Toshiba wants to double output, and the one component it does not make could go to its rival: a guide to the hard disk drive head industry

Seagate and Toshiba are competing, according to Bloomberg, for TDK's disk drive head unit, the only independent manufacturer. We explain what a head is, how it is made and who buys it, then examine TDK's own figures: drive output rises 7% and its head sales about 50%, before assigning the companies an EL7 score.

+50%

TDK's expected growth in nearline drive head sales volume this year, versus 7% for drive output itself

10.5%

The heads and magnets segment's share of TDK sales in the fiscal year ended March 2026

−10.2%

Seagate and Western Digital shares at the close on 2 October after Toshiba's plan to double output

heads in a single drive with ten platters, such as the 30-terabyte Mozaic 3+

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EL7 Research · Industry Guide

6 October 2026 · Prices as of the close on 5 October