Germany
glass manufacturer Schott and Japanese LCD component maker Kuramoto
Seisakusho have planned to jointly invest US$115 million in setting up
a glass substrate plant for large-sized LCD panels at the Chungcheongbuk-do Ochang Science Park, Korea.
Of the total investment, Schott accounts for 75% while Kuramoto
Seisakusho accounts for the remainder. With mass production to kick off
in late 2006, the new plant will aim at the production of 5G
and above glass substrates, which will then be supplied to Korean LCD
makers, such as Samsung and LG. Phillips, as well as Japanese and
Taiwanese makers. One of the reasons that Schott and Kuramoto
Seisakusho have decided to set up the plant in Korea
is because of the Korean government's support in various aspects,
including free utilization of land for 50 years, tariff reduction, and
training subsidies.
Schott has also planned to expand the capacity of its alkali-free, 0.77mm thin glass substrates for 7G and 8G in Jena, Germany. Construction of the new line will start in the first quarter of 2006, with operation scheduled for late 2006.