Epistar Photoelectricity (Changzhou), a joint venture LED epitaxial wafer and chip maker established by Epistar and Lite-On Technology in Changzhou, eastern China, will expand its production capacity by adding seven MOCVD machines to bring its total of 17-18 in the second quarter of 2013, according to Epistar.

With Taiwan-based Huga Optotech to become a wholly owned subsidiary at the end of 2012, Epistar will see total production capacity increase to 285 MOCVD sets, consisting of 225 to produce blue-light LED chips and 60 to make AlGaInP LED chips, Epistar indicated. Epistar is adjusting Huga's personnel and improving Huga's manufacturing technology and will shift some of Huga's MOCVD sets in China to Epistar Photoelectricity.

Lite-On Technology's operational center in eastern China has seen booming shipments of LED chip packages and LED modules used in LED light tubes, downlights and bulbs to LED lighting vendors in Japan, Europe and the US, Lite-On Technology indicated. Lite-On Technology expects revenues from LED lighting products in 2012 to be 3-4 times those in 2011, and revenues in 2013 to grow from 2012, the company said.