Editor-cum-publisher (Douglas@displayplus.net)
正當韓國兩大TFT LCD巨人──三星電子與LG Philips引領LCD面板製造市場時，當地的設備供應商卻飽受產業環境不佳之苦。
While the two Korean giants - Samsung Electronics and LG Philips LCD – are leading the LCD panel manufacturing market, the local equipment providers are suffering from poor business environment.
三星電子與Sony於2004年4月在韓國成立的S-LCD公司，最近宣佈了一項大型投資計劃，將再投入20億美元在其LCD生產線上。此一做法可望在現行每月6萬片面板的產能之外，每月再增加5萬片面板的產量以因應明年平面電視高漲的需求。
Samsung Electronics, which established a joint venture with Sony, S-LCD Corp., in Korea, in April 2004, recently announced a massive plan to cash into some $2 billion to the LCD production line. This is supposed to meet skyrocketing demands for flat-screen TVs with a monthly production capacity of 50,000 panels next year, in addition to existing monthly capacity of 60,000 panels.
三星集團透過巨額的投資已經居於市場的龍頭地位，連同該公司永遠的對手──LG，促使LCD七代線的導入。他們在PDP和OLED兩方面皆達到快速的進展，其中Samsung SDI在OLED市場顯然已經居於領導地位。
The Samsung group has been pioneering the market through a huge volume of investments, and this, together with its everlasting rival – LG -, resulted in the launch of the 7G LCD production line. Their quick move touches both PDPs and OLEDs that Samsung SDI now apparently takes a leadership in an OLED market.
LG Philips公司在最近8個月，剛成功開發出100吋(1,950 x 2,250mm)面板的生產線。當他們還在為這個成就自豪時，夏普(Sharp)也將在今年第三季，加緊腳步以第八代線開發106吋的面板。
For LG Philips LCD, the recent new record of 100” panel development in eight months was newsworthy enough. While the company boasts of the world’s largest 100” LCD panel (1,950 x 2,250mm) production line, Sharp accelerates its development pitch for the 106” version at its 8G production line during the third quarter of this year.
新友達勢力進逼龍頭地位
New force from “New AUO”
然而，韓國看似樂觀的顯示市場主導地位，也引起了原本屈居三、四軍的廠商緊追在後，特別是近來台灣廠商友達併購廣輝一事，更是備受業界矚目；因為根據iSupply在2005年第四季所發佈的數據為基底估算，完成合併後的友達，將佔據20.6%的市場份額！已然超越三星的20.3%及LG Philips的19.7%。
However, Korea’s seemingly bullish market leadership encounters the global third and fourth runners, AU Optronics and CMO of Taiwan. AUO’s acquisition of Quanta Display draws a great industrial attention as the acquisition will result in a combined LCD market occupation of 20.6 percent (based on the iSupply figures for the last quarter of 2005)., jumping atop above Samsung Electronics (20.3%) and LG Philips (19.7%).
產業普遍預測，隨著友達的顯示器面板產量逐漸超越韓國，其筆記型電腦LCD面板產量亦將攀上頂峰。如此一來，這個台灣的巨人將在一年內超越三星、LG Philips和奇美，為液晶電視面板再創另一傲人記錄。
Industry forecast has it that AUO’s notebook PC LCD panel production will rank atop in the global market with its monitor panel production exceeding Korea. Then, the Taiwan’s biggest giant is supposed to overpass Samsung Electronics, LG Phillips LCD and CMO in one year, marking another record for the TV LCD panels.
至於台灣面板業的另一個挑戰──需求日益增加的創投資金，根據業界人士表示，台灣的創投資金總數約在300個左右，超過美國和日本；以1980年代半導體的歷史榮景推估，台灣正享有具競爭力的基礎建設和不可思議的分析能量。
Taiwan’s challenge is also propelled by an increasing number of venture capitals. According to industry insiders, the number of Taiwanese venture capitals totals some 300, exceeding that of the United States and Japan. Based on sturdy experiences for the semiconductor industry in 1980s, they enjoy competitive infrastructures and visionary analysis power.
事實上，台灣約有20%的投資是聚焦於半導體業，這個比例幾乎是美國的3倍；大部分的投資已開始從美國矽谷轉移到台灣。不過，這還需視中國大陸的市場成長狀況而定。
In fact, about 20 percent of their investments is focused on semiconductors, almost tripling the U.S. counterparts. Most of them begin the portfolio in Silicon Valley and switch to Taiwan. However, they seem to watch the ever-growing Chinese market.
日商佈局的下一步
Next step of Japanese competitors
日本競爭者亦是不容忽視的。松下依然將主導PDP市場，而日立已經宣布將透過合資企業──IPS Alpha科技，加大LCD面板的投資；到了2008年，其最大年產能將超過450萬片。另一方面，富士通和日立本身，也將籌建PDP面板工廠，預料將在2008年完工。
They can’t stay idle watching the Japanese competitors, either. Japan-based Matsushita still dominates the PDP market, and Hitachi has already announced a heavy investment to the LCD panel production through its joint venture IPS Alpha Technology. Completed in 2008, its yearly production capacity will expand to 4.5 million panels to the maximum. Fujitsu Hitachi Display, meanwhile, pours into the construction of PDP panel factory for the target completion of 2008.
正當韓國兩大TFT LCD巨人──三星電子與LG Philips引領LCD面板製造市場時，當地的設備供應商卻飽受產業環境不佳之苦。
While the two Korean giants - Samsung Electronics and LG Philips LCD – are leading the LCD panel manufacturing market, the local equipment providers are suffering from poor business environment.
三星電子與Sony於2004年4月在韓國成立的S-LCD公司，最近宣佈了一項大型投資計劃，將再投入20億美元在其LCD生產線上。此一做法可望在現行每月6萬片面板的產能之外，每月再增加5萬片面板的產量以因應明年平面電視高漲的需求。
Samsung Electronics, which established a joint venture with Sony, S-LCD Corp., in Korea, in April 2004, recently announced a massive plan to cash into some $2 billion to the LCD production line. This is supposed to meet skyrocketing demands for flat-screen TVs with a monthly production capacity of 50,000 panels next year, in addition to existing monthly capacity of 60,000 panels.
三星集團透過巨額的投資已經居於市場的龍頭地位，連同該公司永遠的對手──LG，促使LCD七代線的導入。他們在PDP和OLED兩方面皆達到快速的進展，其中Samsung SDI在OLED市場顯然已經居於領導地位。
The Samsung group has been pioneering the market through a huge volume of investments, and this, together with its everlasting rival – LG -, resulted in the launch of the 7G LCD production line. Their quick move touches both PDPs and OLEDs that Samsung SDI now apparently takes a leadership in an OLED market.
LG Philips公司在最近8個月，剛成功開發出100吋(1,950 x 2,250mm)面板的生產線。當他們還在為這個成就自豪時，夏普(Sharp)也將在今年第三季，加緊腳步以第八代線開發106吋的面板。
For LG Philips LCD, the recent new record of 100” panel development in eight months was newsworthy enough. While the company boasts of the world’s largest 100” LCD panel (1,950 x 2,250mm) production line, Sharp accelerates its development pitch for the 106” version at its 8G production line during the third quarter of this year.
新友達勢力進逼龍頭地位
New force from “New AUO”
然而，韓國看似樂觀的顯示市場主導地位，也引起了原本屈居三、四軍的廠商緊追在後，特別是近來台灣廠商友達併購廣輝一事，更是備受業界矚目；因為根據iSupply在2005年第四季所發佈的數據為基底估算，完成合併後的友達，將佔據20.6%的市場份額！已然超越三星的20.3%及LG Philips的19.7%。
However, Korea’s seemingly bullish market leadership encounters the global third and fourth runners, AU Optronics and CMO of Taiwan. AUO’s acquisition of Quanta Display draws a great industrial attention as the acquisition will result in a combined LCD market occupation of 20.6 percent (based on the iSupply figures for the last quarter of 2005)., jumping atop above Samsung Electronics (20.3%) and LG Philips (19.7%).
產業普遍預測，隨著友達的顯示器面板產量逐漸超越韓國，其筆記型電腦LCD面板產量亦將攀上頂峰。如此一來，這個台灣的巨人將在一年內超越三星、LG Philips和奇美，為液晶電視面板再創另一傲人記錄。
Industry forecast has it that AUO’s notebook PC LCD panel production will rank atop in the global market with its monitor panel production exceeding Korea. Then, the Taiwan’s biggest giant is supposed to overpass Samsung Electronics, LG Phillips LCD and CMO in one year, marking another record for the TV LCD panels.
至於台灣面板業的另一個挑戰──需求日益增加的創投資金，根據業界人士表示，台灣的創投資金總數約在300個左右，超過美國和日本；以1980年代半導體的歷史榮景推估，台灣正享有具競爭力的基礎建設和不可思議的分析能量。
Taiwan’s challenge is also propelled by an increasing number of venture capitals. According to industry insiders, the number of Taiwanese venture capitals totals some 300, exceeding that of the United States and Japan. Based on sturdy experiences for the semiconductor industry in 1980s, they enjoy competitive infrastructures and visionary analysis power.
事實上，台灣約有20%的投資是聚焦於半導體業，這個比例幾乎是美國的3倍；大部分的投資已開始從美國矽谷轉移到台灣。不過，這還需視中國大陸的市場成長狀況而定。
In fact, about 20 percent of their investments is focused on semiconductors, almost tripling the U.S. counterparts. Most of them begin the portfolio in Silicon Valley and switch to Taiwan. However, they seem to watch the ever-growing Chinese market.
日商佈局的下一步
Next step of Japanese competitors
日本競爭者亦是不容忽視的。松下依然將主導PDP市場，而日立已經宣布將透過合資企業──IPS Alpha科技，加大LCD面板的投資；到了2008年，其最大年產能將超過450萬片。另一方面，富士通和日立本身，也將籌建PDP面板工廠，預料將在2008年完工。
They can’t stay idle watching the Japanese competitors, either. Japan-based Matsushita still dominates the PDP market, and Hitachi has already announced a heavy investment to the LCD panel production through its joint venture IPS Alpha Technology. Completed in 2008, its yearly production capacity will expand to 4.5 million panels to the maximum. Fujitsu Hitachi Display, meanwhile, pours into the construction of PDP panel factory for the target completion of 2008.
