CMI has begun utilizing a existing 4.5th-generation (4.5G) panel plant in Chunan, northern Taiwan, to produce touch panels, and reportedly plans to set up two new 4G touch-panel production lines in Southern Taiwan Science Park (STSP).

Statistics released by iSuppli, a global leader in technology value chain research and advisory services, showed that some 12.9 million iPads are expected to be shipped this year, while the annual shipments of such touch-control slate PCs made by Apple are forecast to be 36.5 million and 50.4 million units.

Some parts supplier to Apple said, however, that including new orders for the iPad mini (using seven-inch touch panel compared to 9.7-inch now), total iPad's shipments in 2011 are expected to reach 41 million units.

Currently, the most important supplier of touch panels to iPad is LG Display (formerly LG.Philips LCD Co., Ltd.) of South Korea, as well as Samsung and few Japanese companies. CMI has won the technical authorization of the IPS (In-Plane Switching) technology for wide-view-angle products and is ready to explore business in the slate PC market.

Industry sources said that CMI has not met barriers, such as land-development problem faced by major rival AU Optronics Corp. (AUO) in the proposed plant-construction plans, and is expected to start aggressive moves in touch-panel business from late this year to early next year.