Universal Microelectronics Rolls Out Vessel Radars for Koden of Japan

Taipei, June 30, 2006 (CENS)--Universal Microelectronics Co., Ltd., a major manufacturer of broadband-communication devices in Taiwan, recently has become the sole contract manufacturer of Japan-based Koden Co. for producing radar devices used in vessels and fish detectors.

Universal Microelectronics is Taiwan's sole contract manufacturer of vessel radars, and noted that global production of vessel radar devices amounts to 40,000 units per year, most of which are produced by the manufacturers in Japan and the U.S.

To expand the market penetration of its vessel radar devices and fish detectors, Universal Microelectronics will compete for further contract-manufacturing opportunities with Furuno Co. and JRC Co. of Japan, and Raymarine Co. of the U.S.

At a general shareholders meeting recently held in Taichung, central Taiwan, C.M. Ou, president of Universal Microelectronics, said his company would pursue production of active and passive radar devices in the foreseeable future. He also noted that wired communication services would soon be supplanted by the wireless communication the world over. For example, Japan recently witnessed its number of wireless communication services exceed that of ADSL (asymmetrical digital subscriber line) services.

To increase its production of fiberglass active and passive devices and equipment, Universal Microelectronics will cooperate with foreign firms and submit bids to produce fiberglass communication devices domestically.

Ou said vessel radar devices are normally priced as high as US$2,000 per unit. So far this year, Universal Microelectronics has received orders for 4,000 fish detectors, equivalent to the number scored last year. In addition, the company has also taken several hundred orders for vessel radars so far this year. Ou said his company would see a booming influx of orders for vessel radars in between September and the advent of the Christmas season.

Universal Microelectronics noted it has shipped 30,000 units to Koden of Japan since the beginning of this year, and shipments of vessel radars to the international destinations have reached 3,000 units.

At present, information-technology products make up 36% of Universal Microelectronics' total revenue, with transformers commanding 30%, optical-communication products accounting for 5%, and power supplies 25%.