The AI revolution is redefining the way we think about data storage. As organizations worldwide race to harness AI’s transformative potential, one fact remains clear: No HDD, No AI.
From the massive datasets that power machine learning models, to the hyperscale cloud infrastructure driving AI applications, to the storage systems preserving AI-driven insights—high-capacity, cost-effective, and reliable hard disk drives are the foundation that makes it all possible.
Today, we’re proud to announce the opening of our expanded System Integration and Test (SIT) Lab in Rochester, Minnesota—a state-of-the-art 25,600-square-foot facility that represents far more than an investment in infrastructure. It reflects Western Digital’s commitment to customer-focused innovation, collaboration, and our strategic vision for the future of data storage in the cloud and AI era.
Accelerating Customer Success
Western Digital’s Rochester expansion is the latest addition to our global SIT Lab network, which spans across the U.S. and Asia. Together, these facilities serve over 2,000 top-tier customer systems worldwide, providing the collaborative ecosystem necessary to develop, test, and deploy next-generation storage solutions at unprecedented speed and scale.
We take a unique approach to integrate these facilities with one another. For example, when a customer in Asia needs specialized testing available in our labs in the U.S., or when engineering teams in California require validation support from our facilities in Asia, our global network enables cross-regional collaboration that accelerates innovation while providing localized, responsive customer support.
In close collaboration with the global R&D team, the SIT Lab team creates a feedback loop that drives strategic decision-making, product development, and execution. Real-world insights from customer testing and new product validation flow directly into product roadmap planning, ensuring our innovation investments address tomorrow’s most critical storage challenges. When our global network identifies emerging market requirements, these insights immediately inform strategic direction and testing priorities across facilities.
Our labs are built to tackle our customers’ toughest storage challenges—making sure they get the quality, performance, and cost efficiency they need today, while preparing for tomorrow’s demands. This facility is about partnership in action. We work side by side with our customers, testing to reduce risk, speed up time-to-market, and ensure our products are fully qualified for their specific workloads. At the end of the day, their success is our success.
Customer-First Innovation in Action
The Rochester SIT Lab embodies our customer-first philosophy. It’s a collaboration hub where engineers work directly with key customers at every stage from product development and qualification to production ramp and end-of-life support.
By testing solutions in a mini data center environment, customers can see exactly how our storage will perform in real-world workloads before deployment. This hands-on approach ensures our products don’t just meet specifications, they exceed expectations for performance and reliability.
This customer-first approach extends beyond our labs. Through initiatives like the Open Composable Project, Western Digital continues to champion open standards that drive innovation across the storage ecosystem. This ensures customers benefit from scalable, flexible, and future-ready solutions.
More Than Four Decades of Building on Innovation Value
The expansion of this facility comes at a pivotal time. As AI and cloud applications grow, the demand for reliable, high-capacity storage has never been greater. This lab strengthens our four-decade legacy of innovation in the local area and reinforces our leadership in next-generation storage solutions.
Our “No HDD, No AI” philosophy reflects the vital role HDDs play in the AI ecosystem—providing the massive, cost-effective capacity needed for training datasets, model parameters, and generated content. Without this foundation, the AI revolution couldn’t exist at scale.
Investing in Community and Future Talent
Beyond technology, the SIT Lab represents a commitment to our community. It creates opportunities for engineers, technicians, and support staff, while partnering with local educational institutions to cultivate the skills needed for next-generation storage development. This facility builds both our capabilities and a broader ecosystem of innovation.
Looking Ahead: The Future of Storage
As data volumes grow and AI workloads become more complex, our global SIT network ensures we’re ready to meet the challenges ahead. Our customer-centric approach not only responds to market demand but also anticipates and enables the next wave of technological advancement.
Through this expanded facility and our global innovation network, we are keeping the foundation of AI—reliable, high-capacity storage—strong and ready. To see more of how we are shaping the future, explore Western Digital Innovation. Our success is measured not by square footage or test equipment, but by the customer partnerships we build, the innovations we accelerate, and the communities we support. The SIT Lab fosters all of these values and opens exciting possibilities for Western Digital’s value, our customers, and the future of data storage.
To dive deeper into our role driving hard drive innovation in the AI era, explore our HDD Innovation hub.
