Sharp plans to begin volume production at its Kameyama, Mie Prefecture (Japan) factory, consisting of a six-generation (6G) TFT LCD line and an LCD TV line, between January 2004 and March 2004, earlier than the originally planned May 2004, according to the Nihon Keizai Shimbun.
Speaking at a news conference on Thursday, company president Katsuhiko Machida disclosed that Sharp would increase its fiscal year 2003 (April 2003 to March 2004) capital spending to 178 billion yen, including 108 billion yen for the LCD sector, supposedly mainly for the Kameyama factory, according to Reuters.
Sharp expects the new factory, which processes 1,500×1,800mm substrates, to help it substantially reduce the production cost of TFT LCD panels and TVs and compete with PDP (plasma display panel) producers in the super-large-size TV market. The company reportedly plans to produce 50-inch LCD TVs at the Kameyama factory.
Sharp aims to sell one million LCD TVs for 82 billion yen in sales in fiscal year 2002.
Reuters (via Forbes) – Sharp to boost capital spending
Article translated by Shih-wei Kao and edited by Richard So
