Recently, a plant of Epicrystal, a subsidiary of Taiwanese LED maker Epistar, in Changzhou, Jiangsu, was officially inaugurated, underlying Epistar’s endeavor of making inroads into the Chinese market.
Mr. Biing-jye Lee, the Chairman of Epistar, indicated that the successful inauguration of the new plant attributed to the support from shareholders and the government. He hoped that Epicrystal’s new products are able to meet the market’s needs and add diversity to Epistar’s product lineup. Epicrystal will employ the same technologies of Epistar’s plants in Taiwan in order to have a leg up on the global LED market.
Mr. Easy Hwang, President of Epicrystal, also stated that he hoped that the new plant can not only propel the development of the LED industrial chain, but also spur cross-Strait cooperation to meet the Chinese market demand. Epicrystal will join forces with subsidiaries in the east, south, and north China, which are located in places that have easy access to the Chinese clients and the Shenzhen sales center in order to make inroads into the Chinese market.
Epistar owns several subsidiaries in China, including Luxlite (Shenzhen, Guangdong), Crystalrich (Guangdong, Guangdong), Episky (Xiamen, Fujian), ULED (Jining, Shandong) and the latest addition Epicrystal (Changzhou, Jiangsu). Light products that incorporate Epistar’s manufactures are about to enter the Chinese market.
Epicrystal is invested and founded by Epistar, LiteOn, Konka and Episky and is Epistar’s biggest investment project in China. It is also the first time that Epistar institutes its epi wafer technology in a non-Taiwanese plant. The new plant employs about 250 workers with a registered capital of US$ 120 million and an overall investment of US$ 360 million. The plant mainly engages in the development and manufacture of LEDs, epi wafers and LED wafers, and it also provides technology consulting service.
Mr. Hante Chiu, Epitaxy Department Manager of Epicrystal, stated that Epicrystal’s products will mostly be adopted in the backlight sector. 10 sets of Aixtron 4-inch MOCVD equipment have been installed in the new plant for its production, and the amount is expected to increase to 15 by the end of 2011; the amount is set to total 30 at the end of the first stage. The plant is planned to be at full capacity by the end of 2013.
The Changzhou plant is able to accommodate 60 sets of MOCVD equipment.
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