Sharp Launches Production of LCD Modules in Poland

At the initial phase, 100,000 LCD modules for large-screen Sharp LCD TVs are being produced here per month. The LCD modules go into flat LCD TVs to be manufactured by Sharp Electrónica España S.A. (SEES) in Spain and Loewe Opta GmbH in Germany. The production capacity will be enhanced step by step in order to meet the fast growing demand for LCD TVs on the European market. “With the new Sharp LCD module factory in Poland, Sharp demonstrates how important Europe, the LCD TV market of the future, is for the company. For 2007 we expect LCD TV demand to reach 23 million units in Europe”, says Hans Kleis, CEO of Sharp Electronics Europe. ”With the factory in Torun we want, on the one hand, to be able to better meet the high demand for LCD TVs in Western Europe and, at the same time, reduce the time to market. On the other hand, we are deliberately investing in Eastern Europe with this factory, since countries like Poland, the Czech Republic, Hungary or Slovakia belong to the fast growing European LCD TV markets which will gain more and more importance in the future. Therefore, Sharp plans to additionally extend production lines in Torun in 2007 in order to be able to manufacture also complete LCD TVs here”, Kleis continues.The sum invested in the new factory is about 44 million euros (approx. 6 billion yen). Currently, the new plant has a staff of 800 employees.With Kameyama II, Sharp is already operating the world’s first LCD factory of the 8th generation. Since September 2006, LCD TVs have been manufactured for markets around the world here. At this plant, the leader in LCD technology can process the world’s largest LCD glass substrates measuring 2.16 by 2.46 metres. From the 5.3 square metre glass substrates, panels for a new generation of large-screen Full HD Sharp AQUOS LCD TVs are cut and supplied to other factories for further processing, among them the new plant in Torun.In January 2007 the production capacity at Kameyama II was doubled to 30,000 glass substrates. This is Sharp’s answer to the growing international demand for large-screen LCD TVs. From a mother glass from Kameyama II, eight 46-inch or six 52-inch LCD TVs can be manufactured, for example.  Profile of Sharp Manufacturing Poland Sp.zo.o. (SMPL) 1. Location               Lysomice, Torun, Province of Kujawsko-Pomorskie, Republic of Poland 2. Business description                 Manufacture and sales of LCD modules etc. 3. Site area              Approx. 500,000 m² 4. Building area                   Phase I: approx. 41,000 m² factory premises 5. Investment                        Phase I: approx. 44 million euros (approx. 6 billion yen) 6. Production launch                       January 2007 7. Staff                      Approx. 800 employees at production launch For further information visit: http://www.sharp-eu.comYour questions will be answered by Martin Moschek commissioned by Sharp Electronics (Europe) GmbHPhone: +49 / (0)40 / 67 94 46-77, Fax: +49 / (0)40 / 67 94 46-11, E-Mail: m.moschek@faktor3.deFAKTOR 3 AG, Kattunbleiche 35, D-22041 Hamburg