German disc replicator maker Singulus today said that demand for dual-layer capable Blu-ray Disc production equipment is higher that it was for DVD manufacturing machines.

Singulus said it received orders for 21 dual-layer BD machines during Q1. When dual-layer DVD technology was at a similar stage in its development, Singulus had orders for just 17 machines.

"This means that the orders for Blu-ray in the first year of the dual layer technology already by far exceeded the volume at the start of the DVD eleven years ago with 17 machines," said company CFO Stefan Baustert.

The company said it had received further orders during Q2, but it didn't specify how many machines those orders covered - or how that number compared to demand for DVD kit. Baustert said that a "key" US customer has just accepted its first dual-layer BD replicator from Singulus.

Singulus has cause to highlight demand for Blu-ray Disc production equipment. It took over the BD offerings of rival equipment maker Swiss firm Oerlikon Balzers, positioning Singulus as Europe's sole source of BD production machines, it said.