LCD glass substrate manufacturer AvanStrate Inc. is expanding South Korean and Taiwanese production facilities for large substrates.
AvanStrate, which changed its name from NH Techno Glass on 1 Decem…
LCD glass substrate manufacturer AvanStrate Inc. is expanding South Korean and Taiwanese production facilities for large substrates. AvanStrate, which changed its name from NH Techno Glass on 1 December 2008, is 53%-owned by US buyout fund Carlyle Group LP and 47%-owned by Hoya. It is one of four major players in the world market for LCD glass substrates, along with Corning Inc., Asahi Glass Co. and Nippon Electric Glass Co.. However, its estimated market share of just 5% underlines the company“s weaker position versus its rivals in glass substrates for televisions of 40 inches and larger. AvanStrate will begin production of eighth-generation substrates at a plant in South Korea in December 2008 and will expand a plant for 7.5-generation substrates in Taiwan. It aims to double sales to JPY 100 billion in fiscal 2012 by increasing dealings with major LCD panel producers in South Korea and Taiwan. Carlyle will fund the expansion, which will cost tens of billions of yen.