BenQ recently started shipping a 4x half-height DVD+RW drive and expects to launch 8x half-height DVD+RW and DVD-Dual drives in the second half of this year, with volume production of the 8x DVD+RW drive expected to start in September, according to DigiTimes. Initial monthly shipments of the 4x DVD+RW drive, the DW400A, have been less than 20,000 units due to tight supply of key components. But total quarterly shipments of the company’s DVD+RW products are expected to reach 400,000-500,000 units in the third quarter on improved component supply, according to BenQ.

Both BenQ’s DVD+RW and DVD-Dual drives adopt chip sets and pick-up heads (PUHs) provided by Royal Philips Electronics, with which BenQ started a joint venture, Philips BenQ Digital Storage (PBDS), in late May. While PBDS will be in charge of sales and marketing for BenQ’s optical storage business, BenQ will continue to handle product development and manufacturing, the company said.