ExcelStor Technology

ExcelStor Technology, also known in Chinese as 易拓科技, was established in 2000 as a small hard disk drive manufacturer in China. The company subsequently developed a broader role as a contract manufacturer and systems integrator, combining branded storage products with manufacturing and engineering services for established technology companies. Its principal manufacturing facility was in Shenzhen, China, while its engineering footprint included a research and development center in Longmont, Colorado, in the United States. A significant early step in ExcelStor's development was its acquisition of the assets of bankrupt Conner Technology PLC, including the company's products and factory. This gave ExcelStor additional manufacturing capability and product-related resources as it sought to establish itself in the competitive disk-drive industry. The company operated in a sector dominated by much larger international manufacturers, making partnerships and outsourced production important elements of its business model. ExcelStor became especially visible through a 2002 agreement with IBM. Under that arrangement, ExcelStor manufactured and sold a 40 GB version of IBM's Deskstar 120GXP hard-drive series under the ExcelStor name, while IBM also marketed the drives under its own brand. The relationship continued after Hitachi acquired IBM's storage division. In 2003, the agreement was expanded to cover 40 GB and 80 GB versions associated with Hitachi's Deskstar 7K250 series. These arrangements positioned ExcelStor as both a branded-drive supplier and an original-equipment manufacturing partner for larger storage companies. The company's product activity was not limited to conventional hard drives. ExcelStor also produced models incorporating specialized firmware functions, including multi-boot management and backup-and-restore capabilities. These features reflected an attempt to differentiate storage hardware through software functionality rather than relying solely on capacity or mechanical specifications. Beginning in 2004, ExcelStor manufactured some products for Iomega, including products associated with the REV removable-storage platform. Its relationship with Iomega later developed into a proposed corporate transaction. In 2007, Iomega announced plans to acquire ExcelStor through a stock exchange valued at approximately $315 million. The transaction did not close. In 2008, as Iomega itself was being acquired by EMC Corporation, Iomega paid a reported $7.5 million termination fee connected with the failed ExcelStor transaction. ExcelStor also experienced organizational contraction during this period. In 2007, it laid off 20 of the 28 employees at its Longmont research and development center. Public reference material provides limited information about the company's later operations, ownership structure, leadership, revenue, and present-day commercial status. It is therefore best characterized historically as a China-linked storage manufacturer, contract producer, and systems integrator whose most documented period involved partnerships with IBM, Hitachi, and Iomega.

ExcelStor Technology was founded in 2000 as a small hard disk drive manufacturer. Its early development included the acquisition of bankrupt Conner Technology PLC, together with that company's products and factory. The transaction provided ExcelStor with additional manufacturing assets as it entered a highly competitive storage market. The company operated manufacturing facilities in Shenzhen, China, and maintained a research and development center in Longmont, Colorado. Rather than competing only as an independent disk-drive brand, ExcelStor pursued a mixed model encompassing branded products, contract manufacturing, and systems integration. This model enabled it to work with larger technology companies that possessed stronger distribution or brand recognition. In 2002, ExcelStor entered into an agreement with IBM to manufacture and sell a 40 GB version of IBM's Deskstar 120GXP series under the ExcelStor name. IBM also marketed the drives under its own brand. After Hitachi acquired IBM's storage division, the relationship was extended in 2003 to cover 40 GB and 80 GB drives connected with Hitachi's Deskstar 7K250 series. ExcelStor also made drives with nonstandard firmware capabilities, including multi-boot management and backup-and-restore functions, giving some products features beyond basic data storage. From 2004 onward, ExcelStor manufactured some products for Iomega, including products in the REV removable-storage family. The commercial relationship later led to a proposed acquisition. In 2007, Iomega announced that it intended to acquire ExcelStor in a stock transaction valued at approximately $315 million. The proposed deal was not completed. In 2008, Iomega paid a termination fee reported at $7.5 million as Iomega was being acquired by EMC Corporation. The 2007 period also brought a reduction in ExcelStor's United States engineering presence. The company dismissed 20 of the 28 employees at its Longmont research and development center. Available reference material does not establish the company's subsequent corporate status, later product releases, executive leadership, financial performance, or current ownership in sufficient detail. ExcelStor's documented historical identity is therefore that of a China-based hard-drive producer and storage contract manufacturer with international OEM relationships.

• 2008

  Iomega transaction terminated

  [1]ExcelStor Technologyen.wikipedia.org

  The proposed acquisition failed to close, and Iomega paid a reported termination fee of $7.5 million.

• 2007

  Proposed Iomega acquisition

  [1]ExcelStor Technologyen.wikipedia.org

  Iomega announced a proposed stock-based acquisition of ExcelStor valued at approximately $315 million.

• 2007

  Longmont R&D layoffs

  [1]ExcelStor Technologyen.wikipedia.org

  ExcelStor laid off 20 of the 28 employees at its Longmont research and development center.

• 2004

  Iomega manufacturing begins

  [1]ExcelStor Technologyen.wikipedia.org

  ExcelStor began manufacturing some Iomega products, including products associated with REV.

• 2003

  Hitachi-related product expansion

  [1]ExcelStor Technologyen.wikipedia.org

  The IBM arrangement was extended after Hitachi took over IBM's storage division, covering 40 GB and 80 GB Deskstar 7K250-related drives.

• 2002

  IBM Deskstar manufacturing agreement

  [1]ExcelStor Technologyen.wikipedia.org

  ExcelStor began manufacturing and selling a 40 GB version of IBM's Deskstar 120GXP series under its own brand, with IBM also marketing the drives.

• 2000

  Company established

  [1]ExcelStor Technologyen.wikipedia.org

  ExcelStor Technology was established as a small hard disk drive manufacturer.

• 2000

  Conner Technology assets acquired

  [1]ExcelStor Technologyen.wikipedia.org

  ExcelStor acquired the bankrupt Conner Technology PLC, including its products and factory.

A China-based storage-hardware manufacturer and contract manufacturing partner that combined its own ExcelStor-branded drives with OEM production, specialized firmware features, and systems-integration capabilities.

• Internal hard disk drive · 2002

  ExcelStor-branded IBM Deskstar 120GXP-based drives

  A 40 GB hard-drive product manufactured and sold by ExcelStor under its own brand through an agreement with IBM. IBM also marketed the same drive family under its own branding, making the product an example of ExcelStor's OEM and co-branded manufacturing role.

• Internal hard disk drive · 2003

  ExcelStor-branded Deskstar 7K250-related drives

  A later group of 40 GB and 80 GB drives produced under the expanded arrangement that followed Hitachi's takeover of IBM's storage division. The products were associated with Hitachi's Deskstar 7K250 series and extended ExcelStor's participation in established disk-drive platforms.

• Storage hardware

  Specialized-firmware storage drives

  ExcelStor produced some drives with firmware features beyond ordinary storage operation, including multi-boot management and backup-and-restore functionality. These capabilities represented a software-oriented differentiation strategy for otherwise conventional disk-drive hardware.

• Removable storage · 2004

  Iomega REV-related products

  ExcelStor manufactured some Iomega products from 2004, including products associated with Iomega's REV removable-storage platform. The available reference material does not specify the precise models or manufacturing volumes.

• 2008

  Terminate the proposed Iomega transactionM&A

  Background

  The proposed Iomega acquisition of ExcelStor did not proceed, during a period when Iomega itself was being acquired by EMC Corporation.

  Action taken

  Iomega paid a reported $7.5 million termination fee associated with the failed transaction.

  Aftermath

  ExcelStor remained outside Iomega's corporate structure, and public reference material provides limited information about its subsequent operations.

  Termination fee. (2008)

  Source

• 2007

  Agree to a proposed Iomega acquisitionM&A

  Background

  ExcelStor had been manufacturing some Iomega products since 2004, creating an existing commercial relationship between the companies.

  Action taken

  Iomega announced a stock-based plan to acquire ExcelStor, reported at approximately $315 million in value.

  Aftermath

  The transaction collapsed and was not completed. Iomega later paid a termination fee while it was being acquired by EMC.

  Announced transaction value. (2007)

  Source

• 2007

  Reduce Longmont research and development staffingStrategy

  Background

  ExcelStor maintained a research and development center in Longmont, Colorado, but later reduced its staffing substantially.

  Action taken

  The company laid off 20 of the center's 28 employees.

  Aftermath

  The reduction significantly narrowed ExcelStor's documented United States R&D presence. The available source does not explain the strategic rationale or later staffing level.

  Source

• 2003

  Extend the product arrangement to Deskstar 7K250-related drivesGeneration change

  Background

  Hitachi had taken over IBM's storage division, changing the corporate context of the earlier IBM relationship.

  Action taken

  ExcelStor's arrangement was expanded to include 40 GB and 80 GB drives from the Deskstar 7K250 series.

  Aftermath

  ExcelStor continued to participate in established IBM- and Hitachi-related storage product platforms.

  Source

• 2002

  Enter an IBM manufacturing and co-branding arrangementStrategy

  Background

  ExcelStor was a relatively small storage manufacturer seeking scale and market access in a sector led by much larger companies.

  Action taken

  It agreed to manufacture and sell a 40 GB Deskstar 120GXP-related drive under the ExcelStor brand while IBM also sold the drive under its own name.

  Aftermath

  The arrangement increased ExcelStor's visibility and was later extended to products associated with Hitachi's Deskstar 7K250 series.

  Source

1. 1ExcelStor Technologyen.wikipedia.org