LEOBEN, AUSTRIA -- Coming off a year in which revenue rose 5% year-over-year, AT&S said it intends to break into the IC substrate market in pursuit of further growth.

The printed circuit board fabricator, easily the largest based in Europe, has signed an agreement with Intel to collaborate on the technology.

In a statement, the company said is would take a "strong focus" on building up expertise to produce IC substrates.

A production plant for IC substrates is currently under construction in Chongqing, China, and is expected to start generating revenue in 2016.

"Entry into the IC substrates market marks a decisive step in AT&S’s growth strategy in the high-tech interconnection solutions segment of the global electronics market," AT&S said.

AT&S reported fiscal 2013 sales rose 5% to EUR 542 million.