Wistron is setting up OGS (one glass solution) touch panel lines at its factory in Taizhou, eastern China, with production to start in the third quarter, chairman Simon Lin said at a shareholders meeting on June 21.
The installation of OGS production equipment is to meet increasing orders, but is two months behind schedule because Wistron slowed down capital expenditure in early 2012 due to a conservative outlook, Lin said. Monthly capacity will be one million 7-inch panels initially, and expand to four million units in first-quarter 2013, Lin indicated. Production of larger-size OGS panels for notebooks and all-in-one PCs will begin later, Lin said.
Whether Windows 8 can popularize touch-screen devices hinges on two factors: a smooth user experience and price, Lin analyzed. Touch panel costs are still high, for example, US$120-130 for a multi-touch panel, Lin indicated. In order to lower prices for touch-screen devices, Intel and Microsoft are supposed to decrease quotes for processors and Windows 8 licensing charges, Lin claimed. In addition, ODMs may be able to reduce component costs by more than US$10 in total.
Wistron has extended ODM production to recycling PCBs at its factory in Kunshan, eastern China, recycling 1,500-2,000kg of PCBs a month currently, Lin said adding Wistron plans to set up a factory in Texas to recover precious metals from PCBs by the end of 2012.
Article translated by Adam Hwang
