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Susie Pan, Taipei; Rodney Chan, DIGITIMES [Thursday 8 May 2008]
Taiwan-based color filter (CF) maker Sintek Photronic is developing 7-inch capacitive touch panels, and expects volume production to start in the first quarter of 2009, according to company chairman Wen-yi Chang. Having announced a plan to sell its 3.5G and 4G CF plants to Chunghwa Picture Tubes (CPT), Sintek is diversifying into the touch panel sector, Chang said. Sintek has already started designing capacitive touch panels and samples are expected to be delivered by the end of 2008, he said. Some idle facilities at its 5G plant will be switched to the production of touch panels, with monthly capacity reaching 7,000-10,000 substrates monthly, he said. If product validation and volume production go smoothly, Sintek will expand its touch panel capacity in the future, he added. Chang predicted that touch functionality will be found in a wide range of applications. While the resistive touch panel market is rather mature, the capacitive type is just beginning to take off, he said. He revealed that Sintek decided to turn part of its TV-use CF equipment to making touch panels after clients came knocking at the door asking it to collaborate in developing the capacitive touch panel market. A 5G substrate measuring 1,200×1,300 mm can be cut into 288 3.5-inch panels, or 91 7-inch panels, Chang said. As prices for capacitive touch panels are double those for CFs, the new products are expected to boost the company's revenues, he added. While 3.5-inch capacitive touch panels are readily available on the market, Sintek's clients are asking for 7-inch models, Chang revealed. This is a challenge, because currently there are no suppliers of capacitive touch panels larger than 5-inch.
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