Bolstered by strong demand for touch panels worldwide, Japan-based Fujitsu Component has planned an investment of two billion Yen (US$17.4 million; US$1 = 114.9 Yen) in expanding domestic production facilities and boosting production capacity by 20%.

The said investment will be injected into Fujitsu Component's technology center in Nagano, Japan. Following the completion of the expansion project, the Nagano facility's touch panel shipment value is projected to grow from 400 million Yen (US$3.5 million) to 480 million Yen (US$4.2 million) per month.

Meanwhile, Fujitsu announced a separate investment of 400 million Yen (US$3.5 million) in a new production line at Transtouch of Taiwan, a joint venture between Fujitsu and Taiwanese CMC Magnetics. Transtouch is currently capable of producing 80,000 glass substrates for touch panels per month. The number is projected to rise to 100,000 units with the addition of a new production line.