In order to achieve its internal goal of shipping 40 million iPad products in 2011, Apple has occupied close to 60% of the global touch panel capacity causing tight supply among Apple’s competitors, reports “DigiTimes” (http://macte.ch/vWEql), quoting unnamed “sources from upstream component makers.”
Sources from tablet makers told “DigiTimes” that the component shortage is causing their shipment volumes to be unable to catch up with their orders, especially for second-tier players. Touch panels are currently suffering the most serious shortage due to Apple holding control over the capacity of major touch panel makers such as Wintek and TPK, and with US-based RIM, Motorola and Hewlett-Packard (HP) also competing for related components, second-tier players are already out of the game, the article adds.
Sources from iPad distributors told “DigiTimes” that in 2010, Apple’s order forecasts to its original equipment manufacturer partners were all high and the biggest problem on the supply side was not capacity, but low yields of touch panels. In 2011, Apple’s strategy of taking up most of the capacity should help the company quickly expand its sales, while reducing its competitors’ shipment growth, the article adds.
