The plan is to begin production by the end of second-quarter 2012. Initial capacity of touch panels using the new method is estimated between 400,000-600,000 sheets per month.
Calling TOL the future trend, TPK CFO Freddie Liu said the company's new endeavor in this field will not go against its existing double-glass touch panel products as each has different applications. The company aims to provide clients with more choices with the addition of TOL solutions, instead of replacing double-glass products with TOL ones, he said.
Early-stage applications of touch panels using the TOL method target at mid-range smartphones and tablet PCs, Liu said.
TPK has a capital of NT$2.24 billion, and its capital expenditure (capex) reached NT$10.17 billion in first-half 2011.The procurement of TOL related equipment will cost it another NT$6 billion in the fourth quarter.
TPK invests in TOL production method
Date: 27 October 2011
Source: http://www.digitimes.com
Taiwan-based TPK Holdings has been investing in a new production method called touch on lens (TOL) and plans to spend NT$6 billion (US$199 million) to procure a large quantity of equipment to set up TOL production lines.