Altek, one of the top four makers of digital cameras in Taiwan, plans to invest in metal stamping lines to produce casings for use in its own digital cameras.

Since Japanese digital camera vendors are expected to release more OEM/ODM orders this year, Taiwanese makers of digital cameras will be competing for such orders and a self-supply of components is key to minimizing total production costs, the sources pointed out.

In order to compete with Ability Enterprise and Foxconn (Hon Hai Precision Industry), Altek will step into production of metal casings following a joint investment with Kinko Optical to begin production of lens kits for digital cameras in Suzhou, China, in May of 2007.

Ability Enterprise has secured supply of metal casings from AVY, a member of the Abico Group of which Ability is also an affiliate, and Foxconn also has its own molding and stamping production lines. Foxconn acquired camera maker Premier Image Technology in December of 2006.

Source:未知