Union Tool to Expand PCB Drill Output in F2008

Union Tool, Japanese and world top maker of cemented carbide drills for printed circuit boards (PCB drills), plans to expand its consolidated PCB drill output capacity to 35.4 million drills per month in fiscal 2008 ending November, up by 13.5% from 31.2 million drills per month in fiscal 2007. The firm will increase the output capacity by more than 1 million drills per month at Nagaoka plant in Niigata, Japan and the overseas plants in Taiwan, Shanghai and Dongguan in China. The firm aims to reinforce PCB drill sales especially for Chinese market.Union Tool plans to expand PCB drill output capacity by 1 million to 20 million drills per month at Nagaoka plant, by 1.2 million to 5.8 million drills per month at Taiwanese plant, by 1 million to 4.8 million drills per month at Shanghai plant and by 1 million to 4.8 million drills per month at Dongguan plant.The consolidated annual production of PCB drills is scheduled at 350.8 million drills in fiscal 2008, up by 19.8% from fiscal 2007, while the consolidated annual sales at 343 million drills, up by 18.7% year-on-year.At Shanghai plant, the annual production increased by 28.4% to 35.7 million drills in fiscal 2007 from fiscal 2006 and the annual sales increased by 36% to 37 million drills. The annual production and sales are planned at each 46.2 million drills in fiscal 2008. At Dongguan plant, the annual production increased by 57.6% to 36.3 million drills and the annual sales increased by 95% to 40.7 million drills in fiscal 2007 from fiscal 2006. The annual production is planned at 46.8 million drills and the annual sales at 51.8 million drills through fiscal 2008.