Poland: Toshiba Opens Latest LCD Plant

Toshiba, the chief proponent of the HD DVD format and a major maker of LCD HD product has opened a new LCD production plant it calls TTCE (Toshiba Television Central Europe) in Kobierzyce, located in southwest Poland.

The early stages of TTCE were built starting in the fall of 2006, Toshiba said—designed as a means to grow its LCD TV business (specifically to expand its production and sales efforts) throughout Europe. LCD manufacturing from substrates started in July 2007, and the plant’s capacity production output began this month.

As part of its local public relations outreach in the Polish community, one of the first orders of business was to present three local schools with new LCD monitors from the plant.

According to Toshiba, global demand for LCD TV sets (mostly HD) has doubled every year since 2001. Demand is particularly strong in Europe, the firm said, calling Europe “the world’s largest LCD TV market.”