Wintek unveils own-brand smart TV Siu Han, Taichung; Jackie Chang, DIGITIMES [Friday 29 June 2012] Touch panel maker Wintek has unveiled its own Inno life-brand TVs targeting China's smart TV market. The Inno life TVs will be available in 46-, 55- and 65-inch sizes initially.
In addition to introducing own-brand smart TVs, Wintek also introduced own-brand LED lights recently.
Wintek reported a fourth-quarter 2011 net loss of NT$2.2 billion (US$73.5 million), causing 2011 total net losses to reach NT$1.9 billion. Wintek indicated that due to severe price competition, ASP of medium-size products fell by 25%. In addition, large capex for the past two years and increasing fixed costs also caused the firm to report net losses for 2011.
In first-quarter 2012, the firm made profits of NT$0.09/share. Wintek hopes to increase revenues by entering the LED lighting and smart TV markets.
Hyley Huang, Wintek's chairman, noted that LED-backlit smart and 3D TVs will be aimed at China in the initial stage of business development. The products will be sold through Wintek's own Web distribution channel Win-Shopping.
Huang added that his ultimate goal is to introduce AMOLED smart TVs. To begin investment for producing AMOLED products at an 8.5G plant, a single production line with monthly capacity of 30,000 units will require US$4 billion, said Huang. Hence, Wintek plans to procure array glass made at 8G and 10G plants from China-based panel makers, then use Wintek's own OLED processes to manufacture AMOLED panels. The production cost of AMOLED TVs has been estimated at NT$20,000-30,000.
Nevertheless, Huang noted that commercial production of AMOLED TVs will happen in 3-5 years, depending on the profitability of the firm.
Otali, Wintek's LED lighting brand, contains LED components from Nichia, Cree, and Harvatek. LED chips are procured from Epistar. The LED lighting products will be available in retail stores in Taiwan and China in August.
Hyley Huang, chairman of Wintek
