History (2001): Marqlin

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2001: Marqlin
Was the originator of the 1-inch drive in Compact Flash form-factor

Company was started with a Western Digital design team and venture funding, completing the design in 2001.

Vendors were lined up as well as contract assembly firm SAE in Hong Kong when Marqlin ran out of funding.

Marqlin introduced its design to IBM in 2002, hoping for a partnership … but instead was told there was ‘no interest’ in a drive design of that type.

With loss of funding, dispersal of it’s design team, and loss of it’s San Jose, CA, facility, Marqlin closed its doors.

One year later IBM introduced it’s version of that design as the Microdrive, subsequently reproduced by other drive makers.

Key Marqlin players were Gib Springer, Art Geffon and Ron Dennison.