Chongqing - Several key Chongqing municipal projects of industry in Liangjiang New Area have commenced formal production, including the photomask manufacturing project of Chongqing Mastek Electronics Co., Ltd. (CQMT). A company representative confirmed that the project had started trial production in the third quarter and was transitioned to full mass production in the fourth quarter.

This is the exterior of CQMT's production facility. (Photo/Xin Chen)

The project is a joint investment by HOYA Corporation, a global leader in photomask manufacturing, and BOE Technology Group, a top display producer responsible for over 25% of global display production. It is also the first large-scale photomask project by an international manufacturer in inland China.

CQMT's photomasks are core display production components and are upstream of the industrial chain. Their function is similar to a "mold" engraved with integrated circuits, where light passes through the "mold" to etch the integrated circuits onto a glass substrate.

Photomasks in display production are like blueprints for a building. Just as an architect's blueprint guides the construction of each floor and detail, a photomask directs the precise etching of integrated circuits onto a glass substrate, ensuring the display's structure is accurately formed.

Through the monitoring screen, one can observe the current status of the production line, with several technical personnel in white dust-proof suits operating production equipment under dim yellow lighting. "There are currently about 40 technical personnel on the production line," the representative explained. "As production volume increases, we will continue to recruit more technical staff," he added.

When asked why CQMT chose Chongqing, the representative explained that while locations like Suzhou in Jiangsu were considered, the decision was based on factors such as industrial support and transportation, leading them to settle in Chongqing.

"The southwestern region has a large concentration of LCD companies, such as BOE and HKC Co., Ltd. (HKC), making the downstream customer market relatively well-developed for us," the representative said.

The representative noted that by settling in Chongqing, CQMT can leverage the city's convenient transportation to also serve the Chengdu market. He also said that CQMT's next step is to invest in additional equipment to boost production capacity and expand its client base.

From January to October 2024, key municipal projects in Chongqing saw an investment of around 400.3 billion yuan, reaching 88.2% of the annual target. Specific to the Liangjiang New Area, projects attracted an investment of 14.479 billion yuan, with a progress rate of 99.1%.