Sanyo Epson ramps up capacity by 50 percent

Sanyo Epson Imaging Devices Corp. is planning to increase its output for small- and medium-sized LCDs by up to 50 percent within the next two to three years.

Sanyo Epson says it will invest ?10 billion ($90.1 million at Jpy110.91:$1) in upgrading its production lines at its facility in Tottori, Japan, to boost its capacity for 3in and smaller LCD panels.

The company plans to increase its annual capacity from the current target of 170 million units to 250 million units by 2007, anticipating higher demand from the mobile phone market.

Sanyo Epson is considered as the third largest global supplier of 10in and smaller LCDs, following Sharp Corp. and Toshiba Matsushita Display Technology Co. It has two production lines in Tottori, one of which is having equipment upgrades to produce 3-inch to 10-inch LCDs.