Charlie Lan, president of Tatung (Thailand) Co Ltd, said yesterday that nine auto-insertion machines would be shifted from China to Tatung's plant in Chon Buri's Amata Nakorn Industrial Park to boost Tatung's presence in the local car electronics market.

The relocation will support Tatung's plan to promote Thailand as its regional headquarters for Southeast Asia, according to W Y Lin, Tatung Group executive vice president.

"Supported by our headquarters, nine auto insertion machines will be moved from China to Thailand. The facilities will be operated under three major production lines and will have a combined production capacity of 100,000 boards a month," said Lan, adding that all products would be supplied to local carmakers, mainly Japanese firms.

"Our headquarters will also invest another Bt80 million in two new surface mount technology, or SMT, lines at the Chon Buri plant by the end of this year," Lan said.

He added Tatung had operated factories here for televisions, monitors, printed circuit board assembly, and other products under Board of Investment privileges since 1990.

In 2003, it started manufacturing LCD and plasma televisions. Almost 99 per cent of local production is exported, with the bulk going to Japan, Europe and Australia.

"We have made and supplied large-screen television sets and other consumer electronics, computers, communications products and car electronics, mainly to leading consumer-electronics brands in Japan and Europe, through original design manufacturing deals," he said.

"More than 10 million products, built with Tatung's SMT have been exported over the past 13 years," said Lan, adding that more than 500,000 LCD and plasma televisions have been shipped from Tatung's Thai facilities under international brand names.

Kwanchai Rungfapaisarn

The Nation