Imation
Corporate brand
UnclaimedFormer American data-storage company spun off from 3M in 1996 and later transformed into the asset-management and investment company GlassBridge Enterprises.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
Imation was an American data-storage and information-management company created in 1996 when 3M spun off its data-storage and imaging operations. Its roots extended to several important developments in magnetic and removable storage, including 3M's introduction of American-made magnetic tape in 1947, the quarter-inch cartridge for data storage in 1971, and the 3.5-inch floppy disk in 1984. After becoming independent, Imation marketed magnetic tape, optical discs, flash media, removable storage, backup systems, archiving appliances, security products, and consumer audio and video accessories. The company initially operated across several technology areas, including traditional magnetic and optical storage, secure storage, scalable storage, wireless and connectivity products, and audio-video information products. Its portfolio addressed both enterprise and consumer markets. Enterprise offerings included backup, archiving, data protection, removable-media security, and storage-management products for small and medium-sized businesses. Consumer products were sold under several names, including Imation, Memorex, TDK Life on Record, and XtremeMac. Through the combined scale of its Imation, Memorex, and TDK-branded media businesses, the company became a major global seller of recordable CD and DVD products. Imation expanded through acquisitions as traditional physical media markets changed. In 2007 it acquired TDK's recording-media operations for $300 million, obtaining flash-media, optical-media, magnetic-tape, and accessory businesses as well as a long-term license to use the TDK Life on Record name. In 2011 it acquired or licensed technologies associated with secure and scalable storage, including businesses and assets connected with ENCRYPTX, MXI Security, ProStor, IronKey, and Nine Technologies. These transactions supported a shift toward managed backup, archiving, secure removable storage, and data-security solutions. The structural decline of optical discs and other physical storage media placed pressure on the company. Imation discontinued its TDK-branded product business at the end of 2015 after agreeing to relinquish the relevant license, and its consumer-storage business was shut down in 2016. Reported net revenue fell sharply from $529.2 million in 2015 to $44.1 million in 2016. In January 2017, Imation announced that it would change its corporate name and strategic direction. The name GlassBridge Enterprises became effective on February 21, 2017, marking the company's move away from operating as a data-storage manufacturer toward asset management and strategic investment. GlassBridge sold the Imation brand name to the Korean company O-Jin Corporation Co., Ltd. on August 4, 2017. The Imation name subsequently continued as a separately owned brand rather than as the name of the former public company. In 2019, O-Jin announced licensing arrangements involving PNY Technology, Ritek Corporation, and Prinics. Thus, Imation's corporate history and its later brand history are distinct: the original company ceased operating under the Imation name, while the trademark continued through ownership and licensing arrangements.
History
Imation's history began inside 3M's data-storage and imaging operations. The broader 3M organization contributed to the development of removable and magnetic storage technologies, including American-made magnetic tape introduced in 1947, the quarter-inch cartridge for data storage in 1971, and the 3.5-inch floppy disk in 1984. These technologies established the technical and commercial foundation from which Imation was later formed. In 1996, 3M spun off its data-storage and imaging business as Imation. The independent company inherited expertise and product lines in magnetic tape, optical media, and related storage technologies. It organized its strategy around traditional storage, secure and scalable storage, wireless and connectivity products, and magnetic tape. Its customers included large organizations requiring backup and archive media, small and medium-sized businesses seeking data-protection appliances, and consumers purchasing recordable discs, flash media, headphones, and other accessories. Imation pursued diversification as the physical-media sector matured. In late 2007, it bought TDK's recording-media business for $300 million. The transaction added flash, optical, and magnetic-media products and accessories, and gave Imation a 25-year license to use the TDK Life on Record name on storage and audio products. The company also built a portfolio of enterprise-oriented storage and security activities. In 2011, it completed five transactions or related arrangements involving ENCRYPTX, MXI Security, ProStor assets, IronKey's secure-storage hardware business, and Nine Technologies intellectual property. These moves supported products and services for secure removable storage, backup, data archiving, and scalable storage management. Products such as DataGuard and InfiniVault represented the company's attempt to move beyond the sale of blank media. DataGuard focused on protection for smaller businesses, while InfiniVault provided multi-tier data protection and archive capabilities. Imation also introduced a product set in 2012 aimed at securing mobile data, identities, and workspaces, reflecting concern over employees carrying corporate data on portable devices. At the consumer end, Imation marketed products under its own name and through the Memorex, TDK Life on Record, and XtremeMac brands. The combined Imation, Memorex, and TDK media businesses made the company a major global seller of recordable CD-R and DVD media. However, falling demand for optical discs and changes in consumer storage behavior undermined that business. Imation agreed in 2015 to surrender its TDK license and stop selling TDK-branded products by the end of that year. It shut down its consumer storage-media business in 2016. The contraction was reflected in the company's reported revenue: net revenue for 2016 was $44.1 million, compared with $529.2 million in 2015. In January 2017, the company announced that it would rename itself GlassBridge Enterprises and focus on asset management and strategic investment rather than data-storage operations. The rebranding took effect on February 21, 2017. The Imation name was then separated from the former public company. GlassBridge sold the brand to O-Jin Corporation Co., Ltd. on August 4, 2017. O-Jin subsequently licensed the name to PNY Technology, Ritek Corporation, and Prinics in 2019. As of July 2024, O-Jin remained the owner of the Imation brand. The result is a split legacy: Imation is historically associated with a major independent storage-media company, while the corporate entity that carried the name evolved into GlassBridge and the trademark continued under new ownership and licensing arrangements.
- 2019
Brand licensing expanded
[1]O-Jin announced licensing arrangements allowing PNY Technology, Ritek Corporation, and Prinics to use the Imation brand.
- 2017
Corporate name changed to GlassBridge Enterprises
[1]The company completed its move away from storage operations and adopted the GlassBridge Enterprises name on February 21.
- 2017
Imation brand sold to O-Jin Corporation
[1]GlassBridge sold the Imation trademark and brand name to O-Jin Corporation on August 4.
- 2016
Consumer storage business closed
[1]Imation shut down its consumer storage-media business as optical-media demand declined.
- 2015
TDK branding agreement relinquished
[1]Imation agreed to give up its TDK Life on Record license and end sales of TDK-branded products by year-end.
- 2012
Mobile-data security portfolio announced
[1]The company introduced a product set focused on mobile data, identity, and workspace security.
- 2011
Secure and scalable storage portfolio expanded
[1]Imation expanded through acquisitions and licensing arrangements involving secure-storage and scalable-storage technologies.
- 2007
TDK recording-media business acquired
[1]Imation acquired TDK's recording-media business, including flash, optical, and magnetic media, accessories, and a license for the TDK Life on Record brand.
- 1996
Imation spun off from 3M
[1]3M separated its data-storage and imaging operations into the independent Imation Corporation.
- 1984
3.5-inch floppy disk introduced
[1]The predecessor business was involved in the introduction of the 3.5-inch floppy disk.
Products and positioning
Data storage, removable media, secure information management, and archival infrastructure; later, a discontinued corporate identity associated with asset management and strategic investment.
Enterprise storage media
Magnetic tape
Magnetic tape was one of Imation's foundational businesses and remained important for backup, archive, and long-term data retention. The company inherited deep tape expertise from 3M and later expanded its tape portfolio through the acquisition of TDK's recording-media operations.
Removable storage media
Optical media
Imation marketed recordable optical products including CD-R and DVD media. Together with the Memorex and TDK Life on Record businesses, this portfolio made the company a major global seller of consumer optical media before the business was discontinued as demand declined.
Portable storage · 2007
Flash and removable storage
The company sold flash-media and other removable-storage products for consumer and business use. These products were strengthened by the 2007 TDK transaction and complemented Imation's traditional tape and optical-media lines.
Data protection appliance
DataGuard
DataGuard was positioned as a data-protection product for small and medium-sized businesses. It represented Imation's effort to provide packaged backup and protection capabilities rather than relying solely on sales of storage media.
Archive and storage appliance
InfiniVault
InfiniVault was a multi-tier data-protection and data-archive appliance. It formed part of Imation's scalable-storage portfolio and addressed organizations seeking structured backup, archive, and information-management infrastructure.
Data security · 2011
Secure removable storage
Imation developed secure-storage offerings using technologies and arrangements associated with MXI Security and IronKey. The products were intended to protect portable corporate data and support management of secure removable devices.
Consumer electronics accessories
Consumer audio and accessories
Alongside storage products, Imation sold headphones, audio and video accessories, and related consumer electronics under the Imation, Memorex, TDK Life on Record, and XtremeMac names.
Brand decisions
2017
Rebrand the corporation as GlassBridge EnterprisesStrategyBackground
The storage-media business had contracted sharply, and the corporation sought to move away from manufacturing and marketing data-storage products.
Action taken
The company changed its name to GlassBridge Enterprises and redirected its stated focus toward asset management and strategic investment.
Aftermath
The former Imation corporation ceased operating under the Imation name, while the trademark was later sold to O-Jin Corporation.
Net revenue. $529.2 million in 2015 → $44.1 million in 2016 (Fiscal years 2015–2016)
2017
Sell the Imation brandM&ABackground
After the corporate rebrand, the Imation name no longer represented GlassBridge's principal business direction.
Action taken
GlassBridge sold the Imation brand name to O-Jin Corporation on August 4, 2017.
Aftermath
O-Jin retained ownership of the brand and subsequently licensed it to other companies.
2015
Exit the TDK-branded product arrangementStrategyBackground
Imation was restructuring as physical recording media faced long-term market pressure.
Action taken
It agreed to relinquish the TDK Life on Record license and stop selling TDK-branded products by the end of 2015.
Aftermath
The decision preceded the closure of Imation's consumer storage-media business in 2016.
2011
Build secure and scalable storage capabilitiesStrategyBackground
Imation aimed to reduce dependence on traditional media by expanding into backup, archiving, secure removable storage, and storage management.
Action taken
The company completed five acquisitions or related technology transactions involving ENCRYPTX, MXI Security, ProStor assets, IronKey's secure-storage hardware business, and Nine Technologies intellectual property.
Aftermath
The transactions supported products such as DataGuard, InfiniVault, and secure mobile-storage offerings.
2007
Acquire TDK recording-media operationsM&ABackground
Imation sought greater scale across flash, optical, and magnetic recording media and related consumer products.
Action taken
It acquired TDK's recording-media business and obtained a long-term license for the TDK Life on Record brand.
Aftermath
The transaction broadened Imation's product portfolio and helped combine the Imation, Memorex, and TDK media businesses into a major global optical-media supplier.
Acquisition price. $300 million (Late 2007)
Sources1 sources
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