As ultrabooks fall to mainstream prices as well as the launch of Windows 8, Getac Technology chairman James Hwang expects total ultrabook shipments will reach 10-15 million units in 2012 and will rise to 50-60 million units in 2013.

Hwang pointed out that Getac's fiberglass chassis manufacturing subsidiary saw its orders surge in the fourth quarter of 2011, triple the company's originally expected volume. Although Hwang declined to discuss its clients or order volumes, he said the company is confident about the growth of its fiberglass chassis shipments.

Since many vendors are turning from unibody aluminum chassis to fiberglass designs in consideration of cost and performance, some market watchers expect the proportion of metal and fiberglass chassis in ultrabook shipments will reach 1:9, respectively, in the future.

Hwang added that the manufacturing process of fiberglass is more environmentally friendly compared to metal chassis and does not face issues such as dust explosions, waste treatment and exhaust pollution, as metal chassis manufacturing does, while production only requires 1-5 workers to conduct, compared to 50-80 workers required for metal chassis production, so it can greatly reduce labor costs and ensure stable capacity. 

Source:digitimes