Kaohsiung Opto-Electronics Inc (KOE, 高雄晶傑達光電), a subsidiary of contract electronics maker Wistron Corp (緯創), yesterday broke ground for its new manufacturing and research and development (R&D) facilities in Kaohsiung’s Cianjhen Technology Industrial Park (前鎮科技產業園區).
The company’s initial investment in the facilities is estimated to be more than NT$10 billion (US$325.98 million), the Ministry of Economic Affairs said in a statement.
The company plans to build a “smart, innovative” plant with nine floors above ground and two below, the ministry said.
Photo: Ge You-hao, Taipei Times
KOE plans to establish high-end, fully automated production lines at the plant that would be mainly engaged in the manufacturing of LCD panel modules for vehicles, and industrial control and medical applications, the ministry said.
The project is forecast to create 4,500 jobs upon its completion in 2025, it added.
Minister of Economic Affairs Wang Mei-hua (王美花) said at the groundbreaking ceremony that KOE aims to use Cianjhen Technology Industrial Park as a key production base for its automotive and industrial control panel manufacturing.
By integrating the park’s resources with nearby Southern Taiwan Science Park (南部科學園區) and Nanzih Technology Industrial Park (楠梓科技產業園區), along with the support of Wistron’s R&D facilities in Kaohsiung, the technology industry in southern Taiwan is expected to develop further, driving regional development, industrial transformation and local employment, Wang said.
Established in 1967, KOE was known as Kaohsiung Hitachi Electronics Co (高雄日立電子) before its name changed in 2012 as a subsidiary of Japan Display Inc. It was acquired by Wistron in October 2021.
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