Western Digital Signs Sales Pact with Olivetti

Irvine-based Western Digital Corp. has signed a two-year computer supply sales agreement with Ing. C. Olivetti & Co. The contract, which Western Digital said could be worth more than $15 million in sales, will allow Western Digital to provide a succession of its Winchester hard disc controllers for use both in Olivetti’s own computers and in computers the Italian company supplies to AT&T.; A controller is a device that links a computer with other computers or computer expansion equipment.

Roger W. Johnson, Western Digital president and board chairman, said the contract is one of a number of sales agreements signed by the two companies in the past five years, during which his 15-year-old company has sold chip and board products for use in Olivetti’s personal computers and electric typewriters. “The agreement represents not only a continuation of specific current product shipments, but also establishes the basis for a continuous flow of new products,” he said.

Western Digital designs and supplies data storage management and communications controllers for the office automation and microcomputer industries.