Aug 17, 2000

Chi Mei Electronics Corp. cTFT-LCD production volume will reach 13 million units in 2005, paving the way for it to become the world's third largest manufacturer in the line, a company spokesman announced in Taipei.

With production specifications of 680mm x 880 mm glass substrates, the firm's No. 2 TFT-LCD plant will be completed by next May. The firm expects its total TFT-LCD production volume will reach three million units, with two million units from the No. 1 plant and the remainder from the No. 2 plant.

However, the firm predicts that the price of TFT-LCD products will keep declining in the near future due to the fierce market competition. Therefore Chi Mei will conduct mass production and seek an economic production method, thus reducing overall production costs, Lin Chun-jong, vice president of the firm, indicated.

After the firm's No.2 TFT-LCD plant is completed, Chi Mei will begin establishing its No. 3 and No. 4 TFT-LCD plants. The production specifications of these plants have not yet been decided.

Chi Mei will venture into the research and development of its own OLED products. The firm will also set up a semi-mass production line for OLED (organic light emitting diode) products at its No. 2 TFT-LCD plant. OLED products are expected to replace TFT-LCDs in the future.