Sumitomo Electric Expands Gallium Nitride Output

Sumitomo Electric Industries expands the output of gallium nitride substrate to more than 700 million yen per month from around 200 million yen in first half year to September 2005 when appliances makers market next generation digital versatile disc recorder, which uses blue violet laser diode made with gallium nitride for reading and recording. The firm expands the output to meet the growing demand from major appliances makers and laser diode makers especially since second half year to March 2006. The final products makers released next generation DVD recorders and disc drive for personal computers from spring to summer 2006. They plan to market game machine and laptop computers with next generation DVD technology. Sumitomo Electric has shipped the gallium nitride substrate mainly for development of products by final products makers. Sumitomo Electric increases the shipment volume since second half year to March 2006 and tries to meet rapid growing demand. The firm tries to increase the output by improving productivity through better production processes.