Work- and study-from-home needs in the wake of the pandemic have shored up demand for IT devices, benefitting makers along the supply chian, including Taiwanese panel suppliers who saw shipments for large-size LCD applications shoot up 35% sequentially in second-quarter 2020, according to Digitimes Research. In the LED sector, Epistar has seen utilization rates riswing, thanks partly to strong orders for backlighting applications from the TV segment. In the semiconductor sector, Sino-American Silicon Products (SAS) will take a 22.53% stake in Advanced Wireless Semiconductor (AWSC), looking to create synergy for the developing GaN components.
Taiwan large-size panel shipments ride high in 3Q20, says Digitimes Research: Taiwan's shipments of large-size panels (excluding Sharp's) are expected to grow 6.7% sequentially in third-quarter 2020 after registering a robust growth in the previous quarter, according to Digitimes Research.
Epistar sees capacity utilization rise to 70%: LED epitaxial wafer and chip maker Epistar has seen utilization of production capacity rise from 50-60% in the second quarter of 2020 to 70% currently due to increased demand for LED chips for backlighting, lighting and fine-pitch displays, according to the company.
SAS, AWSC team up for GaN components: Sino-American Silicon Products (SAS) and Advanced Wireless Semiconductor (AWSC) have struck a strategic alliance under which the former will acquire a 22.53% stake in the latter through private placement. The equity investment will allow SAS to become the largest shareholder of AWSC, and the pair will be jointly developing gallium nitride (GaN) components.