Vienna - AT&S, Europe's largest PCB manufacturer, began construction last week on a second plant in Shanghai. When it comes online in 15 months, the 75,000m² production facility will triple the company's capacity in China.

"The second plant in Shanghai will definitively put us in the position as the most modern high performance printed circuit board manufacturer in the high-tech segment," said Willi Dörflinger, chairman, in a statement. "The new capacity will come just at the right time in the second half of 2006, enabling us to tend to the climbing demand in the HDI microvia area."

Upon completion of the plant, located next to the existing plant, about 50% of AT&S' global capacity will come from its plants in India and China.

The company's step toward Asian expansion takes place exactly four years after the cornerstone was laid for the first plant.