LED epitaxial wafer and chip maker Formosa Epitaxy expects flip chip LED components for use in lighting and LCD TV backlighting to account for 15-20% of its 2014 consolidated revenues, according to company chairman Frank Chien.
Formosa Epitaxy has begun shipments of flip chip LED components to Taiwan-based LED lighting vendors, Chien said. In addition, Formosa Epitaxy in the first quarter of 2014 will begin shipments of such product to LED packaging houses for backlighting applications for TVs to be launched by South Korea-based vendors, according to market analysts.
LED lighting demand will significantly grow in 2014 and Formosa Epitaxy aims at a revenue proportion of 40% for LED products used in lighting in 2014, Chien said. Suffering a net loss per share of NT$1.89 (US$0.06) for January-September 2013, Formosa Epitaxy aims to return to profitability in May-June 2014, Chien indicated.
With investment from China-based Sanan Optoelectronics, Formosa Epitaxy will expand its monthly production capacity from 250,000 2-inch-equivalent LED wafers in 2013 to 320,000 units in 2014, Chien noted.
Facing growing competition from China-based makers who receive the Chinese government's financial support, Taiwan-based makers still gain the upper hand in technology, including application of flip chip to LED lighting, Chien said.
