Toshiba Semiconductor starts up new plant

“We are all delighted that the new plant is now up and running,” said Yasuo Ashizawa, president of TST.

The state-of-the art plant is located some 140 kilometres northeast of Bangkok in the 304 Industrial Park in Prachin Buri. 

Construction started in July of last year, limited production began this April and the facility is now operating at its current target capacity. 

At 1.4 times the size of the flood-damaged plant, the new facility and its cutting-edge production equipment will allow TST and Toshiba Group to secure greater operating efficiency and higher productivity, while offering room for expansion that will allow the company to respond quickly and flexibly to growth in market demand, it says.

TST carries out back-end processes, the assembly and packaging of small signal devices and photocouplers, both product areas where strong demand growth is anticipated. 

Small signal devices control current and voltage in digital consumer products and are essential components of such popular products as smart phones and tablets, and photocouplers, also known as optical isolators, are widely used in industrial products, including inverters.

“I thank the Thai authorities for all the support we have received for our relocation, the construction company for its dedication and efficiency and, most of all, our employees, who have stayed with [us], made the move to this new plant and made every effort to get it up and running,” Ashizawa said.

“We have rebuilt capacity with more modern, more productive equipment, and we look forward to supporting a new round of expansion in Toshiba Group’s discrete business.”

TST had to halt production in October 2011 when its factory in the Bangkadi Industrial Park in Pathum Thani, immediately north of Bangkok, was inundated by flood waters. During this suspension of operations, Toshiba transferred production to its facilities in Japan and Malaysia, and utilised outsourcing. With the opening of the new TST facility, Toshiba plans gradually to reintegrate these relocated operations.

Toshiba Group is revitalising its discrete device business by boosting efficiency to secure improved profitability. 

front-end process, and accelerating the overseas transfer of the back-end process. 

The new TST facility will improve cost competitiveness in the back-end process, strengthen the bottom line and contribute to the overall strength of the discrete business unit, the company says.