Taiwan's Wire and Connector Suppliers Expand Output to Tap NB PC Boom

Taipei, Nov. 11, 2009 (CENS)--With demand for notebook PCs strongly rebounding due partly to launch of Windows 7 and partly to market recovery, Taiwan's manufacturers of wires and connectors for notebook PCs are actively moving to expand their output to tap the market boom, according to industry sources.

For instance, a brand new fabrication plant of Wanshih Electronic Co., Ltd., a top-caliber supplier of mini coaxial cable assemblies, is under construction in China and will become operational by the end of next year and lead to a 30-50% increase in the firm's total output. Plus, other power cord and cable makers, namely Taiwan Line Tek Electronic Co., Ltd., I-Sheng Electric Wire & Cable Co., Ltd. and Lotes Co., Ltd., have also kicked off output expansion recently.

In the meantime, connector makers, including P-Two Industrial Inc., Ji-Haw Industrial Co., Ltd. and Alltop Technology Co., Ltd., are increasing their production capacity of connectors and cable assemblies for notebook PCs to satisfy their downstream clients in the line.

The latest report released by the International Data Corp. (IDC) shows that global shipment of notebook PCs is expected to grow 7% in the fourth quarter of this year from the third quarter and 15% for entire the year and 19% next year. Especially, leading manufacturers, including Quanta Computer Inc., Compal Electronics Inc. and Wistron Corp., have required their contract suppliers of related parts and components to expand output as they expected to see higher shipment growth than the average of the industry in 2010.

For instance, High-Tek Harness Enterprise Co., Ltd. and Singatron Enterprise Co., Ltd., which supply cable assemblies and connectors, respectively, to Wistron are planning to set up new production lines in China to directly supply the products to Wistron's new notebook PC manufacturing plant in Taizhou City of Jiangsu Province, central China.