Nichia cuts InGaN deal with Optotech
Nichia says that it has entered into a collaboration with the Taiwan-based LED manufacturer Optotech.
According to a statement on the Japanese company s web site, the two firms will focus on InGaN materials that are used in blue LEDs.
Nichia said that with global LED demand expanding it "has a responsibility to answer the calls for its LEDs", and that the Optotech deal was part of its plans to "secure" the LED supply.
Having originally announced its intention to set up alliances with Taiwanese manufacturers in early June, Nichia maintains that this process is ongoing.
Optotech, which makes a range of other products including thermopiles, optical sensors and driver ICs, announced plans to build a factory in Ningbo, China, in March of this year.
• While shipments of LEDs for cell phone applications have rocketed upwards in recent months, an excess supply now threatens to depress prices by up to 30% later this year, according to Digitimes.com.
The price of blue LEDs used to illuminate keypads is expected to drop by 20%, while the cost of white surface-mounted LEDs may fall even further, by 30%, claims the report.
LED manufacturers including Taiwan s Arima Optoelectronics and Nichia are continuing to add capacity to meet demand for the devices.
