The Maxell Corporation of America is a leading manufacturer of consumer and professional media products, including audiotape and accessories, videocassettes and accessories, computer data storage media, batteries, diskettes, optical products, and professional audiotape and videotape. The Maxell DDS-3 (HS-4/125) 4mm cartridge has a nominal capacity of 12GB with a compressed capacity of 24GB. Maxell has developed an advanced 4mm data cartridge for high capacity data storage. To protect the fine metal particles in the magnetic layer of the tape Maxell has patented a ceramic coating process which acts as a protective armor against heat humidity and eventual oxidation. The result is a tape durable enough to withstand at least 2 000 passes with an archival life of up to 30 years.