Tokyo – A new joint venture LCD manufacturing facility controlled by Hitachi, Matsushita and Toshiba called IPS Alpha Technology (IAT), is now scheduled to begin mass production in May, two months earlier than originally planned, the company announced.
The plant, which is located in Chiba prefecture for the product of large LCD panels for television displays, was originally slated to begin mass production in the July through September 2006 time frame. Output plans called for a gradual ramp up, hitting full capacity of 2.5 million 32-inch TV panels during the six months ending in March 2009.
The company accelerated that schedule, citing strong consumer demand for LCD televisions.
Mass production will now begin in May with an annual capacity of 1.6 million units and ramp up to the full capacity of 2.5 million by April 2007.