Copper-clad laminate (CCL) manufacturer Iteq has set a goal of generating revenues of US$1 billioin in 2015, and is working to expand its global presence by moving from the mid-low to the mid-high market segments, according to company chairman Cai Mao-zhen.
Iteq is currently the world's fifth-largest CCL maker with a 10-15% share. It expects to surpass Guangdong Shengyi Sci Tech and move into the fourth position in 2015, said Cai.
Cai revealed that in recent years, Iteq has expanded its high-end product segment such as CCLs for production of high-density interconnect (HDI) boards and high-end PCBs for cloud computing systems. Simultaneously, the company is phasing out its production for regular FR-4 PCBs, Cai added.
For HDI boards, Cai is positive about the demand outlook thanks to the booming markets for smartphones as well as tablet PCs and ultrabooks. In particular, with smartphones looking to replace feature phones, demand for upstream materials used to produce HDI boards will receive a boost, Cai indicated.
In addition, in response to reports that CCL demand has slowed down in the fourth quarter defying normal seasonal patterns, Cai noted that Iteq's utilization rate is still maintained at as high as 80%.
Moreover, since the devastating earthquake in Japan on March 11, a number of major PCB manufacturers have moved to diversify their upstream material sources. Iteq has been a beneficiary of the trend, and reportedly has secured orders from Japan's Meiko Electronics. Meiko is a component supplier for the iPhones.
Iteq has plants in China and Taiwan with combined production capacity at the facilities topping three million square feet a month.
Article translated by Jessie Shen
