Tokyo (iTers News) – Kyocera Corporation said today it has acquired LCD manufacturer Optrex Corporation, Tokyo, Japan, to form Kyocera Display Corporation
The acquisition will lay out the foundation for Kyocera Display Corp. to expand its LCD product offerings and manufacturing capabilities for automotive and industrial applications.
Kyocera offers a wide range of active matrix TFT LCD panels in sizes from 3.5 to 12.1 inches diagonal and resolutions from QVGA to SVGA.
Founded in 1976, Optrex has been focused on small and medium size LCDs in the automotive and industrial market sectors, offering a range of active matrix TFT and monochrome graphic and character LCDs.
The Kyoto, Japan-based Kyocera Group includes over 200 affiliates worldwide that manufacture a wide range of products including industrial ceramic materials, semiconductor components, automotive components, communications equipment and liquid crystal displays (LCDs).
Kyocera’s Gen 3 TFT LCD fabrication facility produces state-of-the-art polysilicon and amorphous silicon panels. Kyocera Display Corporation will complement their high-volume front-end array production capability with Optrex’s back-end modularization capabilities.
The acquisition of Optrex will also enable Kyocera to complement its range of resistive and capacitive type touch screen panels with Optrex’s touch screen bonding capabilities.
Geographically, it will also help Kyocera to expand its presence in the automotive and industrial LCD markets for Europe and America, as the acquisition will put Optrex America in Plymouth, MI, USA (now Kyocera Display America, Inc.) as well as Optrex Europe in Babenhausen, Germany (now Kyocera Display Europe GmbH) in its business constellation.
Optrex America will be operated in the new corporate name of Kyocera Display America, while Optrex Europe will be renamed as Kyocera Display Europe GmbH.
“We are confident that there will be a strong synergy between the product offerings, manufacturing infrastructure, business strategy and market segments of Kyocera and Optrex,” said Akihiko Ikeda, President of Kyocera Display Corporation. “It will benefit the customers of both companies and give us the capability for strong growth in the years ahead.”
“The change of ownership will not affect our relationship with Optrex’s customers and suppliers,” said Cynthia Ferrell, CEO of Kyocera Display America, Inc. “We remain committed to our business and to the continuity of supply to our longstanding and highly valued customer base.”