Western Digital Plans $73 Million Investment in Thailand to Advance HAMR HDD R&D

A few days ago, Tech in Asia reported that a major investment of THB 2.3 billion (approximately $73.81 million USD) has been approved for Western Digital’s operations in Thailand. The country’s board of investment (BOI) has authorized a new on-site research and development initiative focused on HAMR HDD technology.

Western Digital’s Thai operations have steadily expanded in recent years. In August 2024, for instance, the BOI approved the expansion of a proposed HDD manufacturing hub. The latest reports highlight a new R&D project centered on HAMR (Heat-Assisted Magnetic Recording), aimed at strengthening the company’s hard disk drive production capabilities.

The initiative will involve international collaboration between North American and Japanese teams, with the Thai division responsible for developing key components and advancing HAMR’s critical laser-based data recording process.

Earlier in February, during Western Digital Innovation Day 2026, the company outlined an ambitious HAMR product roadmap. By the end of the decade, the storage manufacturer expects to introduce hard drives exceeding 100TB in capacity.