Asahi officials announced that it will start mass production of 8G glass substrates for LCDs in October 2006 to meet increasing demand. Asahi will invest 25 billion Yen (US$229.47 million; US$1=108.93 Yen) in the new production line. The facility will be in Asahi's plant in Hyogo Prefecture in western Japan, where initial production capacity is expected to be around four million square meters. At first production will be mostly shipped to Sharp, which has plans to ramp up an 8G line in October 2006.

In Taiwan, Corning will also start with production on a 8G glass substrate line in the middle of 2006.