GaAs wafer foundry Win Semiconductors has revealed plans to ramp up capacity in 2011 in anticipation for brisk power amplifier (PA) demand coming from the smartphone sector. The company expects to boost its monthly output to 16,000 wafers in the middle of 2011, and to 20,000 units by the end of the year.
Win Semi will start moving in new equipment in January, paving the way for the upcoming expansion at its 6-inch GaAs manufacturing facility, the company said. Currently, its monthly capacity is about 12,000-14,000 wafers.
Win Semi's total shipments for 2010 are likely to jump over 80% on year, according to Brian Lee, company VP of Sales and Marketing. Continued strong demand for smartphones as well as outsourcing from the overseas IDM sector will continue driving the company's shipment growth, said Lee.
In addition, Win Semi is looking to build capacity for GaN PA products used in base station and satellite applications, Lee noted. Capacity for the new product segment, which would yield higher gross margins, is slated to come online around the end of 2011.
Market watchers have forecast Win Semi will see sales grow 30% in 2011.
Win Semi collected NT$6.42 billion in consolidated revenues from January through November, up 49% from the same period of 2009.
Win Semi: Revenues, Nov 2009 - Nov 2010 (NT$m) |
Month | Sales | M/M | Y/Y | YTD | Y/Y |
Nov-10 | 553 | (4.2%) | 9.6% | 6,299 | 49.3% |
Oct-10 | 578 | (12.5%) | 7.3% | 5,746 | 54.7% |
Sep-10 | 660 | 0.6% | 20.7% | 5,168 | 62.7% |
Aug-10 | 656 | 0.9% | | 4,509 | |
Jul-10 | 650 | 0.4% | | 3,853 | |
Jun-10 | 647 | 3.1% | | 3,202 | |
May-10 | 628 | 4.7% | | 2,555 | |
Apr-10 | 600 | 12.4% | | 1,927 | |
Mar-10 | 533 | 27.9% | | 1,327 | |
Feb-10 | 417 | 10.8% | | 794 | |
Jan-10 | 377 | (22%) | | 377 | |
Dec-09 | 483 | (4.4%) | | 4,703 | |
Nov-09 | 505 | (6.2%) | | 4,220 | |
*Figures are not consolidated
Source: TSE, compiled by Digitimes, December 2010