2006/01/23
IPS Alpha Announces Accelerated Production Schedule
IPS Alpha Technology Ltd. (President: Fumiaki Yonai) announces that in response to growing demand for IPS LCDs, it will start mass production of IPS LCDs from May, 2006 (1.6 million units/year, in terms of 32 inch units), thus accelerating by about two months prior plans to commence mass production in the second quarter (July - September) of 2006.
Additionally, in light of the growing popularity of flat panel TVs, IPS Alpha plans to advance by about one and half years an increase in production capacity originally planned for the second half of the 2008 fiscal year, boosting capacity in April 2007 to 2.5 million units/year in terms of 32 inch product.
At present, in addition to the spread of terrestrial digital broadcasting, upcoming world events such as the Winter Olympics in Turin and world cup soccer in Germany are starting to increase demand for IPS LCDs, which draw out the high image quality inherent in digital broadcasting.
In light of these circumstances, since its establishment on January 1, 2005 the company has been planning construction of an advanced manufacturing facility for IPS LCD TV panels on the premises of Hitachi Displays Ltd. (President: Kazuhiro Mori) in Mobara-city, Chiba Prefecture, with the aim of commencing mass production from the second quarter of the 2006 fiscal year. To address increased market demand however, it has revised this plan to advance the start of mass production in the factory currently under construction, and increase its production capacity.
Utilizing our technology base, IPS Alpha will continue to supply LCD panel products even more competitive in performance and pricing.
IPS LCDs
IPS stands for In-Plane-Switching (lateral electric field) mode LCD, a type of TFT LCD display technology offering higher picture quality even when viewed at any angle.
When voltage is applied, LCD molecules rotate parallel to the board, enabling wider viewing angles and fewer changes in tone and all color gradation from white to black from different viewing angles. Thus IPS provides a wider, 170-degree viewing angle, both horizontally and vertically, displaying natural images. In particular, IPS-Pro, an improved version for TV broadcasting, allows the manufacture of LCDs with the highest picture quality, thanks to a 50% increase in transmissivity and contrast ratio three times that of previous IPS technology.
How IPS Alpha Technology began
Hitachi, Ltd. (President: Etsuhiko Shoyama), Toshiba Corporation (President: Atsutoshi Nishida), Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. (President: Kunio Nakamura) and Hitachi Displays, Ltd., a wholly owned Hitachi subsidiary, established IPS Alpha Technology Ltd. on January 1, 2005 to specialize in the manufacture and sale of LCD panels for flat panel televisions.
IPS Alpha will manufacture LCD panels using IPS technology developed by Hitachi Displays. Hitachi, Toshiba, Matsushita and IPS Alpha Technology, as set and panel makers, will work closely together to achieve synergy in the supply of IPS LCD panels and televisions that are more competitive in terms of both performance and price.
Outline of IPS Alpha Technology
| Company name |
IPS Alpha Technology, Ltd. |
| President |
Fumiaki Yonai |
| Commencement of operations |
January 1, 2005 |
| Capital (including capital reserve) |
69 billion yen (as of end of 2006) |
| Ownership |
Hitachi Displays: 34.5 billion yen (50%);
Toshiba: 15 billion yen (22%);
Matsushita: 15 billion yen (22%);
Development Bank of Japan and others: 4.5 billion yen (6%);
(as of end of 2006) |
| Location |
3300 Hayano, Mobara-city, Chiba Prefecture, Japan ("3300 Hayano" to become "3732 Hayano" from February 2006) |
| Business |
Manufacture, design, sales and related maintenance and services for amorphous TFT LCD panels |
| Capital investment |
Approx. 110 billion yen |
| Products |
Amorphous TFT LCD panels for TVs 23-inches and abovee |
| Start of production |
May, 2006 |
| Production capacity |
1.6 million 32-inch units/year in May, 2006 (start of production) [Board input capacity: 20 thousand sheets/month]
2.5 million 32-inch units/year after April, 2007 [Board input capacity: 30 thousand sheets/month]
[Board size: 1500mm x 1850mm, for 26 inches x 12 or 32 inches x 8]
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