IC packaging and testing firm Advanced Semiconductor Engineering (ASE) on October 23 opened a new plant, named K12, in Kaohsiung, southern Taiwan. During a ceremony marking the opening of the facility, chairman Jason Chang outlined ASE's further efforts to expand operations.

ASE is set to grow its operations in Taiwan, where it is headquartered, over the next eight to 10 years, said Chang. Factory sites in Kaohsiung and Chungli, northern Taiwan are expected to bring in combined annual revenues of NT$8.4 billion by 2020, up from the current US$2.6 billion, according to Chang.

Meanwhile, ASE's workforce in Taiwan will also expand to a total of 60,000 employees by 2020, compared to about 22,000 at present, Chang added.

As for operations in China, ASE plans to step up investment and enhance overall production within the country, Chang indicated.

ASE's investment in its Shanghai facilities will amount to CNY40 billion (US$6.3 billion) within the next 8-10 years, when the total workforce stationed at the site is expected to top 50,000 employees, Chang said. Meanwhile, ASE's total investment in its factory site in Kunshan, which came online in May 2010, is projected to reach CNY60 billion and have a workforce of 90,000 people during the period, Chang revealed.

ASE's production site in Kunshan, China, is expected to exceed other operations by 2020, with annual revenues to reach CNY90 billion, Chang pointed out.

Chang also said ASE's production sites in China will eventually provide advanced packaging and testing services. Currently, ASE mainly bases its high-end backend production in Taiwan, whereas operations in China offer low pin-count packaging and other entry-level backend services.