DIGITIMES: News and Insight of the Global Supply Chain

Applied Materials targets double output by 2028 as chip equipment demand outpaces supply

DIGITIMES — Sun, 15 Nov 2026 23:21:43 GMT

Backed by surging demand for chipmaking equipment, Applied Materials plans to double output by 2028 and capacity by 2030, according to company executives during its earnings call for the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2026. It said customers are pushing for capacity ramps as demand still surpasses supply, and that the equipment maker is working with suppliers to overcome component supply bottlenecks.

India roundup: India's tech ambitions accelerate as semiconductor bottlenecks and supply-chain risks mount

DIGITIMES — Sun, 15 Nov 2026 23:21:09 GMT

India is accelerating semiconductor, electronics, and AI investments, but testing bottlenecks, rising costs, workforce cuts, factory safety concerns, and project delays expose growing challenges to its manufacturing ambitions.

Analysis: South Wales built a semiconductor powerhouse—but the rules of manufacturing are changing

DIGITIMES — Sun, 15 Nov 2026 23:20:51 GMT

South Wales has spent decades building one of Britain's most distinctive semiconductor manufacturing ecosystems. Rooted in a long history of metals processing and industrial production, the region now supplies specialist technologies supporting global electronics, electric vehicles and communications.

OLED smartphone panel shipments forecast to decline in 2026, says Counterpoint

DIGITIMES — Sun, 15 Nov 2026 23:20:35 GMT

Global OLED smartphone panel shipments are forecast to fall nearly 3% year-on-year in 2026, as memory constraints, higher production costs, and weaker demand weigh on the market. The downturn could put pressure on suppliers' revenue, while foldable displays, adoption of low-temperature polycrystalline oxide (LTPO), and power-efficiency advances point to longer-term opportunities for manufacturers.

ASE opens phase one of Luzhu plant, expands advanced packaging

Lily Hess — Sun, 15 Nov 2026 23:20:13 GMT

ASE Technology Holding on November 13 opened phase one of its Luzhu plant in Kaohsiung and broke ground for phase two at the Kaohsiung part of the Southern Taiwan Science Park, marking the company's first entry into Taiwan's science park system to build a large advanced packaging facility. The two phases represent an estimated investment of NT$100 billion (US$3.04 billion) at full capacity, generating annual revenue of approximately NT$80 billion and creating around 5,000 jobs.

Ennostar prioritizes profitability following major auto display win, targeting 2027 core turnaround

Yunnie Cheng — Sun, 15 Nov 2026 23:19:54 GMT

Ennostar has secured a major order from a leading automaker for high-end automotive displays, with its red-light direct-view Intelligent Signal Display (ISD) system successfully passing a European automaker audit. Mass production is scheduled for the second quarter of 2027. Ennostar Chairman Chin-Yung Fan stated that the company's 2027 operational strategy will pivot toward a "profit-first" approach, focusing on scaling back low-margin orders and optimizing its product mix to achieve a full-year operating profit turnaround.

Power supply maker Phihong targets breakeven in 2027 with networking, high-power products

DIGITIMES — Sun, 15 Nov 2026 23:19:38 GMT

Power supply maker Phihong Technology is targeting breakeven in 2027 and profitability in 2028 as it transforms its business, shifting away from mobile power products toward high-power, networking, and telecom products while moving more production to Vietnam.

TECO eyes power equipment demand as US data center approvals tighten

DIGITIMES — Sun, 15 Nov 2026 23:19:16 GMT

TECO Electric and Machinery said on November 12 that large-motor orders will support its 2027 operations, while data center engineering orders are expected to exceed NT$10 billion (approximately US$304 million) in 2026. The company has also secured Japan's first modular data center (MDC) project and expects commercial air-conditioning to account for 60% of its air-conditioning business.

800V DC architecture poised to drive GaN power device demand, with SiC competition a potential variable

Yunnie Cheng — Sun, 15 Nov 2026 23:18:44 GMT

As power consumption in AI data centers continues to surge, the adoption of an 800V DC power distribution architecture to boost energy efficiency has emerged as a market consensus. Gallium Nitride (GaN) power devices are expected to play a vital role within this new power topology. By 2030, GaN epitaxial wafers consumed by 800V DC power systems are projected to account for 6% of the total, making it the fastest-growing application segment for GaN power devices.

Advantest brings forward AI SoC tester expansion target

DIGITIMES — Sun, 15 Nov 2026 23:18:20 GMT

Advantest is bringing forward its expansion of system-on-chip (SoC) test equipment capacity as demand continues to drive the high-end semiconductor test equipment market. The company aims to raise annual production of its AI SoC testers from more than 5,000 units to approximately 10,000 units by the end of 2027, about one year earlier than its original target of the end of 2028.

MicroIP pivots to turnkey drones as customers reject self-assembly, eyeing 2027 revenue

Yunnie Cheng — Sun, 15 Nov 2026 23:18:07 GMT

MicroIP Technology is pivoting its drone strategy from supplying AI software platforms and standalone modules to delivering complete, turnkey aircraft, responding to customers who want to avoid the burden of system integration. The company expects its self-developed six-rotor drones—powered by in-house AI, flight control, and communications chips—to begin contributing revenue as early as 2027.

Report: Huang-linked firms join DeepSeek round, supply banned Nvidia chips

DIGITIMES — Sun, 15 Nov 2026 23:17:48 GMT

Chinese companies linked to alleged spy Alice Huang, who was accused of having an affair with former Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang, reportedly invested in DeepSeek's second funding round through a special-purpose vehicle (SPV) to secure supplies of Nvidia chips banned by the US. The transactions have exposed a supply chain involving black-market Nvidia hardware entering China.

Nokia sees AI driving 4x surge in global network traffic, deepens AI-RAN partnerships in Taiwan

Willis Ke — Sun, 15 Nov 2026 23:17:33 GMT

As generative AI gives way to agentic and physical AI applications, global network traffic is set to nearly quadruple by 2035, intensifying demand for greater uplink capacity, lower latency, and distributed computing. Nokia expects AI to account for 44% of monthly global network traffic by then, while Taiwan is emerging as an active participant in the industry's transition toward AI-native networks, said Magic Hsu, managing director of Nokia Taiwan.

Nan Pao profit rises 23.5% in September 2026 on semiconductor, foldable display materials

DIGITIMES — Sun, 15 Nov 2026 23:17:12 GMT

Nan Pao Resins Chemical reported net profit attributable to the parent of NT$656 million (US$19.95 million) in the third quarter of 2026, with earnings per share of NT$5.44, up 9.5% from 2025. Net profit for the first three quarters reached NT$2.323 billion, with earnings per share of NT$19.27, rising 23.5% year-over-year to a record high for the same period.

Eternal Materials' semiconductor packaging materials turn profitable

DIGITIMES — Sun, 15 Nov 2026 23:16:57 GMT

Eternal Materials reported third-quarter 2026 revenue of NT$12.596 billion (US$383 million), up 5.62% quarter-over-quarter and 24.76% year-over-year, as seasonal demand lifted sales. Its precision equipment business is set for a customer acceptance peak in the fourth quarter, while semiconductor packaging materials have begun generating profits.

Cheng Mei targets semiconductor revenue in 2027, growth in 2028

Lily Hess — Sun, 15 Nov 2026 23:16:37 GMT

Cheng Mei Materials Technology is accelerating its shift from traditional polarizer products into semiconductor materials, targeting advanced packaging as a core growth driver. The company has entered the wafer dicing and grinding tape market and expects small-scale revenue contributions from the second half of 2027, with growth accelerating in 2028 as advanced packaging capacity comes online.

Volkswagen halts mega-casting as automakers embrace pragmatism

DIGITIMES — Sun, 15 Nov 2026 23:16:22 GMT

Mega-casting, once hailed as a revolutionary advance in automotive manufacturing, is entering a period of strategic retrenchment after Volkswagen Group canceled its planned project in Germany. The decision reflects automakers’ growing focus on cost discipline and manufacturing flexibility as they reassess the technology’s commercial benefits.

Taiwan warns chip workers of detention risk in China, citing 470 cases

DIGITIMES — Sun, 15 Nov 2026 23:16:06 GMT

Taiwan's Mainland Affairs Council has warned that Taiwanese semiconductor workers who travel to China face a high risk of having their personal freedom restricted, noting that Taiwan holds the world's most advanced AI chip manufacturing technology. The warning comes as a reported affair between Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang and Alice Huang, an alleged Chinese spy, has drawn attention to China's multifaceted means of countering technology restrictions.

MicroIP targets new smart-community projects as AI demand fragments

DIGITIMES — Sun, 15 Nov 2026 23:15:45 GMT

MicroIP Technology has expanded its system-integration work beyond drones, securing a smart-community project for a residential development in Taiwan. The company is supplying software and hardware for security functions, along with smart management for some infrastructure, chairman James Yang said.

US GAO flags F-35 supply chain risks as 17,000 parts go unaccounted

DIGITIMES — Sun, 15 Nov 2026 23:15:11 GMT

GAO says more than 17,000 F-35 parts in maintenance or repair status had not been entered into the program's inventory system as of March 2026, raising concerns about whether the Pentagon can account for billions of dollars in parts and support the fleet's readiness.

Probe card maker MPI's test interface share rises as 3Q26 profit hits record

DIGITIMES — Sun, 15 Nov 2026 23:14:43 GMT

Probe card maker MPI remained highly optimistic about its outlook as AI chip and high-performance computing demand continues to expand, with its three core probe card product lines operating at full capacity. The company expects operations to improve quarter-by-quarter in 2026, sustaining double-digit year-over-year growth and extending that momentum into 2027.

ITH turns profitable in 3Q26, OLED shipments to grow in 2027

DIGITIMES — Sun, 15 Nov 2026 23:14:21 GMT

Display driver IC maker ITH reported revenue of NT$5.631 billion (US$171.4 million) in the third quarter of 2026, up 17.2% quarter-over-quarter and 10.2% year-over-year, as it returned to profitability and expects OLED shipments to grow in 2027 on new customers.

Interview: Nvidia backs UK quantum startup Riverlane to solve latency, computing bottlenecks

Charlene Chen — Sun, 15 Nov 2026 12:57:00 GMT

As technology giants pour billions of dollars and research resources into deep-tech fields such as quantum computing, UK startup Riverlane is drawing attention after receiving investment from Nvidia. In an interview with DIGITIMES at the 2026 UK National Quantum Technologies Showcase, Riverlane CEO Steve Brierley discussed how the company is working with Nvidia and other chip giants to overcome quantum computing's low-latency and intensive computing challenges.

Synopsys sees AI accelerating EDA as chip-specific models divide work

Lily Hess — Sat, 14 Nov 2026 18:59:00 GMT

Synopsys chief product development officer Shankar Krishnamoorthy said AI will accelerate the electronic design automation (EDA) industry as the company works with OpenAI to develop semiconductor-specific models, while maintaining support for both frontier and open-weight models to preserve platform neutrality.

AUO Mobility Solutions to showcase next-gen smart cockpit at CES 2027

DIGITIMES — Sat, 14 Nov 2026 17:59:00 GMT

AUO Mobility Solutions Corporation, a subsidiary of AU Optronics (AUO) focused on smart cockpit and mobility solutions, will showcase its latest advances at CES 2027 in Las Vegas under the theme "Intelligence in Motion," highlighting the shift from visual experiences to intelligent interaction.

Hengs, Unitech launch 5.04MW/10.03MWh energy storage project

DIGITIMES — Sat, 14 Nov 2026 17:59:00 GMT

Sustainable energy company Hengs Technology has partnered with printed circuit board (PCB) maker Unitech Printed Circuit Board to launch a large behind-the-meter energy storage project at Unitech's Yilan plant in Taiwan, as demand for stable power and energy cost management rises among high-consumption industries driven by AI, high-performance computing (HPC), and electronics manufacturing expansion.

Foxconn targets automotive chiplets with 5μm fan-out RDL packaging

Lily Hess — Sat, 14 Nov 2026 17:59:00 GMT

As AI applications expand from cloud model training to end devices, Foxconn is using fan-out redistribution layer (RDL) technology to enter the advanced packaging market. The company showcased approximately 5μm-class fine-line circuitry at Hon Hai Tech Day 2026, targeting automotive chiplets, edge AI, and consumer electronics by balancing interconnect density, package size, and manufacturing cost.

MetaX-UBTech robot chip venture Xilect raises CNY500 million to take on Nvidia Thor

DIGITIMES — Sat, 14 Nov 2026 17:58:00 GMT

Xilect, a robot-chip venture set up by Chinese GPU designer MetaX and humanoid robot maker UBTech Robotics, has completed a CNY500 million (US$74.76 million) angel round to build a domestic computing platform for embodied AI, with Nvidia's Thor as its benchmark.

Hoya reportedly unable to meet Samsung's full 2027 EUV mask blank request

DIGITIMES — Sat, 14 Nov 2026 17:57:00 GMT

Japan's Hoya has reportedly told Samsung Electronics it would struggle to meet the chipmaker's request for additional extreme ultraviolet (EUV) mask blanks in 2027.

Why a North Dakota town backed AI data center development

Rodney Chan — Sat, 14 Nov 2026 17:01:00 GMT

On November 3, 2026, US voters cast ballots in local referendums on a total of 47 measures regarding AI data centers alongside the midterm elections. Unofficial figures compiled by Redbud Consulting and updated through November 10 show that 45 measures had been counted, with 44 of them in favor of restrictions. Only Harwood, North Dakota, voted in favor of the data center industry.

Lite-On targets LEO satellites and enterprise AI servers for edge computing growth

Kevin Wang — Sat, 14 Nov 2026 17:00:00 GMT

As AI computing moves from the cloud to edge devices, Lite-On Technology has reorganized its IT business segments, launching its Edge Computing and Energy Solutions (ECES) division in the third quarter. Through this restructuring, the company is targeting opportunities in low-Earth-orbit (LEO) satellites, on-premises enterprise servers, and networking equipment that are expected to grow severalfold over the next two to three years and eventually surpass IT-related power products in terms of revenue contribution.

Lite-On sees AI server orders through 2028 as 800V DC reshapes power market

DIGITIMES — Sat, 14 Nov 2026 17:00:00 GMT

Lite-On expects AI-related revenue to account for 40%–50% of total revenue by 2027, driven by strong growth in high-end AI power systems. As US cloud customers continue expanding AI infrastructure, the company's order visibility extends through 2028, while 800VDC specifications are undergoing major revisions that will delay volume production until late 2027.

Neousys Technology posts record quarter as defense, AGV/AMR demand accelerates

DIGITIMES — Sat, 14 Nov 2026 13:01:26 GMT

Industrial PC maker Neousys Technology posted record operating performance in 3Q26, driven by project customer shipments and peak shipments to the North American market. The company expects growth from defense, edge AI, and applications involving automated guided vehicles (AGVs) and autonomous mobile robots (AMRs), while adding humanoid robots and healthcare development in 2027.

Gemtek returns to profitability on direct-supply expansion, eyes AI infrastructure and optical module growth in 2027

Willis Ke — Sat, 14 Nov 2026 13:01:15 GMT

Taiwan-based networking equipment maker Gemtek Technology is gaining momentum in its business recovery following a challenging business-model transition, returning to operating profitability in the third quarter of 2026 as margins improved and direct-supply sales expanded. The company expects fourth-quarter performance to remain at a similar level, supported by resilient demand for networking products and the gradual recovery of its high-value-added businesses.

Etron plans strategic stake in Powerchip Innovation Investment

DIGITIMES — Sat, 14 Nov 2026 13:00:53 GMT

Memory IC designer Etron Technology reported strong Q3 2026 results on robust memory demand and rising product prices, with revenue reaching NT$6.792 billion (US$206.6 million), up 38.6% quarter-over-quarter and 535% year-over-year. Net income attributable to the parent company came to NT$2.493 billion, or earnings per share (EPS) of NT$7.59, reversing a loss of NT$1.74 per share in the same period of 2025.