AU Optronics (AUO) is a Taiwanese electronics manufacturer. It was formed in September 2001 by the merger of Acer Display Technology, Inc. (the former of AUO, established in 1996) and Unipac Optoelectronics Corporation. In October 2006, AUO acquired Quanta Display Inc. AUO has thus been operating production lines of various generations, capable of offering TFT-LCD panels from 1.4 to 85 inches in sizes. AUO was listed in Taiwan Stock Exchange (TSE) in 2000 and was also the first pure TFT-LCD manufacturer to have been listed at the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) in 2002. AUO extended its market to the green energy industry in 2008 to provide customers with high efficiency solar solutions.
AUO generated US$12.9 billion in sales revenue in 2014 and now houses a staff of more than 45,000 throughout its global operations spreading across Taiwan, Mainland China, Japan, Singapore, South Korea, the United States, and Europe.
Their distribution network for solar panels covers 26 different countries.
History
- August 1996 Acer Display Technology, Inc. (the former of AUO) was founded
- September 2000 Listed at Taiwan Stock Exchange Corporation
- September 2001 Merged with Unipac Optoelectronics Corporation to form AUO
- May 2002 Listed at NYSE
- October 2006 Merged with Quanta Display Inc., owning a full range of fabrication plants to meet all panel size requirements
- September 2012 sentenced to pay a US$500 million criminal fine for its participation in a five-year conspiracy to fix the prices of thin-film transistor LCD panels sold worldwide. Its American subsidiary and two former top executives were also sentenced. The two executives were sentenced to prison and fined for their roles in the conspiracy. The $500 million fine matches the largest fine imposed against a company for violating U.S. antitrust laws. In July 2014, the Ninth Circuit rejected AUO's appeal of the fine.
Products
AUO offers advanced display total solutions covering UHD 4K, ultra slim, narrow bezel, curved, transparent displays, LTPS, OLED, and touch solutions. Fabrication plants from Gen 3.5, Gen 4, Gen 4.5, Gen 5, Gen 6, Gen 7.5 to Gen 8.5 have been established to develop a full lineup of applications, offering TFT-LCD panels in sizes ranging from 1.4 inches to 85 inches. AUO is one of the top manufacturers of TFT-LCD panels in the world with a market share of 16.2% in large-sized panels.
AUO owns a myriad of patents for its R&D efforts and was included in the 2014/2015 Ocean Tomo 300® Patent Index.
AUO has shown considerable regard for the protection of the environment and was the first to have introduced the energy management platform. The endeavors made the Company the world’s first manufacturer to have acquired ISO 50001 energy management certification and ISO 14045 eco-efficiency assessment of product systems verification.
Among their major customers, especially for TFT LCD products, there can be mentioned : Samsung, Panasonic, Sony, LG, Philips, Toshiba, Apple, Dell, HP, Lenovo, Asus, Acer, Sharp, Vestel, Beko.
Solar Business
AUO adopts the high quality materials from leading Japanese polysilicon provider M.Setek and AUO Crystal, and collaborates with solar cell leader SunPower to establish a vertically integrated solar value chain. This high efficiency value chain extends from polysilicon, ingots, wafers, solar cells to PV modules. By practicing the "Global Operation, Local Delivery" strategy, customers worldwide could be offered solar module products nearby from Europe, Taiwan, Mainland China, and the United States. Various solar utility projects have also been successfully completed around the world.
Corporate Social Responsibility
- In 2012, AUO announced to reduce carbon emissions by 25% at all of its manufacturing sites by the end of 2015;
- In 2013, AUO’s headquarters was certified by Taiwan’s Environmental Protection Administration to have attained carbon neutrality;
- In 2014, AUO extended its carbon neutral project by inviting non-profit organizations in Taiwan to apply for carbon credits. To date, the Feitsui Reservoir in New Taipei City and Jinhua Village in Taoyuan City have been assisted to achieve carbon neutrality. In the same year, AUO was awarded the 2014 Taiwan Corporate Sustainability Awards' Gold Prize;
- In 2015, AUO was named to Dow Jones Sustainability World Index for the sixth consecutive year.
Key Fabs
Taiwan:
- Hwaya Science Park, Taoyuan -- Gen 3.5, Gen 5
- Lungke Science Park, Taoyuan -- Gen 6
- Lungtan Aspire Park, Taoyuan -- Gen 4, Gen 5
- Hsinchu Science Park, Hsinchu -- Gen 3.5
- Central Taiwan Science Park, Taichung -- Gen 5, Gen 6, Gen 7.5 to Gen 8.5
Overseas:
- Singapore -- Gen 4.5
- Mainland China (Kunshan, Jiangsu) -- Gen 6 (under preparation)
Milestones
- September 2001 Merged with Unipac Optoelectronics Corporation to form AUO
- May 2002 Listed at NYSE
- October 2006 Merged with Quanta Display Inc.
- December 2008 Officially entered solar business to provide high efficiency solar solutions
- March 2009 G8.5 Fab in Taichung recognized as world's first LEED Gold certified TFT-LCD facility
- June 2009 Joint venture with Changhong in Sichuan, China to set up module plant
- April 2010 Joint venture with TCL in China to set up module plant
- May 2010 Jointly invested in solar cell manufacturing facility in Malaysia with SunPower from the U.S.
- July 2010 Acquired AFPD Pte., Ltd.("AFPD"), subsidiary of Toshiba Mobile Display Co., Ltd. in Singapore
- May 2011 G8.5 Fab in Houli recognized as world's first LEED Platinum certified TFT-LCD facility
- June 2011 Acquired world's first ISO 50001 certification for manufacturing facilities
- February 2012 OLED strategic alliance formed with Idemitsu in Japan
- July 2012 Acquired world's first ISO 14045 eco-efficiency assessment of product systems verification
- September 2012 Fined $500 million for price fixing violations. Former top executives Hsuan Bin Chen and Hui Hsiung jailed for three years.
- March 2013 Presented Taiwan's first Zero Liquid Discharge Solution
- June 2013 G8.5 Fab in Houli received Taiwan's first Diamond Certification for Green Factory Building
- November 2013 Honored with 2013 / 2014 Ocean Tomo 300® Patent Index
- April 2014 Initiated new model of solar power plant operation by founding Star River Energy Corporation
- May 2014 CSR Report acquired Taiwan's first GRI G4 certificate among the manufacturing industry
- September 2014 Named to Dow Jones Sustainability World Index for five consecutive years
- May 2015 Ranked among the top 5% companies in the first Corporate Governance Evaluation released by Taiwan Stock Exchange (TWSE)
- September 2016 Exited the solar cell manufacturing joint venture with SunPower, by selling AU Optronics' portion to SunPower for $170 million
- Lextar Electronics Corporation
- Qisda Corporation
- Darwin Precision Corporation
- Daxin Materials Corporation
- AUO Crystal Corporation
- Toppan CFI
- Fargen Power Corporation
References
External links
- auo.com
- AUO - U.S. SEC Filings