Showa Denko to Boost Ultrabright LED Chip Production

Tokyo, July 18 (Jiji Press)–Showa Denko K.K. said Wednesday that it will boost its production capacity for gallium nitride- based blue light-emitting diode chips, with an additional investment of 5 billion yen.

The comprehensive chemicals and electronics maker plans to raise monthly output of the product at its plant in Ichihara, Chiba Prefecture, east of Tokyo, to 200 million by June 2008 from 60 million at present, in order to meet growing demand for use in mobile phones and displays.

The plan is part of the company’s aggressive investment to expand its ultrabright LED business.

Sales from the business accounted for less than 20 pct of Showa Denko’s overall LED operations in 2006. The company intends to raise the proportion to over 80 pct in 2010.END

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