Taiwan-based LED maker Epistar has partnered with China Electronics Corp. (CEC) to build a joint venture, which will bring in a large number of MOCVD chambers, and concentrate on production of epitaxial wafers, chips, light sources and lighting products in southern China. It's reported that each company will hold a 45% stake in the joint venture, leaving the remaining 10% to another partner.

Veeco Instruments Inc. (Nasdaq: VECO), has announced that Epistar Corporation, headquartered in Taiwan, placed a multi-tool order for Veeco's TurboDisc(R) K465i(TM) gallium nitride (GaN) Metal Organic Chemical Vapor Deposition (MOCVD) Systems for high volume light emitting diode (LED) production.

LED chip maker Epistar had successfully developed a record efficacy of 168 lm/W for red-emitting AlGaInP LED chips in their lab. The small-area LED chips measure 14x14 mil (0.36 x 0.36 mm), and have an efficacy of 180 lm/W at 6mA. The red LED chips have a horizontal structure to satisfy chip-on-board (COB) packages for lighting applications which require multiple chips mounted in series on non-conductive substrates.

Taiwan's No.1 LED chipmaker Epistar has intended to team up with China Electronics Corp. (CEC) to build a joint venture.The investment is achieved to US$70 million by Epistar, and it's considered to be Epistar's biggest investment case in the mainland in recent years.

Toyoda Gosei Co., Ltd., Epistar Corporation, and Twin Hill Co., Ltd., a sales agent for Toyoda Gosei, have formally agreed to establish a joint venture in Taiwan to develop, manufacture, and market light emitting diodes (LEDs).

Epistar has become the only Taiwan company, which gets the cross license from Toyoda Gosei .The two companies has made an agreement that both Epistar and Toyoda Gosei(including subsidiaries) can use each other's patents for specific technologies in Group III-V compound semiconductor LEDs, which include InGaN LEDs and AlGaInP LEDs.

Taiwan's LED chip maker Huga's largest shareholder Epistar (with a 46% equity interest) has taken three seats on Huga board. According to Huga, it will expand its MOCVD equipment to a total of 60 sets at the end of 2010 and to 80 sets in 2011, and will adjust TV backlighting products to 10% of its total shipments at the end of the year and over 20% in 2011. High-brightness LED products currently represent 70-80% of Huga's revenues.

Taiwan's LED chip maker Epistar recently has developed a high-Voltage (HV) LED chip , which enables 135lm/W white LED at 1W and color temperature of 5000 K operation. Package of HV LED chips are available in general lighting and any applications for high-efficacy white light.

Taiwan-based LED chipmaker Epistar reported that the company's final target in Q3 of 2010 gross margin would keep at 35%,in spite of a demand slowdown from the LED-backlit TV segment. According to the company, the revenues of September would impair because it planed to adjust its shipment mix facing the slide forms. And Epistar hoped the share of blue LED capacity into September could reach 100% and red LEDs reach about 75~85%.

Taiwan’s No.1 LED chipmaker Epistar Inc. has begun shipping its high-voltage (HV) chips to General Electric (GE), Philips, Osram and IKEA.

Taiwan’s No.1 LED chipmaker Epistar Inc. is reportedly to will sign a patent cross-licensing agreement with its Japanese counterparts Nichia or Toyoda Gousei in a bid to further boost earnings and revenue. Once the deal is concluded Taiwan’s LED industry would see its price/earnings ratio surge to at least 20 folds as a whole from current 15 folds or so, according to the industry executives estimated.

Collaboration will strengthen market penetration in Asia, Europe and US Oree Inc., developer of LED planar illumination technology, announced today that it has secured an investment from Epistar Corporation, Taiwan’s largest manufacturer of LED chips. The funding is a demonstration of the strong strategic relationship between the two companies.

Taiwan No.1 LED chipmakers Epistar Inc. pay over NT$8.6 billion for a 47.88% stake in Huga Optotech Inc to boost strength of Taiwan’s LED industry. Epistar will acquire the Huga shareholding through stock swap, with an Epistar share for 2.23 Huga shares, and cash pay combined.

Veeco Instruments Inc., announced Epistar Corporation of Taiwan has qualified Veeco's TurboDisc(R) K465i(TM) gallium nitride (GaN) Metal Organic Chemical Vapor Deposition (MOCVD) System for high volume LED production.

Epistar announces today the successful development of a new AlGaInP LED with record-breaking efficacy of 133 lm/W. Applying the company's novel light-extracting technology, Epistar’s newest additions to its PX series of chips continue to push the envelope on energy efficiency and lighting quality. At a dominant wavelength of 613 nm, the small chip in the PX series reaches 133 lm/W driven by 20mA, while the power chip in the same series reaches 110 lm/W at 350mA.

Epistar Corp., recently decided to select LED packagers as its strategic partners, departing from its past practice of passively waiting for packagers'contracts. Epistar`s executives said that based on the existing business model packagers place contracts with chipmakers after they win orders from LED-application suppliers like mobile-phone makers. But, they added, an increasing number of application-product suppliers are appreciating Epistar`s chips and have begun designating the company to supply them the chips.

AIXTRON AG today announced that its next generation MOCVD Platform AIX G5 HT has demonstrated high quality GaN deposition at very high growth rates and high pressure above 600mbar and superior GaN/InGaN uniformities. The epitaxial runs were performed at Epistar Corporation, located in the Hsinchu Science-based Industrial Park, Taiwan consecutively without reactor baking or swapping of any parts. The MOCVD reactor is now being transferred into mass production.

Nan Ya Photonics Inc., will first reduce capital by 40% and then increase capital to NT$2 billion (US$62 million at US$1:NT$32) some time this quarter as part of its plan to enter into alliance with LED player Epistar Corp.

Taiwan-based LED supplier Epistar Corp. and United Microelectronics Corp. (UMC) have formed an LED chip joint venture based in Mainland China.

Faced with issues such as energy shortage and global warming, governments across the globe have implemented various incentives and subsidies for energy-saving products. At the LEDforum 2009 Panel Discussion, LED industry heavyweights shared their points of view on the competition and development in the industry. The panel discussion “New energy policies world-wide promote the development of LED lighting industry”, was hosted Dr Yi-Jen Chan, Vice President & EOL General Director, ITRI. Panelists include (from left to right, in the photo below):

Epistar Corp., Taiwan’s largest LED chip manufacturer, has decided to spend US$600 million to set up a LED production factory in Jiangsu, China, according to an article on Taiwan Economic News.

Epistar Corp, Taiwan’s largest LED maker, yesterday signed a strategic cooperation agreement with Nan Ya Photonics Inc, the LED unit of Taiwan’s Formosa Plastics Group, according to an article on Taipei Times.

Epistar, one of Taiwan’s leading LED maker, has reportedly signed a contract to supply more LED chips to Samsung for LCD TV backlights in 2010, according to industry sources.

Nan Ya Photonics Inc. (NPI), a subsidiary of Taiwan-based Formosa Plastics Group, will form a strategic alliance with Epistar Corp. to tap the LED market, according to Taiwan Economic News.

EPISTAR achieves 110lm/W warm white LED and demonstrates these devices at LEDs 2009 conference in San Diego, California.

Epistar Corporation, Taiwan’s largest LED epiwafer and chip maker has entered into a strategic equity investment and license agreement with Lynk Labs Inc., the leading supplier of AC LED device, light engine and power supply technology. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Epistar Corporation, the leading LED epi wafer and chip maker, successfully raised US$351 million through the issuance of Global Depositary Receipts (GDR). This transaction is the largest equity deal for any Taiwanese technology companies since November 2007 and the second largest overseas fund raising from Taiwan year to date.

EPISTAR today announced that it has developed a 80 lm/W warm white LED and expects the efficiency to reach 100 lm/W in Q4 of 2009.

According to survey of the industry research institute LEDinside, Taiwan's listed LED makers recorded total revenue of NT 5.982 billion in July 2009, a 5.8% growth from NT 5.652 billion in June 2009 and a 3.8% growth YoY. LED chip makers' total revenues in July gained 6.9% to NT 2.621 billion while LED packagers posted NT 3.361 billion, 5.1% growth MoM.  

Under increasing demands for LED backlights for LCD TV and notebook computers, the board of directors at Epistar Corp. recently approved to issue 110-135 million units of global depository receipt (GDR) to raise some NT$10 billion (US$303 million at US$1:NT$33) to build up inventories of materials for the blooming market, according to Taiwan Economic News. Some industry watchers believe Epistar would use the GDR offering to attract foreign shareholders.