臺灣電子制造業(yè)巨擘鴻海精密創(chuàng)辦人郭臺銘一直積極強(qiáng)化富士康(Foxconn)的技術(shù)實(shí)力,以期能超越韓國電子業(yè)巨頭三星電子(Samsung Electronics)。而與日本領(lǐng)先的LCD面板制造商夏普(Sharp Corp)建立合作關(guān)系,正實(shí)現(xiàn)這一目標(biāo)的關(guān)鍵之一。
據(jù)日本經(jīng)濟(jì)新聞上周五報(bào)導(dǎo),夏普會把該公司先進(jìn)的中小尺寸 LCD 面板技術(shù)轉(zhuǎn)移給鴻海目前正在中國四川興建中的工廠。
此舉也代表著這兩家公司在三月底簽署協(xié)議后的首個(gè)合作項(xiàng)目。根據(jù)初步協(xié)議,鴻海將取得夏普9.9%的股份,而郭臺銘也將投資夏普的Sakai廠──約可獲得46.5%股份。Sakai廠于2009年開始運(yùn)轉(zhuǎn),主要生產(chǎn)超大玻璃基板,被視為量產(chǎn)LCD面板的一大里程碑,然而,該廠目前仍在設(shè)法解決過低的運(yùn)轉(zhuǎn)速度問題。
若夏普真的參與鴻海中國LCD面板廠業(yè)務(wù),那么這兩家公司的合作就不會再局限于其在日本Sakai廠的大尺寸電視面板了。未來兩家公司的合作關(guān)系將擴(kuò)展到智能手機(jī)和平板用的中小尺寸面板領(lǐng)域。
據(jù)日經(jīng)表示,在這次的新技術(shù)轉(zhuǎn)移中,夏普可能獲得數(shù)百億日圓的技術(shù)轉(zhuǎn)移費(fèi)用。
在大尺寸平面電視爭戰(zhàn)中敗給了韓國業(yè)者的日本顯示器制造商們,現(xiàn)正退守其中小尺寸平面顯示器產(chǎn)品線。索尼(Sony)、東芝(Toshiba)和日立(Hitachi)去年便聯(lián)合設(shè)立了一家名為Japan Display的合資公司。該公司專注于行動設(shè)備用的LCD面板業(yè)務(wù),甫于上個(gè)月開始運(yùn)作。索尼、東芝和日立各占新公司10%股份,其它部份則由官方的INCJ(Innovation Network Corporation of Japan)投資。
在此之前,夏普亦曾多次獲邀加入Japan Display的經(jīng)營。但夏普在經(jīng)過與鴻海長達(dá)一年的協(xié)商后,夏普顯然將它的未來押注在與鴻海的合作關(guān)系上。
在此同時(shí),索尼和松下(Panasonic)也開始討論透過技術(shù)合作實(shí)現(xiàn)OLED面板量產(chǎn)的潛在可能性。
2011年中小型面板顯示器營收分布。 / 資料來源:NPD DisplaySearch中小型出貨及預(yù)測季報(bào)
Sharp to transfer LCD technology to Hon Hai’s China plant
Junko Yoshida
TOKYO – Terry Gou, founder of Taiwan’s contract manufacturer Hon Hai Precision Industry Co. Ltd. (known as Foxconn), has been consistent in its one naked ambition: To build technology prowess at Foxconn that surpasses Korean giant Samsung Electronics. The key to that goal, in Gou’s mind, lies in Hon Hai’s building an intimate link with Japan’s leading LCD panel manufacturer Sharp Corp — which did not really exist.
Until now. A deal has been made at last, possibly rendering Gou’s goal good to go.
Sharp Corp. will transfer the company’s advanced, small-to-medium LCD panel technology to a Hon Hai fab -- currently under construction -- in China’s Sichuan province, Nikkei, Japan’s economic newspaper, reported Friday.
This move represents the first tangible joint project between the two companies, built upon a Hon Hai/Sharp deal that was signed at the end of March.
Under the initial deal, the two companies agreed to Hon Hai’s taking a 9.9 percent stake in Sharp, while the Taiwanese firm's billionaire founder Gou invested his own money into Sharp’s Sakai fab – gaining a
46.5 percent share. The Sakai fab – opened in 2009, capable of handling super large glass substrates – is considered an important milestone in LCD panel production but it has been struggling with a disappointingly low run rate.
If indeed Sharp participates in Hon Hai’s LCD panel production in China, the two companies’ collaboration won’t be limited to large LCD panel production for TVs at the Sakai fab in Japan. The partnership will include small-to-medium LCD panel production for smart phones and tablets.
Nikkei said the new technology transfer, for which Sharp will receive tens of billions of yen in fees, is aimed at improving quality management at Hon Hai's planned plant in Chengdu.
A Sharp spokeswoman said the company was "considering a number of options," but declined to comment on the report.