TOYKO -- Hitachi Chemical will pour a reported 520 million yen into a new R&D center for dry-film PWB materials. The plant will reportedly start operations in April.
The company also said first-quarter net sales dropped 5.5% year-over-year despite gains in electronics related products. Operating income rose 18.5% and net profits were up 27.8% for the June quarter.
Electronics products, which include bare boards, laminates and dry film, were up 1.8%. Sales of multilayer PWBs and flex circuits were down, while laminates were up. Dry film was flat with last year.