Taiwan-based slim-type optical disc drive makers have inventories of pick-up heads (PUHs) for use until May, but supply may fall short from June due to the impact of the earthquake in northeastern Japan, according to notebook and component makers.

Sony, Toshiba, Mitsubishi Chemical and Sharp dominate the global supply of PUHs used in slim-type ODDs, and the earthquake and consequent short supply of power have disrupted production, the sources said.

To cope with the potential shortage, vendors plan to decrease proportions of their notebook models equipped with built-in ODDs, the sources indicated.