With an aim to respond to rebounding demand for LCD TVs (Liquid Crystal Display Televisions), Japanese Panasonic announced on April 12 that the company has begun manufacturing LCD panels at its newly-built Himeji plant located in Hyogo Prefecture, western Japan, three months ahead of schedule, the Jiji Press reported on April 12. Panasonic began the construction of its Himeji plant in July 2008, which was originally projected to begin operations in January 2010 and was later postponed by six months due to the global economic downturn. With the Himeji plant, Panasonic is expected to have an approximately 60% capacity boost, producing enough LCD panels for one million 32-inch LCD TV sets, the Nikkei reported on April 10.

 

According to the same source, Sharp also plans to double the LCD panel production capacity by adding a new production line in July 2010 at its existing facility in Sakai, Osaka Prefecture. The new production line, originally planned to be established in October 2010, is expected to have an expected monthly capacity of 1.3 million LCD panels for use in 40-inch LCD TVs. Meanwhile, the company also plans to boost the monthly capacity of its existing LCD panel production line in Sakai by 10%, according again to the Nikkei.