Toshiba invests in production of large LCDs

17 Jun 2002

Toshiba of Tokyo, Japan has announced a 38 billion Yen (USD 362 million) investment in a new generation of large liquid-crystal displays based on low-temperature polysilicon thin-film transistors.

The investment will fund a new production line at Fukaya Operations, which has been the company's LCD production site since 1997. The investment program will start in April and the new production line should be completed in spring 2001. The line will produce 25,000 glass substrates a month, each measuring 550 x 670mm. This will add significantly to the present monthly production level of 30,000 glass substrates (400 x 500mm size).

Fukaya Operations occupies an area of approximately 130,000 square meters and employs around 3000 people. The new facilities will include a clean room for assembling panels and an advanced manufacturing line. The new line will enable the commercial production of low-temperature polysilicon TFT LCDs of up to 15 inches across. The company says that this will be the largest size yet achieved for this type of display.

SH