Toshiba Memory Corporation and Western Digital Corp. have agreed to jointly invest in the K1 manufacturing facility, which Toshiba Memory is presently constructing in Kitakami in Japan's Iwate Prefecture. The two companies' joint capital investments in equipment will enable initial production output of 96-layer 3D flash memory beginning 2020.

K1 facility in Kitakami in Japan's Iwate Prefecture

The K1 facility will produce 3D flash memory to support growing demand for storage in applications such as data centers, smartphones and autonomous cars. Construction of the K1 facility is expected to be completed in end of 2019.

Toshiba Memory and Western Digital will continue to cultivate and extend their leadership in their respective memory businesses by actively developing initiatives aimed at strengthening technology competitiveness, advancing joint development of 3D flash memory, and making capital investments according to market trends.