Capacitive touch panel industry firms up
Taiwan capacitive touch panel manufacturers are upbeat about the line, thanks to the growing popularity of touchscreen devices.
By year-end, more than 360 million mobile phones with touchscreens will be sold, according to Gartner’s estimates, boosting sales by 97 percent or twice that of 2009 figures. If this trend is sustained, the product will account for 58 percent of handsets by 2013, or about 1 billion units.
Industry players believe capacitive touchscreens will soon outpace resistive units and become the mainstream solution in mobile phones. The latter, however, will remain an option for some makers because of their lower costs. In the mobile PC line, the adoption of Windows 7 is expected to fuel a similar shift. Laptops, netbooks, smartbooks, all-in-one PCs, stand-alone computer monitors and handheld devices are moving toward increased touch panel integration.
Local suppliers are optimistic the iPad will drive global demand for capacitive touchscreens. In fact, some end-product makers have already prepared to deliver similar devices.
Micro-Star Intl, for instance, launched its Android-based tablet PC ahead of Apple’s version. Targeted at the whitebrand segment, the device features a 10in touchscreen and runs on an Nvidia Tegra CPU. It integrates a camera. The company will start shipping the product in 2H10.
Broadening supplier base Taiwan boasts a comprehensive touch panel industry consisting of more than 20 manufacturers and assemblers of IC controllers, ITO conductive glasses and films, and touchscreen modules.
The majority in the capacitive touchscreen segment started out in the resistive line. JTouch, Higgstec, Mildex, Swenc, Transtouch and Young Fast are among them. Others that are expected to join the bandwagon will come from the TFT sector. These include Cando, EDT, Sintek, Star World and Wintek. The ITO glass and film category has major companies such as AimCore,
AVCT and G-Tech. Although dominated by Japan, the local sector is optimistic about its prospects. Efun and Gamma are the other domestic suppliers. IC controllers have about six companies, including Elan, Egalax, PixArt and SiS.
Taiwan makers cater mainly to small and midsize FPD requirements. As key components and technologies remain in the control of US and Japan companies, large-size panel production is still a challenge.