Toyoda Gosei builds second GaN LED factory
Toyoda Gosei, one of the world’s largest manufacturers of nitride LEDs, currently has a single factory in Heiwacho, Aichi Prefecture. The new Kyushu plant will enable the company to meet growing demand for blue LEDs and will also serve to diversify the company’s production base, lowering the risk of production loss in the event of natural disasters such as earthquakes.
The new plant will operate as the Optoelectronics Division, Kyushu Branch on a 1.4-hectare site at Takeo Industrial Park in Saga Prefecture. The plant will have 3,300 sq. m of floor space after initial construction, with scheduled expansion to 7,800 sq. m by 2006.
Toyoda Gosei plans to invest 1.6 billion yen ($14 million) in the project in 2004, 7 billion yen ($63 million) in 2005, and a further 7 billion yen in 2006. To reduce required capital outlays, the company is using land and buildings owned by Toyota Gosei Kyushu Co., Ltd.
Monthly production capacity at the Kyushu Branch will increase from an initial level of 29 million chips to 130 million chips in 2005 and 200 million chips in 2006. The facility will be staffed with about 80 employees initially, with a projected increase to 220 employees in 2005 and 350 employees in 2006.
Toyoda Gosei’s Japanese rival Nichia also recently announced plans to increase its LED production capacity (see Nichia increases LED production capacity).
