Patterned sapphire substrate (PSS) maker Rigidtech Microelectronics is seeing strong orders in March and expects continued growth into April, with 4-inch units expected to be at the forefront, according to company president Hung Wen-ching.
Additionally, sources at Crystalwise Technology noted the company has been running at nearly full capacity during the first quarter of 2015 and is aiming to strengthen its presence in China while Phecda Technology is preparing to expand production in China due to an expected surge in orders.
As PSS makers have been expanding production capacities, supply has significantly increased and therefore Taiwan-based LED epitaxial wafer and chip makers have asked PSS makers to lower quotes for a 4-inch PSS to US$40, said the sources.
Taiwan- and China-based PSS makers have been shifting mainstream production from 2-inch PSS to 4-inch models and have focused capacity expansion on 4-inch PSS. Rigidtech and Crystalwise have expanded monthly PSS production capacities to 1.2 million and 800,000 2-inch equivalent units, respectively, the sources added.
