Fujitsu, Hitachi Join Forces on Large-Screen PDPs

TOKYO, Japan, April 9 -- Fujitsu Limited and Hitachi, Ltd. have agreed to establish a joint venture, Fujitsu Hitachi Plasma Display Ltd., which will develop, manufacture and market large-screen plasma display panels (PDPs). The two companies have been working together to develop next-generation PDPs and volume production technology under a joint development agreement since July 1998.
The joint venture company will acquire Fujitsu Kyushu Electronics Ltd.'s plant in Miyazaki, Japan, where Fujitsu is currently producing PDPs. The new venture plans to consolidate the two parent companies' manufacturing capabilities and increase the Miyazaki plant's current monthly production capacity from 10,000 units to around 70,000 units by the year 2001.