You used to use Hitachi Maxell products in the days of mix tapes, and you may still now if you burn your own CDs. Hitachi Maxell, better known as just Maxell, makes personal optical (CD, DVD, Blue-ray), computer tape, audio and video tape, and broadcasting tape media. Its battery operations produce dry cell, lithium ion rechargeable, lithium primary, and silver oxide batteries. (The company got its start in the battery business and took its name from the first and last three letters of the phrase "maximum capacity dry cell.") Hitachi, Ltd., which owns more than half of the company, has announced plans to buy the remaining interest and operate Hitachi Maxell as a wholly owned unit.