Toshiba currently owns a subsidiary manufacturing 14-inch and 20-inch CPT in Indonesia. Toshiba, aims for shared use of the present infrastructure with the new operation as a means to strengthen price competitiveness, while Funai, the top supplier of combination TV and VCR products in North America, and well known for its strong brand image in the small- and medium-sized color TV market, will secure the stable supply of CPT necessary to increase sales.
The tie-up is the first in the TV industry between a CPT manufacturer and a TV set maker, and the partners expect it to produce considerable benefits. Toshiba’s CPT manufacturing technology and know-how and Funai’s TV production operation, already known for its low-cost production capabilities, will create highly efficient supply-chain management.
The joint venture will have a production capability of 150,000 20-inch CPTs a month, all of which will be supplied to Funai. Once the manufacturing operation has started, the plant will extend production to 21-inch flat CPTs in the future.
