Toshiba Celebrates Opening of New LCD TV Production Plant in Poland



    Toshiba Corporation today celebrated the official opening of
    Toshiba Television Central Europe Sp. zo. o. (TTCE), a new production
    and sales company for LCD TVs in Kobierzyce, southwest Poland. Toshiba
    executives were joined for the opening ceremony and a reception by
    representatives of the national and local government and other guests.

    Toshiba established TTCE in September 2006 as a key element in its
    strategy to strengthen its LCD TV business and expand production and
    sales in Europe. Manufacturing started in July 2007, and has now been
    ramped up to full scale production.

    The opening ceremony at the Kobierzyce site, located near Wroclaw,
    was attended by Mr. Marcin Korolec, the Vice Minister of the Economy,
    Mr. Ryuichi Tanabe, the Japanese ambassador to Poland, other
    representatives from the national and local government, and other
    guests, including Toshiba's business partners. Toshiba was represented
    by Mr. Toshio Yonezawa, corporate senior executive vice president. The
    ceremony underlined the contribution that Toshiba expects to make to
    the Kobierzyce community, and included the presentation of LCD TVs
    manufactured at the plant to three local schools.

    Global demand for LCD TVs has doubled every year since FY2001.
    Demand growth is particularly strong in Europe, already the world's
    largest LCD TV market, and is expected to expand from almost 16
    million units in FY2006 to approximately 33 million units in
    FY2009(1).

    Toshiba already manufactures LCD TVs in Europe at Toshiba
    Information Systems (UK) Ltd. The new Polish plant provides a second
    production base that will support Toshiba in meeting growing demand
    and reinforcing its presence in the pan-European market. The Company
    targets production of some three million units in Europe by FY2009,
    with the main focus on large sized LCD TVs with screen sizes of
    32-inches and above.

    Toshiba plans to invest a total of about six billion yen in TTCE
    over the next five years, and will use the output from the plant to
    win an increased share of the European LCD TV market.

    Outline of TTCE

    Company: Toshiba Television Central Europe Sp. zo. o.

    Initial Capital: 4,590 million yen (wholly owned by Toshiba
    Corporation)

    Location: Kobierzyce, Poland

    Established: September 2006

    Start of production: July 2007

    President: Yuji Komori

    Site area: Approx. 223,000 square meters

    Building area: Approx. 40,000 square meters

    Employees: Approx. 1,000 by 2010

    Business: LCD TV manufacturing and sales and marketing

    (1) Toshiba's forecast