Demand for high-end handsets, notebooks, digital music players and GPS is driving PCB makers to expand HDI PCB production, according to Digitimes Online Magazine.

The two leading PCB makers, Hannstar Board and Gold Circuit Electronics both plan to increase HDI PCB manufacturing to feed the demand. Hannstar plans to expand capacity to 200,000 square feet from the present 50,000, while GCE plans to invest over US$36 million to double HDI PCB capacity at its Chungli, Taiwan site by September.

Unitech's Shanghai subsidiary plans to double its current 1.5 million units per month HDI PCB capacity during early 2008.

Plotech's has plans to focus volume HDI PCB production at its Kunshan, China plant in the fourth quarter of this year. The company anticipates that capacity will increase from the current 180,000 square feet to 230,000 in the second half of the year. Investors suggest that sales from Kunshan may account for half of the company's total sales in 2008.

Tripod Technology said its HDI PCB expansion in China is fueled by handset and notebook demand, and the company has allotted its fifth plant at Wuxi, China solely for HDI PCB production. The company will have a monthly capacity of 10,000 square feet in the first quarter of the year increased to 40,000 square feet by year-end. Including its HDI capacity in Taiwan, Tripod estimates that total capacity will hit 70,000-80,000 square feet by year’s end.