Nancy Cheng, Taipei; Jessie Shen, DIGITIMES [Tuesday 23 February 2010]
Chroma Ate, All Ring Tech and Single Well Industrial, which supply equipment for LED backend production, have all said demand from customers for 2010 appears much stronger than last year thanks to the growing adoption of LEDs as a backlight source for TV, notebook and PC monitor applications.
Chroma Ate has seen growing demand for tools needed to test LED’s brightness accuracy, according to the company. It expects sales from the LED sector to grow substantially in 2010.
Chroma Ate reported unaudited revenues of NT$3.44 billion (US$107 million) for 2009, down 17% on year. The LED segment was one of its four testing segments that generated growth in 2009, with sales up by 23%. LED testing accounted for 2.5% of the company’s 2009 sales.
All Ring, which began shipping LED packaging-related equipment in the second half of 2009, saw shipments to LED packaging houses reach 20-30 units last year. The company declined to provide a shipment forecast for 2010, but said it focuses on demand for handset applications.
All Ring mainly makes equipment used in the production of LCD panels, passive components as well as IC packaging. The equipment maker posted unaudited pre-tax profits of NT$44.4 million for the fourth quarter of 2009, compared to a combined pre-tax profit of NT$49.4 million for the first three quarters of the year.
Single Well, a major LED molding equipment supplier in Taiwan, said it has landed orders for 2010 from Everlight Electronics, Lite-On Technology, Unity Opto Technology, Wellypower Optronics and LightHouse Technology. Shipments to these customers have already kicked off in the first quarter.
\Single Well has also secured orders from an LED maker located in Hubei province, China, said the company, without elaborating.
Single Well swung to profits of NT$2.29 million in the third quarter of 2009 after three consecutive quarterly losses.