Hitachi Cable's newly established Kofu Production Department, a new production base for semiconductor packaging materials, will launch official operations in October 2003.

COF (Chip On Film) products for liquid crystal displays, one of the company's semiconductor packaging material products, are currently produced at its Densen Works (Hitachi City, Ibaraki Prefecture). Hitachi Cable's COF sales for cellular phones and liquid-crystal color TVs have been steadily increasing due to its industry-leading fine-pitch wiring technology, making it imperative for the company to strengthen its production capacity. Hitachi Cable has therefore established its Kofu Production Department within the facilities of the Kofu Works of Renesas Technology Corporation (4617 Nishi Yahata, Ryuo-cho, Nakakoma-gun, Yamanashi Prefecture) as its second COF production base, where it has installed and prepared for an early launch of high-quality, high-efficient production lines that leverage the Work's infrastructure. The company will officially start Department operations in October 2003.

Hitachi Cable's semiconductor packaging materials for liquid crystal displays thus far include COF and TCP (Tape Carrier Package), but TCP will be discontinued. The company will concentrate its management resources on COF, which is enjoying rapidly increasing demand and is the area in which the company's strengths may be best utilized. Production systems for TAB tapes for BGA/CSP, which requires higher-density mounting, will continue to be strengthened at the Densen Works.

Hitachi Cable will continue to improve the management efficiency of its entire semiconductor packaging material business operations through strategic selection of operations and focused management.