Even at a time of runaway demand for flat-panel displays, Philips Electronics NV finds its own venture in the field turning sour, and yesterday, it announced it would cut 190 jobs from the 540 total – a whopping 35% – at its Flat Panel Displays liquid crystal display production unit in Eindhoven. The company puts the need for the measure down to the fact that next year it will start using a new production technology. The transfer to the new production technology will be supported by its switch to Hosiden Corp’s technology. Hosiden is one of the top Japanese manufacturers and does 11.5 high definition displays that are highly regarded by the likes of Hitachi Ltd and NEC Corp. The 50- 50 joint venture with Hosiden will be called Hosiden & Philips Display Cooperation and will be sealed on March 31. Philips flat panel sales activities in Europe and the US will continue unchanged and its research units will continue to support the development of active matrix technology for liquid crystal displays.
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