Units suit 1.8, 2.5, 3.5 and 5.25in hard drives, with the second rising with the global HDD trend.

TOP TRENDS

• SuperSpeed takeover: USB 3.0 enclosures have replaced USB 2.0 to keep up with the release of high-capacity hard drives and compliant motherboards. SATA is the standard internal connection. Companies keep eSATA varieties to cater to other requirements.
• Target HDD market: The available models suit 1.8, 2.5, 3.5 and 5.25in hard drives, with the second climbing steadily to match the global application trend.
• Value additions: Docking units provide differentiation with a card reader and USB hub, while enclosures that can support dual or multiple HDDs enable offline duplicate and RAID functions. Screwless and tool-free use is highlighted. Some models have an anti-skid lock.
• Price & sales projections: Despite climbing labor costs, makers are planning no price increases in the next six months to attract more orders. Declining chip outlay is offsetting the appreciating yuan. Companies foresee a 5 to 10 percent higher output, with some even expecting to surpass 20 percent, thanks to the upswing in HDD shipments.

Product gallery E-Sun Group Technology Co. Ltd Model: ES-25Z30 Description: For up to 1TB 2.5in SATA HDD; USB 3.0; aluminum alloy

Mintotor (Dongguan) Ltd Model: LH-HD007 Description: For up to 2TB 3.5in SATA HDD; USB 3.0; aluminum alloy; 193.5x112x32mm; CE, RoHS

Orico Technologies Co. Ltd Model: Orico 7629RUS3 Description: For two 3.5in SATA HDDs; USB 3.0+eSATA; RAID; 60mm fan; aluminum alloy; tool-free; CE, FCC

Shengzhen Maya Electronics Creation Co. Ltd Model: MYS331 Description: For 2.5in SATA HDD; USB 2.0; one-touch backup; ABS

USB Online Intl Electronics Ltd Model: WSS-DS06 Description: For up to 750GB 2.5in HDD; USB 3.0; LED status indicator; aluminum

Winstars Technology Ltd Model: WS-ST330U Description: Dock; two 2TB 2.5 or 3.5in SATA HDD; USB 3.0; offline duplicate function; simultaneous read, write

Note: This article "USB 3.0 models dominate portable HDD enclosure production" was originally published by Global Sources, a leading business-to-business media company and a primary facilitator of trade with China manufacturers and India suppliers, providing essential sourcing information to volume buyers through our e-magazines, trade shows and industry research.

All price quotes in this report are in US dollars unless otherwise specified. FOB prices were provided by the companies interviewed only as reference prices at the time of interview and may have changed.

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