Japanese semiconductor giant extends laser diode capacity

17 Jun 2002

Sharp is building a USD 253 million laser diode plant to meet anticipated huge demands for optoelectronic components.

Sharp's new production base in Mihara, Japan, will manufacture compound semiconductor elements for IT-related products, including personal computers, CD and DVD players. Due to open in September 2002 with an initial production capacity of 5 million units per month, manufacturing will focus on laser diodes and LEDs.

"We are preparing for vigorous future demand for electronic components embedded in digital information appliances," said a company spokesperson. "The Mihara plant will be a premiere production base for these new electronic components and will be expanded significantly in light of evolving trends."

On opening in 2002, the plant will produce infrared and red laser diodes for CD and DVD recorders, but Sharp expects to extend production to blue laser diodes for next-generation high-capacity data recording media.