EXHIBIT 99

                         CERTIFICATION UNDER SECTION 906
                        OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

         The undersigned officers, Wayne M. Fortun, Chief Executive Officer of
Hutchinson Technology Incorporated, a Minnesota corporation (the "Company"), and
John A. Ingleman, Chief Financial Officer of the Company, hereby certify,
pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that:

                  (i) the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of the Company for the
         quarterly period ended March 30, 2003 (the "Report") fully complies
         with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities
         Exchange Act of 1934, as amended; and

                  (ii) the information contained in the Report fairly presents,
         in all material respects, the financial condition and results of
         operations of the Company.

Date: May 12, 2003                         /s/ Wayne M. Fortun
                                           -------------------------------------
                                           Wayne M. Fortun
                                           Chief Executive Officer

Date: May 12, 2003                         /s/ John A. Ingleman
                                           -------------------------------------
                                           John A. Ingleman
                                           Chief Financial Officer