Industrial computing device maker Ibase Technology, despite booming orders, expects first-quarter 2022 consolidated revenues to likely remain unchanged sequentially because the currently short supply of components appears poised to worsen later in the quarter, according to company spokesman Jeff Hsu.
Because of the component shortage, approximately 70% of the shipments that had been scheduled for the end of 2021 were actually shipped. About 50% to 60% of currently scheduled shipments are likely to be shipped in the first quarter of 2022, Hsu said.
To cope with component shortages, Ibase has sought possible replacement of some components with others and tried to adopt components that are not in short supply for new products in a bid to reduce reliance on the components that are running short, Hsu explained. For irreplaceable components that are in short supply, Ibase has tried its best to procure them from the spot market, Hsu noted. To sum up, Ibase is making efforts to maximize shipments, Hsu added.
Currently, networking components and power supplies are in the shortest supply, Hsu said. Along with adjustment in adopting components for new products, Ibase expects impact of component shortage on shipments to significantly lessen in the second half of 2022, Hsu noted. However, deferred shipments due to component shortages plus many new orders has led to a large backlog of production, bringing considerably large pressure on Ibase, Hsu indicated.
Ibase acquired a factory in northern Taiwan at NT$680 million (US$24.4 million) in 2020 and will add two surface mount technology (SMT) production lines at the factory by the end of March 2022. Besides, Ibase will shift some of equipment from its factory in New Taipei City, northern Taiwan, to the factory.
Of Ibase's products, networking/communication accounted for 40% of 2021 consolidated revenues, industrial automation for 38%, digital signage for 15%, and medical, intelligent transportation, and AIoT for 7%.
Ibase is developing ruggedized panel PCs for use in warehousing and outdoor operations and plans to start production in the fourth quarter of 2022.
Ibase has reported consolidated revenues of NT$387.9 million for December, decreasing 14.67% on month and 5.84% on year. Ibase's consolidated revenues were NT$1.409 billion for the fourth quarter of 2021, increasing 0.01% on quarter and 7.95% on year. Its annual consolidated revenues were NT$5.847 billion for 2021, growing 35.67% on year.
Ibase Technology spokesman Jeff Hsu
Photo: Ninelu Tu, Digitimes, January 2022
