Biel sees iPhone8 spurring changes

identification,” said Nicole Peng, research director at global consultancy Canalys, adding that there are already patents registered for the technology of embedding the fingerprint identification module in the screen.

“In the smartphone industry, it usually takes about three years for a new design to be put into mass production because manufacturers like Biel need time to upgrade their production lines,” said Jin Di, research manager at IDC China.

“The reason why manufacturers of outer screen glass for smartphones saw their business growth slow down in 2015 and 2016 is they were upgrading production lines. Big brands, especially Apple, are very cautious about putting a new design into mass production, demanding quality and stability,” Jin said.

“The screen manufacturers will embrace peak in growth in the second half of 2018 as they will be capable of mass production by then.”

Biel will continue to expand its production capacity in Huizhou and speed up automation to ensure quality and stability, the company’s president, Yeung, said.

With a total investment of more than HK$36 billion, Biel’s production bases in Huizhou now cover nearly 1.8 million square meters and have 120,000 workers.

Another 30,000 workers will be hired by 2018 but the manufacturer is shaking up its labor-intensive business model with a goal of raising the automation level in production from 20 percent to 80 percent, Yeung said.