Display - TMD to Expand Production of Mobile Phone LCD Panels
May 25, 2004
Tokyo-based TMD (Toshiba Matsushita Display Technology) plans to expand production of small LCD panels used in mobile phones. The company expects shipment volume to increase to nine million units per month by the end of the year from six million to seven million units per month currently, averaged out to 2" panels.
The Japanese maker is producing TFT (Thin Film Transistor) LCD panels in its Fukaya plant, and Amorphous TFT LCD panels through its subsidiary at the Ishikawa plant. These two panel types are expected to account for an increase of two million to three million units.
TMD's total equipment investment for 2004 is planned to reach 20 billion Yen (US$179.2 million; US$1=119.6 Yen), hovering at the same level in 2003. Of the total, investment allotted for expanded production of mobile phone LCD panels is expected to reach two billion Yen (US$17.9 million) to three billion Yen (US$26.9 million).