Corning/Asahi Eye Au Deal

In view of potential business with AU Optronics (AUO), US-based Corning and Japan-based Asahi Glass have shown interest in building TFT LCD glass furnaces near AUO's new factories in the Central Taiwan Science-based Industrial Park. Both Corning and Asahi's Taiwanese subsidiary, Asahi Glass Fine Techno, played down the news, saying they were in no hurry to build new factories in central Taiwan. AUO is set to build four TFT LCD plants but the operations will not begin until 2005, the companies said.