More Plasma TVs and LCD TVs for Toshiba Indonesia

Japan-based Toshiba is doing its part to accommodate the growing demand for flat panel televisions. Its subsidiary, PT Toshiba Consumer Products Indonesia, will increase production of plasma TVs and liquid crystal display (LCD) TVs in 2006 when a manufacturing plant in an industrial park near the town of Bekasi becomes operational.

According to a plasma TV/LCD TV report on the issue in forbes.com, production will increase to 2.2 million in 2006, a ten percent hike from this year’s 2 million units. At the groundbreaking ceremony for the factory, company president Hidomori Asano revealed that Toshiba is putting in some US$5 million in the new manufacturing facility.

About a quarter of the output of the company’s existing plant is absorbed by the Indonesian market, and Toshiba Indonesia is predicting even greater demand for plasma TVs and LCD TVs locally as well as internationally. Asano has also hinted that Toshiba might relocate the company’s manufacturing operations by 2008 from other Asian countries to Indonesia partly because of lower labor costs. Toshiba’s defunct factory in Thailand may be relocated to Indonesia as part of this plan.

Approximately 1,800 employees work at the Toshiba Indonesia plant, but it’s reasonable to expect that more will be hired once the new factory becomes operational next year.