Intel has put quite an ambitious goal to increase the share of so-called ultrabook up to 40% in the range of mobile computers by the end of this year. Ultrabook Manufacturers, meanwhile, complain about the limited capacity for the production of ultrathin cases for these devices, which are often solid metal.
Quanta Computer company, which is one of the largest contractors for the production of laptops, decided to buy for their allied party machine tools with numerical control, which can produce a wide range of body parts from a single piece of metal. Vertical integration of the various production stages enables market participants to reduce costs, since the increase in wages of Chinese workers threatens their already reduced rate of return by 3-5% of the laptop cost .
Inventec also cooperates with case manufacturers for notebooks . Compal Electronics has created a joint venture with a case manufacturer Ju Teng, bought 200 CNC machine tools, in addition to those already available. By the end of the current six months the equipment will increase to 2,500 units. Wistron is not only looking for a partner for a joint venture, but also tries to experiment with materials used to create ultrabooks case.
It is becoming clear that the contract manufacturers are interested in creating infrastructure for the production of ultrabook components, appropriate measures are taken for its development.