Hitachi Buys External Storage Company Fabrik

Hitachi is getting into the external storage market by buying up Fabrik, along with it its SimpleText and G-Technology brands.

Hitachi Global Storage Technologies has decided to get into the external storage business by acquiring Fabrik, the privately-held developer of the consumer-oriented SimpleTech and business-centric G-Technology storage brands. Hitachi says it plans to build a new external storage business around Fabrik, with ongoing support for Fabrik’s existing product lines.

Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.

"The Fabrik acquisition becomes the cornerstone for the next phase of our business transformation," said Hitachi GST president Steve Milligan, in a statement. "It strategically expands our market presence, strengthens our product portfolio, and increases our customer base."

Fabrik’s G-Technology brand aims at content creators and media professionals, with products often catering to Macintosh users (with an emphasis on FireWire connectivity and designs emulating Apple hardware). SimpleTech has historically focused more on the consumer market, with USB 2.0-powered drives…including the [re]drive with a case made from renewable bamboo and recycled aluminum.

The Fabrik acquisition moves Hitachi into the retail storage space, and may emulate a move by rival Seagate back in 2005 when it acquired retail drive maker Maxtor. Fabrik CEO Mike Cordano—who will become a Hitachi GST exec under the acquisition—is a former Maxtor employee.