Pegatron

Business
March 12, 2012
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Pegatron workers say they were ignored after iPad plant explosion

By on March 12, 2012 at 5:00 PM.

Pegatron workers say they were ignored after iPad plant explosion

A report on Monday from NPR has provided new insights into an explosion that injured 59 workers in an iPad plant last December. The incident occurred at a plant run by Pegatron subsidiary Riteng Computer Accessory Company, which manufactures back panel parts for Apple’s iPad tablet, among other products. Last week, NPR met with 25 workers who were hospitalized from the blast, all of whom criticized the plant’s safety and said Apple had inspected it just hours before the explosion. “I saw a fireball coming towards me,” said He Wenwen, an employee who was calibrating his aluminum polishing machine when the explosion hit. “I lost consciousness for a few seconds. Later, when I opened my eyes, I saw dense smoke and fire everywhere. I felt scared, really scared. I could hear people crying and screaming.” Read on for more. More →

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mobile
January 10, 2012
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Apple chooses Pegatron to make iPad 3, March shipments

By on January 10, 2012 at 10:37 AM.

Apple chooses Pegatron to make iPad 3, March shipments

Pegatron Technology has reportedly received a small volume of orders for the upcoming iPad 3, which is set to launch in March, according to Digitimes. Apple has reportedly revamped the company’s outsourcing strategy and will have Pegatron focus on production of the iPad series, with Foxconn serving serving as an auxiliary in 2013. Foxconn‘s primary focus will be the iPhone, with Pegatron only producing a small number of smartphones. The new strategy is meant to decrease risk and increase the quality of products, according to the report. The Cupertino-based company has already visited Pegatron‘s plants in China several times. The publication also claimed that Pegatron is expected to see a “significant increase” in orders for an iPad 4 launch reportedly scheduled for October with an initial volume of 7-10 million units. However, last week John Gruber of Daring Fireball called the March launch of the iPad 3 “completely accurate,” but claimed an iPad 4 report was “completely made-up nonsense.”

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Business
December 20, 2011
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Aluminum dust contributed to explosion at iPad factory, China Labor Watch says

By on December 20, 2011 at 4:35 PM.

Aluminum dust contributed to explosion at iPad factory, China Labor Watch says

Aluminum dust, which accumulates during the iPad polishing process, likely contributed to the recent explosion at an iPad plant that injured 61 workers according to the group China Labor Watch. The explosion occurred earlier this week at the Pegatron-owned Ri Teng Computer Accessory factory. According to the United States Department of Labor Occupational Health & Safety administration, aluminum can become explosive if it is “suspended in the air at the right concentration.” Safety has always been a concern at the plants Apple chooses to manufacture its products, and the Cupertino-based firm also recently admitted that 15 of its supply chain plants violate China’s environmental regulations. “We are working closely with Pegatron to understand the cause of this accident,” Apple spokeswoman Carolyn Wu told Bloomberg. “Our hearts go out to the people who were hurt in Songjiang.” More →

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Business
December 19, 2011
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Explosion at iPad plant injures 61 workers

By on December 19, 2011 at 6:35 PM.

Explosion at iPad plant injures 61 workers

The safety of workers at electronics manufacturing plants has again been called into question on reports that 61 people were injured by an explosion at a Pegatron factory at Shanghai’s Songjiang industrial park in China. Reuters on Monday reported that an explosion at a plant run by Pegatron subsidiary Riteng Computer Accessory Company injured 61 people and sent 23 workers to the hospital. Among other products, the plant manufactures back panel parts for Apple’s iPad 2 tablet. Pegatron Chief Financial Officer Charles Lin confirmed the incident. ”The factory has not started operations yet,” Lin told Reuters. ”Part of the facility is still under pre-operation inspection and part is running trial production.” Riteng spokeswoman Carolyn Wu added, ”Our hearts go out to the people who were hurt in Songjiang. We are working closely with Pegatron to understand the cause of this accident.” An explosion this past summer at a Foxconn plant that manufactures Apple tablets killed three workers and injured another fifteen. No fatalities resulting from the Riteng explosion have been reported, and the cause of the blast was not immediately clear. More →

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mobile
October 13, 2011
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Pegatron iPhone 4S order volume greater than expected

By on October 13, 2011 at 3:00 AM.

Pegatron iPhone 4S order volume greater than expected

Pegatron has received a greater volume of orders for the iPhone 4S than originally expected, Commercial Times said on Wednesday. Reportedly, Pegratron had originally expected to build and ship 10 million iPhone 4S units, but it is now serving an order for 15 million units, DigiTimes said. Pegatron could ship 2-2.5 million iPhone 4S units during the fourth quarter of this year according to the report. The Taiwan-based manufacturer hopes Apple will bless it with iPad 3 orders as well, and has supposedly boosted its ability to build the metal chassis required for the device. More →

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mobile
September 5, 2011
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iPhone 5 manufacturing kicks off without iOS 5, report claims

By on September 5, 2011 at 11:10 AM.

iPhone 5 manufacturing kicks off without iOS 5, report claims

Apple’s manufacturing partners have reportedly begun assembling the iPhone 5 according to a new report from Macotakara, which has a mixed track record. The report follows news from this morning that German Apple carrier partner Deutsche Telekom has already begun pre-sales of the next-generation Apple smartphone. Foxconn, which will supposedly handle roughly 85% of iPhone 5 production, and Pegatron, which has picked up a contract for the remaining 15%, are said to have ramped up assembly ahead of Apple’s official announcement of the device, which is expected as soon as next week. Citing information from an anonymous source, the report also notes that finished devices are not yet being packaged, as the release build of iOS 5 has not yet been finalized. More →

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mobile
September 2, 2011
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Barnes & Noble Nook Color 2 to launch this month

By on September 2, 2011 at 11:45 PM.

Barnes & Noble Nook Color 2 to launch this month

The successor to the Barnes & Noble Nook Color will launch this month, DigiTimes reported on Friday. There is no mention if the Nook Color 2 will run Android, as the original did, although we hope Barnes & Noble considers using the more tablet-friendly Android 3.1 (Honeycomb) operating system this time around instead of a the Froyo build, which was designed for use on smartphones. Inventec and Pegatron will assemble the eReaders and supply as many as 2-3 million devices by the end of this year, the report says. TPK Holding will provide the 7-inch color touchscreen panels. DigiTimes also said that the Nook Color 2 E Ink will supply “e-paper backplanes,” which suggests there will be a new E Ink component to the Nook Color 2, although it is unclear what its role will be at this point. Barnes & Noble most recently released its “All New Nook,” a gray-scale device that we favored among all other eReaders. The Nook Color 2 could face stiff competition from Amazon’s new Android-powered tablet, which is also expected to launch this fall. More →

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mobile
August 15, 2011
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Apple iPhone shipments could approach 100 million this year

By on August 15, 2011 at 7:45 PM.

Apple iPhone shipments could approach 100 million this year

Apple has placed orders with its manufacturing partners for as many as 26 million iPhone 5 handsets in the second half of 2011 as it prepares for a massive launch this fall. In addition to Apple’s iPhone 3GS and iPhone 4 models, this could bring the vendor’s second-half iPhone shipments up to 56 million units, DigiTimes reported on Monday. Tack that massive figure onto the 18.65 million iPhones Apple shipped in the fiscal second quarter and the 20.34 million units shipped in the fiscal third quarter, and Apple could potentially ship just under 100 million iPhone handsets this year. Apple is expected to unveil at least one new iPhone model in the coming weeks, which will then go on sale in late September or early October. More →

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mobile
August 4, 2011
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Pegatron to ship iPhone 5 in September

By on August 4, 2011 at 2:45 AM.

Pegatron to ship iPhone 5 in September

Apple manufacturing partner Pegatron will begin shipping the iPhone 5 in September, DigiTimes reported on Wednesday. Pegatron will join Foxconn as a manufacturer for the phone and has secured an order for 10 million units, according to the report. In July, Taiwan Economic News also reported that Pegatron had inked a deal with Apple to manufacture the iPad 3, although that device may be delayed due to component shortages. The most recent rumors around the iPhone 5 speculate that the update is bigger than initially expected and the phone will be thinner, lighter and more powerful. Early rumors had suggested that Apple was launching an “iPhone 4S” that would offer a minor update to the current iPhone 4 model. More →

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Tablets
July 28, 2011
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New iPad 3 contract goes to Pegatron, not Foxconn [updated]

By on July 28, 2011 at 3:50 PM.

New iPad 3 contract goes to Pegatron, not Foxconn [updated]

Pegatron has been awarded a new contract to build Apple’s next-generation iPad tablets, Taiwan Economic News reports. According to the report, Pegatron underbid Hon Hai for a new contract to manufacture the iPad 3, which will become available some time near the Thanksgiving holiday according to an earlier report. Hon Hai, owner of infamous Apple manufacturing partner Foxconn, manufactures Apple’s current-generation iPad 2 tablet along with a number of other Apple products. Pegatron is seemingly working hard to increase its production share of Apple devices, however; the Taiwan-based manufacturer reportedly also won an order from Apple to manufacture a total of 15 million iPhone 5 handsets. While Apple is shaking up its manufacturing partners according to the report, it will reportedly retain the majority of its component suppliers including TPK Holdings (touch panels), Simplo Technology and Dynapack International Technology (batteries), Largan Precision (camera lenses) and Foxconn Technology (outer casings).

Updated to reflect changes in source report.
More →

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Tablets
July 13, 2011
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Foxconn to build all iPad units this year

By on July 13, 2011 at 9:45 AM.

Foxconn to build all iPad units this year

Foxconn will be the only manufacturer to build the iPad this year, DigiTimes reported on Wednesday. There were reports earlier this week that suggested Apple had been in talks with either Pegatron or Quanta Computer as a second manufacturer in order to create enough units for the launch of a new model in September. However, Foxconn reportedly caught word of Apple’s discussions with other manufacturing outlets and was able to convince the Cupertino-based company to stick with one manufacturer… for now. Apple is expected to launch a new iPad with a higher resolution screen in September. According to rumors swirling around analyst circles and in the media, the new tablet will be dubbed the “iPad HD,” “iPad Pro,” or the “iPad 2 Plus.” More →

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Tablets
July 11, 2011
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Apple ‘iPad 3′ said to launch this fall; second manufacturer could help meet demand

By on July 11, 2011 at 7:30 AM.

Apple ‘iPad 3′ said to launch this fall; second manufacturer could help meet demand

DigiTimes adds fuel to the fire Monday morning with a report that Apple is looking to add a second manufacturing partner for its popular iPad line of tablets in order to help meet demand when the company launches a new iPad model this fall. The report adds that either iPhone maker Pegatron Technology or Quanta Computer will likely gain the contract to build iPads alongside Foxconn. While the report refers to an “iPad 3″ that will launch later this year, it has become increasingly likely that the new model rumored to launch in September will be a complimentary iPad variant as opposed to a new model. Dubbed the “iPad 2 Plus” or “iPad HD” by analysts and the media, the high-end iPad is said to feature specs similar to the current iPad 2 but with a double-resolution display, among other things. According to DigiTimes’ report, the new iPad model will launch either late in the third quater or early in the fourth quarter, with third-quarter shipments expected to ramp up to 13 million units. More →

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mobile
July 5, 2011
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15 million iPhone 5 units said to be on order for September launch

By on July 5, 2011 at 7:31 AM.

15 million iPhone 5 units said to be on order for September launch

Apple has reportedly placed an order for 15 million iPhone 5 units with Chinese electronic manufacturer Pegatron. Pegatron’s plants underwent a major expansion in 2010 and 2011 to accommodate Apple’s supply needs for the current iPhone 4 model, so the company had been seen as a likely candidate to receive orders for Apple’s next smartphone. Referring to the handset as both the iPhone 5 and the iPhone 4S, DigiTimes reports that shipments are scheduled to begin in September. The report also states that the upcoming iPhone refresh “does not seem to have any major update from iPhone 4.” Conflicting reports suggest that the next-generation iPhone could either be a major upgrade or an incremental update packed in the same case as the iPhone 4. More →

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