Samsung to build new LCD plant

Samsung Electronics has announced it will start building a new LCD plant in South Korea.

The new Line 7-2 plant -- said to be seventh generation -- would be located near the company's joint venture Line 7-1 plant in Tanjeong, South Korea.

Production at the Line 7-1 plant has been tipped to start by mid-2005 and Line 7-2 in the first half of 2006.

Samsung claimed that Line 7-2 was a response to fast growth in demand for larger flat panel TVs, particularly those with 30-inch or larger LCD screens.

The new plant was expected to cost 290 South Korean won.

The company said Line 7-2's fabrication facility would be about 300,000 square metres in size and the module assembly facility some 93,000 square metres.