The Taiwan government-sponsored Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI) has joined with the 14 makers of LEDs and LED chips. The companies are: Epistar, Formosa Epitaxy, Arima Optoelectronics, Opto Tech, Tyntek, Ledtech Electronics, Unity Opto Technology, Para Light Electronics, Everlight Electronics, Bright LED Electronics, Kingbright, Lingsen Precision Industries, Ligitek Electronics and Lite-On Technology.
At the association's inauguration, chairman Teng Kuang-chung of Lite-on Technology said he hopes the group will make LED technology more popular and more diversified. He also looked to the government to provide assistance, according to the Radio Taiwan International website.
Teng said, "If we are interested in moving towards illumination, or vehicular applications, the market technology and future cooperative partners are all overseas. Therefore, the government needs to help us get up to par with the rest of the world in terms of production standards, in order to overcome current barriers."
Taiwan chipmakers merge
LED chipmakers Touchtek and Uni Light Technology recently announced a plan to merge with each other, according to the DigiTimes website. The two companies intend to combine their resources and technologies to further reduce production costs. Taiwan Oasis will remain the largest shareholder of the newly merged company (which will be called Touchtek), with a 30-40% stake.
Uni Light currently has nine systems for the growth of blue LED chip material, with a combined monthly capacity of 32 million units. The new Touchtek will have an overall LED chip capacity of 700 million units per month.
