Invest in TaiwanDepartment of Investment Services, MOEA
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Toppan Printing of Japan was founded in 1900. From modest beginnings, it gradually climbed into a leading position in the printing industry; the company has recently been shifting its focus into the electronics and multimedia industries in line with the advances made in information technology. Toppan is determined to become a leader in the information and communications sector. Toppan Printing has 7 major business divisions: Security and Cards, Publications Printing, Commercial Printing, Packaging, Industrial Materials, Electronics, and Multimedia. In its color filter (CF) business, Toppan has a higher global market share than any other company in the world. The company ranks among the global Fortune 500 companies, at number 489, and has 31,610 employees. In 1963 Toppan began to expand overseas, and currently has branch offices or business divisions in Asia, North America, Europe, and Oceania. Taiwan is the first and only country in Asia where Toppan has set up an electronics product manufacturing facility outside of Japan.
Taiwan's TFT-LCD industry has a global market share of 36%--the reason why Toppan Printing established its sole overseas production base in Taiwan; If Toppan invests in China in the future, the investments will be made through Toppan CFI Taiwan, with Toppan CFI Taiwan personnel being assigned to positions in China.
Large-scale investment in the TFT-LCD (Thin Film Transistor-Liquid Crystal Display) industry began in Taiwan in 1998, stimulating investment by up-stream component suppliers and manufacturers of other types of flat panel display. The color filters made by Toppan Printing of Japan conformed to the needs of the TFT-LCD market, so an assessment was made of the feasibility of establishing a color filter production facility in Taiwan either through technology transfer or a joint venture. In January 2000, Toppan Printing and Taiwan's Allied Material Technology Corporation signed an agreement for the transfer of 3.5G (enhanced third generation) color filter production technology. In 2001, Toppan CFI Taiwan was established in Tainan's Technology Industrial Park, and in 2002 a production line for 4th generation color filters was completed and began volume production. Additional investments were made at that time for the construction of a 5th generation CF production line. In 2003 the 5th generation production line was completed, becoming the first 5th generation production line of its kind to begin volume production in Taiwan.
Within a few short years, these various production lines have all been completed and begun production, making the Toppan Printing Group Taiwan's largest supplier of color filters. Toppan is continuing its investments in color filters for large size display panels.
Taiwan is Toppan's only overseas production base in Asia for electronics products. Toppan CFI Taiwan is the production center for color filters, and is currently focusing on color filters for the large size LCD displays used in notebook computers and monitors. In the future, Toppan CFI Taiwan will be focusing on even larger products. At present, the company is supplying the needs of Taiwanese vendors only. Should spare production capacity become available, it may consider exporting to other countries as well.
Southern Taiwan has become a key area for the development of the optoelectronic industry. In 2002, Southern Taiwan had global market share of 36% of the LCD market. By setting up a production base for color filters in Taiwan, Toppan Japan has been able to save on shipping costs, and to meet customers' needs rapidly from close at hand. The industry cluster effect is readily apparent in Taiwan, and a comprehensive supply chain of key component suppliers is taking shape. These are the main reasons why Toppan has continued to invest in Toppan CFI Taiwan. The Toppan Printing Group is full of praise for the way government agencies in Taiwan go out of their way to meet enterprises' needs, listen to what enterprises have to say, and respond rapidly to enterprises' requests.
The global market share of Taiwan's TFT-LCD industry has reached 36%, and Taiwan is number 2 in the global rankings. Total investment in the industry is in excess of NT$300 billion, which represents a higher intensity of investment than can be found anywhere else in the world. Taiwan has become one of the world's most important production bases for flat panel display units, and attracts investment from key component vendors all over the world. As related industries cluster together in response to the formation of science parks and industrial districts, up- and down-stream suppliers will gradually become closely integrated, thereby helping to reduce production costs. Yet there is still plenty of room for further growth.
The display industry is one of the key industries targeted in the Republic of China's "Two Trillion, Twin Stars" Plan. By combining Taiwan's existing information and telecommunication technologies with the advantages possessed by the island's arkets and industries, it will be possible to achieve ongoing development of the market for flat panel display units. To meet growing demand, Taiwan has started training programs to build expertise and develop new, forward-looking technologies in this field. The island is also forming strategic alliances with other technologically advanced countries to raise the level of R&D expertise, and to cooperate in the joint development of the next generation of display technologies and equipment. It is estimated that the production value of flat panel and liquid crystal display units in Taiwan will exceed NT$ 1.37 trillion by 2006. Taiwan welcomes your participation in the development of the display industry, which offers such enormous potential.
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