Ferrotec to boost output of silicon equipment in China

Japan's FERROTEC CORP. (TSE:6890) is increasing Chinese production of equipment used to manufacture solar cell materials by 40 per cent to 50 units a month in response to growing demand. The Jasdaq-listed producer of semiconductor-manufacturing equipment and parts plans to invest a total of 550 million yen (US$5.2 million) to boost output of both monocrystalline and polycrystalline silicon production equipment at its Shanghai plant.

* To accommodate the increase, it will halt some machine tool assembly work currently done on contract from Taiwanese manufacturers.

* It will also release within the year a machine with the ability to turn out 150kg of monocrystalline silicon, 10 per cent larger than before.

ASIA IN FOCUS