Darfon Ventures Into Lighting Fixture Business

Taipei, June 5, 2008 (CENS)--Optimistic about outlook of lighting market, electronics-component maker Darfon Corp. has diversified into manufacturing of lighting fixtures for cold cathode fluorescent lamps (CCFLs) and T5 lamps its affiliate Wellypower Optronics Corp. makes.

Darfon has received quality certifications for its lighting fixtures and landed contracts from Philips Lighting. Darfon's lighting fixtures are mainly designed for display shelves in department stores.

Darfon's executives estimated the new business to pump hundreds of millions of New Taiwan dollars into the company's revenue by the end of this year thanks to orders from Philips and AU Optronics, a major shareholder of Wellypower. The company is now the world's No.2 maker of LCD TV inverters and notebook computer keyboards. Its revenue totaled NT$24.7 billion (US$823 million at US$1:NT$30) last year.

The executives said CCFLs are noted for energy conservation and boast lifespan as long as 50,000 hours, making them potential lighting products not only for commercial sites but also for manufacturing workshops and residences.

Darfon President K.J. Su noted that CCFL light bars are much less expensive than LED light bars, making them more easily acceptable than LED lights. However, the company, Su added, would introduce LED lighting fixtures soon to shoot for a slice of energy-saving lamp market.

Computer products including some leading-edge keyboards and cases will also help drive up the company's revenue, according to Su. The company has begun delivering IMR-type keyboards and cases so far this month. Both products are estimated to likely bring in revenues of NT$2-3 billion (US$66-100 million) this year.

The company estimated its shipments of IMR keyboards and cases for next month to reach the amount for 300,000 computers, which are expected to grow to the range of 600,000 to one million computers a month in fourth quarter this year.

To keep up with strong demand, the company plans to spend NT$600 million (US$20 million) to boost capacity sometime in the third quarter to 10-12 million IMR systems a month and to 20 million systems next year.