US-based Corning Inc., the world“s largest maker of glass substrates for TFT-LCDs (thin film transistor-liquid crystal displays), held a groundbreaking ceremony for its new plant at the Taiwan Scienc…
US-based Corning Inc., the world“s largest maker of glass substrates for TFT-LCDs (thin film transistor-liquid crystal displays), held a groundbreaking ceremony for its new plant at the Taiwan Science-based Industrial Park in southern Taiwan. Executives of Corning Glass Taiwan Co. said the plant is designed to meet the rapidly growing demand from its customers in Taiwan. With an initial capital investment of NT$ 1.6 billion, there will be 16 glass substrate processing lines when commercial production begins in 2001. This will be the first such material plant in Taiwan. Follow-up expansion will be gradually carried out in the future. Peter Volanakis, Corning Group“s vice chief executive officer in charge of the advance display product division, said the plan demonstrates Corning“s commitment to help Taiwan become a major supply centre for TFT-LCDs. Hwang Jenn-tai, chairman of the Cabinet-level National Science Council, and top executives from seven TFT-LCD processing companies (including Unipac Optoelectronic Corp. and Prime View International Co.) also took part in the ceremony. Hwang hoped that in addition to building the plant, Corning will establish an R&D centre at the park to strengthen its competitiveness and help spur the overall development of the optoelectronic industry in Taiwan. In line with the beginning of the plant construction, Corning is also beefing up the production capacity of its plants in Japan and South Korea. The projects will double the Corning Group“s global production capacity and further consolidate its leadership in the market.