Hitachi GST announced today an agreement to acquire Fabrik Inc, a privately-held supplier of personal and professional external storage solutions.

Fabrik, whose leading storage brands include G-Technology and SimpleTech, strategically positions Hitachi in the fast-growing external storage business. The acquisition will provide Hitachi GST with immediate market presence, and access to innovative storage solutions for the consumer, small business and professional Mac and PC markets. Hitachi GST is committed to maintaining and growing both segmented product lines, which will provide the foundation of the company's new external storage business.

You can read the full press release here.

Fabrik's business will continue intact and form the core of Hitachi GST's newly-formed external storage business. Hitachi GST will fully support the G-Technology and SimpleTech product lines, building upon their success and differentiation in the market. The combined company will also leverage operational, technical and product development resources, distribution channels and global reach to accelerate delivery of a full portfolio of traditional hard drives, solid state drives and branded personal and professional storage products.

"The Fabrik acquisition becomes the cornerstone for the next phase of our business transformation. It strategically expands our market presence, strengthens our product portfolio, and increases our customer base," said Steve Milligan, President of Hitachi GST. "Fabrik is a key component of our growth and profit strategy going forward and will enable us to deliver a differentiated set of products across a broad range of end-user market segments."