Hon Hai`s Foxsemicon Begins Shipping Solar Energy Equipment

The global recession has forced Hon Hai Precision Industry Co to look to tapping China`s domestic market, assessing the potential of the solar cell manufacturing sector.

Hon Hai has reportedly begun shipping solar energy equipment on a small scale through its subsidiary - Foxsemicon Integrated Technology Inc, which has been using its semiconductor equipment manufacturing experience to tap solar energy equipment manufacturing.

At its annual general shareholders meeting, Hon Hai Chairman Terry Gou said his company has formed a specialized team to evaluate the feasibility of tapping the nascent solar energy industry.

An industry insider believed Hon Hai`s two subsidiaries--the flat-panel manufacturer Innolux Display Corp and the LED (light emitting diode) manufacturer Foxsemicon--will likely engage in solar energy equipment manufacturing.

Specialized in manufacturing semiconductor equipment, Foxsemicon has close ties with the US-based Applied Materials, one of the world`s leading suppliers of semiconductor equipment. Foxsemicon said it has tapped Applied Materials' solar cell supply chain, setting a positive example under the Hon Hai Group as it moves towards the solar energy industry.

An industry insider noted Foxsemicon has been working with Applied Materials and Teco Group to develop and roll out solar energy-related equipment, as well as having received orders from China`s upstream solar energy market.

Source: CENS