LG to increase production capacity here


An LG presenter displays a new air-conditioner at a press conference yesterday.
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LG Electronics (Thailand), the local arm of the South Korean consumer electronics manufacturer, will invest Bt300 million to boost its air-conditioner production capacity from one million units to 1.5 million this year.
The move is part of a strategy to increase 2007 sales of air-conditioners to Bt2.6 billion. The company has also set up a marketing budget of Bt500 million, director for air conditioner sales Chartchai Pisutburibonth said yesterday. He said that after expanding its capacity, the Thai facilty will rank third among LG's eight air-conditioning plants around the world. Besides production for the both domestic and overseas market, the parent company has also selected Thailand be a research and development centre for Southeast Asia. When construction is complete this year, the R&D centre will be the company's third, following those in South Korea and China. "LG's air-conditioners generate 20 per cent of our total sales in the Thai market, behind television sets," Chatchai said. He added that the company expected to be the market leader in the Thai air-conditioner market in 2010 by increasing its market share from the current 18 per cent. LG now ranks second behind the market leader, which has 24 per cent. This year, the company will also expand new distribution channels upcountry, said Chatchai.
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