There has been a change in construction plans for Radiant's new LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) TV backlight module plant in Tainan Science Park. Groundbreaking for the factory, originally slated to happen in November 2004, may be pushed back as panel makers CPT and Hannstar brake on sixth generation LCD panel plant deployment.

 

Blueprints for this TV backlight plant were drawn to match the LCD panel capacity expansion pace of CPT and Hannstar. However, Hannstar has decided to hold construction plans for its sixth generation plant, and CPT is slashing two-thirds of its estimated monthly sixth generation capacity to 30,000 units. These moves have driven Radiant to reset its expansion schedule.

 

Chi Mei's LCD TV panel capacity expansion in the fourth quarter is tightening Radiant's LCD TV backlight module supply. Since the Tainan plant set-up will not be able to quench the current thirst for backlight modules, and Chi Mei's long-term demand is yet unclear, the company plans to choose a new site in Taiwan to deal with the upcoming demand.

 

Radiant's expansion in Nanjing has been completed; nonetheless, capacity is still tight as it will be supplying backlight modules and light guide plates used in notebook PCs to Samsung starting in November 2004.