27 April 2012

Toyoda Gosei and SDK to form GaN LED joint venture TS Opto

Tokyo-based chemical manufacturer Showa Denko K.K. (SDK) has decided to split off its gallium nitride (GaN)-based blue LED chip business, and transfer 70% of the shares in the new company (tentatively named TS Opto Co Ltd) to fellow Japanese LED maker Toyoda Gosei Co Ltd by the end of this year (targeting December).

With planned capital of about Y490m ($6.07m) and owned 70% by Toyoda Gosei and 30% by SDK, the joint venture will specialize in the production and sale of GaN-based LED chips, and be established at SDK’s plant in Ichihara City, Chiba Prefecture.

SDK already collaborates with Toyoda Gosei, which develops and sells GaN LEDs. The firm says that the GaN LED joint venture will further strengthen its relations with Toyoda Gosei, as well as expanding overall supply capacity. In addition, SDK targets synergy in R&D, with the aim of improving LED brightness and production efficiency.

As well as GaN, SDK produces and sells a wide variety of LED chips, including aluminum gallium indium phosphide (AlGaInP), gallium arsenide (GaAs), and gallium phosphide (GaP), for which SDK will continue independent operations.

Tags: Toyoda Gosei SDK GaN Blue LEDs

Visit: www.sdk.co.jp

Visit: www.toyoda-gosei.com