Gold Circuit Electronics (GCE) has plans to double the capacity of notebook printed circuit boards (PCBs) at its plant in Changshu, East China's Jiangsu Province in the third quarter because of strong demand, according to company sources.

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The Changshu plant, which has a monthly capacity of 600,000 square feet chiefly dedicated to notebook PCBs, has seen its utilization rate rising since volume production began in November 2006. The plant was running almost at full capacity in March and April, and second-quarter utilization will stay at an average of 95%, the sources indicated.

Judging from its order visibility, demand in the third quarter will be stronger than that in the second quarter and in order to meet demand GCE plans to add an additional 600,000 square feet of monthly capacity at the plant, the sources said.

GCE expects its notebook PCB shipments to reach 24 million units in 2007, taking 25% of the worldwide market, the sources added.

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