AT&S China on the road to success

Citation

(2004), "AT&S China on the road to success", Circuit World, Vol. 30 No. 3. https://doi.org/10.1108/cw.2004.21730cab.008

AT&S China on the road to success

AT&S China on the road to success

Keywords: China, Printed circuit boards

The new AT&S printed circuit board group's new works in Shanghai is breaking all records. Production started up a year back and AT&S China is already recording operative profits. Massive research work is already in the planning stage for China, too, and co-operation with the international clients such as Nokia, Siemens, Motorola, Flextronics and the Chinese cell-phone manufacturer Putian is excellent.

Willi Dörflinger, AT&S Chairman of the board and Principal Owner of the AT&S printed circuit board group, says, "AT&S China has clearly exceeded our own expectations. Thanks to the outstanding co-op work with the Chinese authorities, the dedication of our employees and the excellent partnership with our clients, we have already achieved operative profits in the past months. Once the cornerstone was laid for the new Shanghai factory on May 19, 2001, AT&S China took off on the road to success. We made the right decision at the time and now we are proud to be offering highest-grade technology on the Chinese market. International companies such as Nokia, Siemens, Motorola Flextronics and the Chinese cell-phone manufacturer Putian number among our clients."

AT&S China investments totalled about EUR 110 Mio., the largest investment an Austrian company had ever made in the country. Presently, the site here in Shanghai employs not more than 700 people. Austrian President Thomas Klestil and important Chinese personages were present at the ceremony laying the cornerstone for this highly modern printed circuit board factory.

The group's two chairmen, who travelled here from Austria expressly for the ceremony, want to continue investing heavily in research and development in China in the future. Apart from joint projects with Chinese universities, AT&S also aims to work on future solutions together with its clients and suppliers. Targets include developing new materials and surfaces, as well as continuing to miniaturise the printed circuit boards. "We spend between 2 and 3 per cent of our turnover each year on research and development, a key factor in our success," says Dörflinger.

According to Harald Sommerer, Chairman of the AT&S financial board, AT&S China should achieve sales of more than EUR 60 Mio. in the coming fiscal year. "Machines are being delivered constantly; by May 2004, production will have grown to 100 per cent. On the uppermost technology level, that of HDI Microvia Technology, AT&S has already attained third place worldwide.

Patrick Ma, Chairman of AT&S China, wants to start up more co-op work with Chinese clients. "We are aiming for a win-win situation for both sides; that's why we are looking for strong partners in the telecommunications sector. Here in Shanghai, we are producing on the uppermost technological level, exclusively for the Asian market," he explains.