May 13, 2008 –Capacitive Touch Panel still have great developing space. Not only Capacitive Touch Panel providers, Film on Glass Touch Panel providers keep developing new products, but also TFT panel providers, Color Filter providers utilize existing resources to ender this field. Former is the existing touch panel providers, owns the fast developing speed and various new products. However, the market is not yet fully developed. Panel providers and Color Filter providers have the product integrate advantages, who will increase capacity dramatically in 2008, and lower the prices significantly.
Since Film on Glass Touch Panel technology is mature, the profit margin is also getting slim. Currently, the products are limited to 4 inches products. Most of the new vendors are focus on Capacitive Touch Panel technology, because of the price margin and product diversify. Furthermore; the selling price is almost twice higher than Glass Touch Panel. Having the margin, the new vendors developing space is relatively wide.
TFT-LCD plants aim the integration trend in Touch Panel and Display Panel. Many first line factories keep developing new related products. Besides the normally external mounting touch panel, in-cell Multi-Touch Panel is expecting to go on the market 2008. Even though, the vendors keep conservative attitude about the quality of in-cell Multi-Touch Panel, it still inspires the consumption market. In the near future, the Touch Panel business development will go towards Touch function or Display function will be more clearly.
Since external mounting touch panel technology is mature, Film on Glass Touch Panel technology development is getting universal. The major product is still focus on external mounting touch panel products. Innolux Display Corp. plans to go mass production within 2 months for Capacitive Touch Panel, on subtract size 400mm*500mm, and maximum capacity 100,000 per month.
Moreover, including AUO’s subsidiary - Cando, Sintek and CPT, all devoted in Capacitive Touch Panel field. AUO has the fastest developing speed, Cando has developed to mass production phase. AUO focused on external mounting touch panel products, and the difficulty is much challenging, and need long-term development with customers.
Sintek plans to utilize available 5.0G capacity to develop mounting touch panel products. It is in sampling and authorizing phase, and plans to pass the authorizing and be mass production in the beginning 2009. CPT announced that purchased Sintek Hu Kou 3.5G and 4.0G Color Filter production line. The capacity will provide CPT and GiantPlus for Color Filter, and Touch Panel. Since Film on Glass Touch Panel products are overly mature, CPT general manager Chuang-Yi Chiu indicated that Capacitive Touch Panel has great developing space. It is possible to go direct into large size touch panel market, and cooperate with systematic vendors to full fill customer demands. |