 September 2020.</ref> In 2008, Ritek's [[USB flash drive]] received a product design award from [[International Forum Design|iF International Forum Design]].<ref>[https://ifworlddesignguide.com/entry/34145-yego iF World Design Guide, ''Yego / USB flash drive''], retrieved 13 September 2020.</ref> In 2013, Ritek launched [[M-DISC]] DVD and Bluray. In 2017, RiData OTG Flash Drive won the Gold Award for Technology Trends by PC HOME and PC ADV 3C. Ritek entered into a licensing agreement with [[Imation]] in 2019.<ref name="imation-2019-11">[http://www.imation.com/board/bbs/board.php?bo_table=news_en&wr_id=10 imation.com, 2019-11-13, Imation global license announcement], retrieved 2020-09-13.</ref>


=== OLED ===
*Mr. Yeh Ching-Tai, former owner of First Vintage Record and Platinum Studio was a big shot in the record business. He set up vinyl record production facilities in Sanchungpu in 1960. As part of the business for First Vintage Record, he took Sally Yeh, a famous singer, to perform and market albums throughout department stores. Mr. Yeh Ching-Tai also introduced the recording technology from Japan to establish Platinum Studio.
In 1999 the company manufactured the first [[OLED]] in Taiwan. In 2001, the company built fully automated OLED mass production lines and RiTdisplay Corporation was established as OLED manufacturer in Taiwan.<ref name="cleanen-2020" /> In 2015, Ritek started to manufacture [[Passive matrix addressing|passive-matrix]] OLED [[wearables]].


=== Solar energy ===
1980
In 2008, Ritek entered into a strategic alliance with Scheuten, a [[solar energy]] company in Europe. PV Next, a thin-film solar manufacturer dedicated to (copper indium gallium selenide), was established in 2009. In 2011, Ritek Solar worked with [[SolarEdge]] and showcased new IM series solar modules at the Intersolar Europe conference in [[Munich]]. Ritek's solar module won the Taiwan Excellent PV Award from the Bureau of Energy, Ministry of Economic Affairs, R.O.C (Taiwan) in 2016.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://m.energytrend.com/news/20161228-11319.html |website=m.energytrend.com |access-date=28 August 2023 |title=Neo Solar Power Receives Taiwan Excellent PV Award with Highest 302Wp Module Efficiency}}</ref>
*Mr. Yeh Ching-Tai imported from Switzerland 24-track recorders and invited a technician from Japan<ref name="ritek-journey 1980"/> for instructions. At that time, he mentioned that digitalization was the trend for the record industry. Japan was already trial producing compact disks. To ensure time to market, Mr. Yeh Ching-Tai recruited a group of engineers from the Industrial Technology Research Institute in 1985 to manufacture compact disks. They started with simple plastic pressing to accumulate technological expertise.


=== Since founding ===
=== International activities ===
In 1999, The company set up with [[Philips]] joint venture facilities for the manufacturing of CD-R in Germany (PrimeDisc Technologies in Wiesbaden).<ref>{{cite news |date=29 June 1999 |title=* RITEK, PHILIPS IN OPTICAL DISK JV |publisher=Telecompaper |url=https://www.telecompaper.com/news/ritek-philips-in-optical-disk-jv--177436 |access-date=2 January 2023}}</ref> In 2003, RME was set up in Germany as a printing and packaging plant for compact discs. In 2004, Ritek's Japanese subsidiary, Ritek Japan, was established. In 2007, Ritek's North Africa subsidiary, Ritek North Africa, was established. In 2018, Ritek became Japan [[Panasonic]]'s only overseas [[Archival Disc]] (AD) production partner.<ref>[https://www.cdrinfo.com/d7/content/ritek-produce-panasonics-300gb-archival-discs cdrinfo.com 10 May 2018, Ritek to Produce Panasonic's 300GB Archival Discs], retrieved 12 September 2020.</ref> In 2016, Ritek collaborated with Japan's largest chain elderly daycare center to found Ricare Day Service Center.
1988
*Mr. Yeh Ching-Tai founded RITEK Corporation.<ref name="hist-Ritek"/>


== Equity investments ==
1989
* AimCore Technology Co., Ltd. – [[ITO glass]], established 2007
*The company received awards in the Geneva International Exhibition of Inventions.
* U-TECH Media Corporation – pre-recorded compact disks
* U-Chain – warehousing and logistics
* RiTdisplay Corporation – passive-matrix [[OLED]]
* RiteDia – diamond-like carbon coating
* RitFast Corporation – touch panels
* CASHIDO – nanotechnology
* PRORIT Corporation – high-precision plastic injection
* RitPower – solar modules


; Brands <ref>[https://www.ritek.com/brand Ritek brands]</ref>
1990
* RiTEK
*In May, the company manufactured the first compact disk in Taiwan with the support from the Mechanical and Systems Research Laboratories, Industrial Technology Research Institute.<ref name="Ritek-Journey-1990"/>
* RiDATA
* Tracdata
* smartbuy
* RiBEST
* ARITA
* imitation
* [[Plextor]]


==See also==
1991
* [[List of companies of Taiwan]]
*The company became a formal member of the IFPI Members' Foundation in Taiwan.


== References ==
1994
{{Commons category}}
*The company set up facilities for the production of compact discs in [[Australia]].
{{Reflist}}


{{Authority control}}
1996
*RITEK Corporation had its IPO in Taiwan.
*The company initiated CMA (Compact Disk Manufacturers Association) aiming to protect copyright for CD replication.
*The company set up facilities for the production of compact disks in the U.S.
*The company manufactured the first CD-RW in Taiwan.
*The company manufactured the first DVD in Taiwan.

1997
*The company signed a copyright verification agreement with the Taiwan offices of the Music Publishers Association.
*The company set up facilities for the production of compact disks in the U.K.
*The company manufactured the first DVD-R in Taiwan.
*The company became the first compact-disc maker in Taiwan that obtained the [[ISO_9000#Contents_of_ISO_9001|ISO 9001]] certification.

1998
*The company manufactured the first DVD-RAM in Taiwan.

1999
*The company became the first compact-disc maker in Taiwan that obtained the [[ISO_14000#ISO_14001_standard|ISO 14001]] certification.
*The company set up with [[Philips]] [[Joint venture]] facilities for the manufacturing of compact discs in Germany.
*The company manufactured the first OLED in Taiwan.
*U-TECH Media Corporation was formed as the largest pre-recorded medium manufacturer in Taiwan.
*Ritek Foundation was established.

2000
*The company became the first compact-disc maker in Taiwan that obtained the QS9000 certification.
*[[MiniDisc]] by Ritek won a Taiwan Excellence Award.<ref name="excell-2000">[https://www.taiwanexcellence.org/en/award/product/31290 taiwanexcellence.org, Ridata Mini Disc (MD) - Taiwan Excellence 2000], retrieved 12 September 2020.</ref>

2001
*The company built fully automated OLED mass production lines in the world.<ref name="cleanen-2020">[https://www.cleanenergyauthority.com/solar-equipment-manufacturers/ritek-solar cleanenergyauthority.com, Ritek solar], retrieved 12 September 2020.</ref>
*RiTdisplay Corporation was established as OLED manufacturer in Taiwan.<ref name="cleanen-2020"/>
*HUTEK Corporation was established in China for the production of compact discs.
*PRORIT Corporation was founded as CD boxes and disk packaging manufacturer.<ref name="cleanen-2020"/>

2002
*Li Wenshang, Marketing Assistant Manager, Global Strategic Marketing, RITEK Corporation, indicated that RITEK is the first company in the world capable of mass-producing CD－R/RW, DVD－R/RW, DVD＋R/RW and DVD-RAM, MD (licensed by [[Sony]]), MO and Data Play. It's management philosophy is commitment to knowledge & innovation, racing against time and pursuit of customers’ satisfaction.

2003
*RME was set up in Germany as a printing and packaging plant for compact disks.

2004
*RITEK Japan Inc., the subsidiary in Japan, was established.

2007
*RITEK North Africa Inc., a subsidiary in North Africa, was established.
*AimCore Technology Co., Ltd. was established as a manufacturer of ITO glass.

2008
*RITEK's memory stick as part of uniforms received iF Product Design Award from [[International Forum Design|iF International Forum Design]].
*RITEK entered a strategic alliance with [[Gelsenkirchen#Economy_and_infrastructure|Scheuten, a solar company]] in Europe.

2009
*PV Next, a thin film solar manufacturer dedicated to (copper indium gallium selenide), was established.

2011
*RITEK Solar worked with [[SolarEdge]] to develop new business opportunities in solar systems.
*RITEK showcased the new IM series solar modules at Intersolar, Munich, with a 25% improvement in power generation efficiency.

2013
*RITEK launched M-DISC DVD and M-DISC BD, storage solutions that promise to last hundreds of years.

2014
*RITEK entered into the long-term storage medium market.

2015
*RITEK started to manufacture PMOLED wearables.

2016
*RITEK’s solar module won the Taiwan Excellent PV Award from the Bureau of Energy, Ministry of Economic Affairs, R.O.C (Taiwan).<ref>https://m.energytrend.com/news/20161228-11319.html retrieved 12 September 2020.</ref>
*RITEK forged an alliance with Japan's largest chain elderly daycare center, founded Ricare Day Service Center.

2017
*RITEK Group renovates the 1950s American military club and founded Brick Yard 33 1/3.
*RIDATA OTG Flash Drive won the Gold Award for Technology Trends by PC HOME and PC ADV 3C famous and professional medias in Taiwan.

2018
*Became Japan [[Panasonic]]'s overseas only [[Archival Disc|Archival Disc (AD)]] production partner.<ref>[https://www.cdrinfo.com/d7/content/ritek-produce-panasonics-300gb-archival-discs cdrinfo.com 10 May 2018, Ritek to Produce Panasonic's 300GB Archival Discs], retrieved 12 September 2020.</ref>
*Achieved OHSAS 18001 Occupational Health and Safety Management Certification.
*Achieved ISO 14001:2015 Certification.
*Green Partner Certification of Sony.<ref>[https://www.sony.net/SonyInfo/procurementinfo/green.html sony.net/SonyInfo,
Green Procurement (a comment with Link to Sony Standard SS-00259 (18th Edition, 2020), retrieved 12 September 2020].</ref>
*Achieved ISO 9001:2015 Certification.
*Achieved BSCI (Business Social Compliance Initiative), Certification.

== RITEK Foundation ==
*Ritek Foundation was established in 1999.

== Equity investments ==

*AimCore Technology Co., Ltd. : ITO glass
*U-TECH Media Corporation : pre-recorded compact disks
*U-Chain : warehousing and logistics
*RiTdisplay Corporation : PMOLED
*RiteDia : diamond-like carbon coating
*RitFast Corporation : touch panels
*CASHIDO : nano technology
*PRORIT Corporation: high-precision plastic injection
*RitPower: solar modules

== References ==
{{reflist}}


{{coord|24|52|17|N|121|1|13|E|display=title}}
{{Coord|24|52|17|N|121|1|13|E|display=title}}


[[Category:Electronics companies of Taiwan]]
[[Category:Electronics companies of Taiwan]]

Latest revision as of 07:44, 21 September 2024

RITEK Corporation
Company typePublic[1]
IndustryComputer hardware
Computer data storage
Green product
Founded29 December 1988; 35 years ago (1988-12-29)
Headquarters
Hsinchu Industrial Park
,
Taiwan
Key people
Founder:Jintai Yeh
Chairman:Gorden Yeh
Vice President:Jennifer Yang
Products
RevenueIncrease 550 million USD (2016)
Number of employees
5,900,[2] 3,000 (Taiwan)
Subsidiaries
  • RITEK Foundation
  • PVNEXT Corporation
  • AIMCORE Corporation
  • U-TECH Corporation (Public)
  • UCHAIN Logistics. Co., Ltd.
  • Prorit Corporation
  • RiTdisplay Corporation
  • RiteDia Corporation
  • CASHIDO Corporation
  • RitFast Corporation
  • Kunshan Zhonglai Electronic Technology Co., Ltd.
  • Hutek Corporation
  • Advance Media Inc.
  • Conrexx Technology
  • Ritrax Corp. Ltd.
Websitewww.ritek.com

RITEK Corporation is a Taiwanese company that manufactures optical discs such as compact discs (CDs), DVDs, and Blu-ray, as well as storage cards such as CompactFlash cards, SD cards and MultiMediaCards, flash drives.[2] Ritek also produces solar modules and touch panel products such as passive-matrix OLED and ITO glass.[3][4] Ritek has also launched some products in nano- and biotechnology.[5]

Ritek Corporation was established in 1988 with the goal of manufacturing CDs in Taiwan.[6] In 1990 the company produced the first CD in Taiwan.[7] In November 2005, the company had a market share of 20 percent in rewritable DVDs and CD-RWs and was the biggest disc-manufacturer worldwide.[8] As of 2020, Ritek has 5,900 employees.[2]

Locations

[edit]

History

[edit]

In 1952, Yeh Ching-Tai created Min Li Plastics (明理塑膠工廠). The factory produced plastic cigarette boxes and polyethylene milk bottles.[11] During that period, he purchased a second-hand electroplating tool from Japan, with the original intention of plating chromium on plastics to enhance durability; this did not work. He then moved to electroplate copper and nickel on the stampers of vinyl records, entering the record business. Yeh Ching-Tai established First Vintage Record and Platinum Studio. He set up vinyl record production facilities in Sanchungpu in 1960. As part of the business for First Vintage Record, he took singer Sally Yeh to perform and market albums throughout department stores. Mr. Yeh Ching-Tai also introduced the recording technology from Japan to establish Platinum Studio.

In 1980, Yeh imported from Switzerland 24-track recorders and invited a technician from Japan[12] for instructions. At that time, he mentioned that digitalization was the trend for the record industry. Japan was already trial producing compact disks. To ensure time to market, Mr. Yeh Ching-Tai recruited a group of engineers from the Industrial Technology Research Institute in 1985 to manufacture compact disks. They started with simple plastic pressing to accumulate technological expertise.

In 1988, Yeh founded RITEK Corporation.[6] The company's English name is a portmanteau of the words "right" and "technology".

In May 1990, the company manufactured the first compact disk in Taiwan with support from the Mechanical and Systems Research Laboratories, Industrial Technology Research Institute.[7] The company became a formal member of the IFPI Members Foundation in Taiwan in 1991. The company set up facilities for the production of compact discs in Australia in 1994.

4 GB CompactFlash card from RiDATA

In 1996, Ritek Corporation had its IPO in Taiwan. The company created the Compact Disk Manufacturers Association (CMA), aiming to protect copyright for CD replication. The company set up facilities for the production of CDs in the United States, and manufactured the first CD-RW and the first DVD in Taiwan. The company manufactured the first DVD-R in Taiwan in 1997. Also in 1997, Ritek signed a copyright verification agreement with the Taiwan offices of the Music Publishers Association and became the first CD manufacturer in Taiwan to obtain ISO 9001 certification. The company also set up facilities for the production of CDs in the United Kingdom.

Ritek M-DISC-DVDs

In 1998, Ritek manufactured the first DVD-RAM in Taiwan. In 1999, U-TECH Media Corporation was formed as the largest pre-recorded medium manufacturer in Taiwan. Ritek Foundation was established. Ritek became the first CD maker in Taiwan that obtained the ISO 14001 certification, and in 2000 it became the first Taiwanese CD maker to obtain QS9000 certification., and Ritek's MiniDisc won a Taiwan Excellence Award.[13] In November 2006, Ritek became the exclusive producer of Maxell CD-Rs and DVDs.[14] In 2008, Ritek's USB flash drive received a product design award from iF International Forum Design.[15] In 2013, Ritek launched M-DISC DVD and Bluray. In 2017, RiData OTG Flash Drive won the Gold Award for Technology Trends by PC HOME and PC ADV 3C. Ritek entered into a licensing agreement with Imation in 2019.[16]

OLED

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In 1999 the company manufactured the first OLED in Taiwan. In 2001, the company built fully automated OLED mass production lines and RiTdisplay Corporation was established as OLED manufacturer in Taiwan.[4] In 2015, Ritek started to manufacture passive-matrix OLED wearables.

Solar energy

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In 2008, Ritek entered into a strategic alliance with Scheuten, a solar energy company in Europe. PV Next, a thin-film solar manufacturer dedicated to (copper indium gallium selenide), was established in 2009. In 2011, Ritek Solar worked with SolarEdge and showcased new IM series solar modules at the Intersolar Europe conference in Munich. Ritek's solar module won the Taiwan Excellent PV Award from the Bureau of Energy, Ministry of Economic Affairs, R.O.C (Taiwan) in 2016.[17]

International activities

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In 1999, The company set up with Philips joint venture facilities for the manufacturing of CD-R in Germany (PrimeDisc Technologies in Wiesbaden).[18] In 2003, RME was set up in Germany as a printing and packaging plant for compact discs. In 2004, Ritek's Japanese subsidiary, Ritek Japan, was established. In 2007, Ritek's North Africa subsidiary, Ritek North Africa, was established. In 2018, Ritek became Japan Panasonic's only overseas Archival Disc (AD) production partner.[19] In 2016, Ritek collaborated with Japan's largest chain elderly daycare center to found Ricare Day Service Center.

Equity investments

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  • AimCore Technology Co., Ltd. – ITO glass, established 2007
  • U-TECH Media Corporation – pre-recorded compact disks
  • U-Chain – warehousing and logistics
  • RiTdisplay Corporation – passive-matrix OLED
  • RiteDia – diamond-like carbon coating
  • RitFast Corporation – touch panels
  • CASHIDO – nanotechnology
  • PRORIT Corporation – high-precision plastic injection
  • RitPower – solar modules
Brands [20]
  • RiTEK
  • RiDATA
  • Tracdata
  • smartbuy
  • RiBEST
  • ARITA
  • imitation
  • Plextor

See also

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References

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Wikimedia Commons has media related to RITEK Corporation.
  1. ^ TSEC:2357
  2. ^ a b c msn finanzen 11 September 2020, Ritek Corp Taiwan, retrieved 12 September 2020.
  3. ^ digitimes.com Green energy 17 Juli 2009, Ritek succeeds in trial production of thin-film PV modules, paper says, retrieved 13 September 2020.
  4. ^ a b cleanenergyauthority.com, Ritek solar, retrieved 12 September 2020.
  5. ^ RITEK company profile, Metal Mask, retrieved 12 September 2020.
  6. ^ a b History of Ritek on company website, retrieved 12 September 2020.
  7. ^ a b ritek.com, Our Journey, chapter 1990, retrieved 12 September 2020.
  8. ^ beta.blickpunktfilm.de 28 November 2005, Ritek ist weltgrößter Disc-Hersteller (German), retrieved 12 September 2020.
  9. ^ riteksolar.com, RITEK Europe, Conrexx Technology B.V. retrieved 12 September 2020.
  10. ^ conrexx.com, Our Brands, retrieved 12 September 2020.
  11. ^ www.ritek.com, Our Journey chapter 1952, retrieved 12 September 2020.
  12. ^ ritek.com, Our Journey chapter 1980, retrieved 12 September 2020.
  13. ^ taiwanexcellence.org, Ridata Mini Disc (MD) - Taiwan Excellence 2000, retrieved 12 September 2020.
  14. ^ cdrinfo.com 14 November 2006, Ritek to Become Exclusive ODM Maker for Hitachi Maxell, retrieved 13 September 2020.
  15. ^ iF World Design Guide, Yego / USB flash drive, retrieved 13 September 2020.
  16. ^ imation.com, 2019-11-13, Imation global license announcement, retrieved 2020-09-13.
  17. ^ "Neo Solar Power Receives Taiwan Excellent PV Award with Highest 302Wp Module Efficiency". m.energytrend.com. Retrieved 28 August 2023.
  18. ^ "* RITEK, PHILIPS IN OPTICAL DISK JV". Telecompaper. 29 June 1999. Retrieved 2 January 2023.
  19. ^ cdrinfo.com 10 May 2018, Ritek to Produce Panasonic's 300GB Archival Discs, retrieved 12 September 2020.
  20. ^ Ritek brands

24°52′17″N 121°1′13″E / 24.87139°N 121.02028°E / 24.87139; 121.02028

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