Shuen Der Industry Co., Ltd. (SDI ), a Taiwanese supplier of LED lead frames for automotives and consumer electronics, has invested NT$80 million (US$2.46 million at US$1: NT$32.5) to expand output of the products.

As LED has been replacing CCFL as the most popular light source of backlights for display panels for LCD TVs and notebook PCs, demand for LED lead frames has gradually recovered recently and is expected to enjoy explosive growth in 2010, driving a number of Taiwanese manufacturers of this kind to boost their capacity. Among them, SDI is no doubt the earliest to do so in the line on the island, because its output expansion for LED lead frames is scheduled to be completed at the end of December 2009, which will help the firm to double its maximum monthly production value to NT$70 million in the future.

SDI`s LED lead frames are mainly used in small- and medium-sized display panels and mobile phones and for LED backlights. In light of the rise of LED-backlit LCD TVs, SDI won`t rule out venturing into production of models for use in the stellar products in 2010 to boost its business operation.

Noteworthy is that with its LED lead frames for customer`s new products in certification process presently, SDI said that it will also kick off a careful assessment of further capacity expansion according to customer`s requirements in the first quarter of 2010. However, SDI said it has no plan to move production lines of LED lead frames to its China plant presently.