Quake shuts down Taiwan LCD plants
With CMO and HannStar responsible for over 16 percent of the worlds' LCD panels, the recent quake could cost the industry dearly.
As reported over on VentureBeat, the 6.4 magnitude earthquake hit an area near the southern city of Kaohsuing, causing five fires and twelve injuries - mostly contained in the southern part of Taiwan. Thankfully, there are no reports of any deaths.
However, the earthquake was powerful enough to cause buildings to shake in Taipei - and to make Chi Mei Optoelectroics and HannStar Display Corporation suspend manufacturing in their Tainan Science Park plants pending a full damage report and any aftershocks that could further damage their facilities.
The two companies are believed to be responsible for the manufacture of over 16 percent of LCD panels worldwide according to industry watcher iSuppli - and with a shutdown typically taking at least a full day to reverse even without any damage being caused, that's a big chunk of panels out of circulation. With larger OEMs often relying on rapid procurement of parts, this could potentially lead to a shortage of panels in the near future - and the delay or unavailability of certain product lines.
Thankfully, with the worst of the earthquake contained to a largely uninhabited mountain region, it shouldn't be too long before Taiwan - and its manufacturing facilities - get back on their feet.
Are you amazed that a 6.4 magnitude earthquake could result in so little damage, or are you concerned about the knock-on effects an LCD panel shortage could have on prices? Share your thoughts over in the forums.
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Discuss in the forums Replyagreed
What is with all these Earthquakes and natural disasters recently.
+1
its business as usual, but the press is focusing on them more then they usually did.
there are on average more than 10 earthquakes of this magnitude per MONTH.
Andy
You'd think a people who can predict the future would foresee their downfall and do something about it
Its just a taste of whats to come in 2012....
And I thought it was something regarding a new Quake game...
16% may be a tad alot but im sure we have a helluva lot just sitting in stock.
The Judeo-Xian penchant for death and destruction is being overlaid on a very accurate time keeping system. Fire and brimstone is a Xian thing not a Mayan one.
Note to BT, everyone thought you were talking about the plant closing due to high numbers of people playing Quake, use the word "Earthquake" to denote the difference.
does this have anything to do with the preference to use CRT monitors?
also thought it was to do with the game, really need to use normal letters if it's not to do with the game Quake.
there goes my plan for a 27inch IPS panel...... 900 Dell is already too expensive.
+1
Agreed!
As many other people, I also thought this was about Quake the game, people going on rampage with blazing guns destroying everything in their path.
It's also true that earthquakes like these happens many times a month but media only "cares" for them when they inflict some sort of damage or scariness to the human being... So what? The planed had this phenomeni even before the human race, deal it with! Even in here, in Portugal, there was a mini-typhoon on Sesimbra which is totally uncommon but it happened!