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Thomson Multimedia Supports Very Large Screen TV Market Demand With Plans To Build A New Picture Tube Facility In Mexico
To strengthen its worldwide presence in the very large picture tube market, and to support rapid market growth in high-end displays, Thomson multimedia (NYSE: TMS) has announced its intentions to increase its VLS (very large screen) color TV picture tube manufacturing capacity with the addition of a factory in Mexicali, Mexico. This initiative is part of TIGER, a program designed to enhance Thomson multimediaís global leadership in the high-end very large and large displays segments and represents approximately a 200 million euro investment. The group has signed an agreement to purchase land for the construction of Thomson Displays Mexicana SA de CV, which is expected to begin operation in Mexicali in 2001. Serving primarily the North American market, the state-of-the-art facility will manufacture very large screen (31-inch and larger) picture tubes for Thomson as well as for other television manufacturers. Production capacity for VLS cathode ray tubes is expected to exceed 4,000 units per day once the plant is fully operational. ""Market demand for VLS tubes is strong and projected to increase in the next several years,""í said Gilles Taldu, Executive Vice President of Thomsonís Displays and Components division. ""The added value of a modern, cost-effective facility which will focus on this important product segment is an obvious step toward strengthening our business and continuing our growth in the next decade."" About Thomson Multimedia Tubes Operations Thomson multimedia is the worldís largest supplier of large and very large color TV picture tubes, with a worldwide market share of 21 percent. The Display and Components division has a consolidated turnover of 7.5 billion French francs in 1998. Thomsonís other picture tube factories are located in Marion, Indiana, and Scranton, Pennsylvania in the U.S.; Anagni (Italy); Piaseczno (Poland); Mexico City (Mexico), and Foshan (China). The group produces more than 15 million tubes annually. The combined output of these facilities represents a 20 percent worldwide market share of tubes larger than 21 inches diagonal. The group also operates tube glass-making plants in Circleville, Ohio in the U.S.; Bagneaux-sur-Loing (France), and Piaseczno (Poland). About Thomson Multimedia With sales over $6 billion in 1998 and 48,000 employees in over 30 countries, Thomson multimedia (NYSE: TMS) is the fourth global supplier of consumer electronics products. The group has four main activities: Displays and Components, Consumer Products, New Media Services, Patents and Licensing. Within its activities Thomson multimedia develops, manufactures and sells television displays and components, consumer products such as televisions, VCRs, camcorders, audio and communications products, digital decoders, DVD players and professional video equipment.