Sharp will spend some 500 billion yen (US$4.1 billion) to build one of the world's largest factories for LCD panels, according to Japanese media reports.
The planned factory in the western region of Osaka will start full scale production in 2009, Nikkei Business Daily said. It will be capable of producing more than 22 million 32-inch panels annually, according to Yomiuri Shimbun.
Both Asahi Shimbun and Japan Times Online said the factory will be constructed as early as summer 2007, with Japan Times indicating the plant will produce 40- to 60-inch panels.
Sharp said it has indeed been considering building a new LCD panel plant. However, the details are not yet decided and Sharp will make a decision by the summer, it added.
