News and Research on Global-Tech Appliances, Inc. (GAI)
Business Description
Global-Tech Appliances, Inc., a holding company, engages in the design, manufacture, and marketing of consumer electrical products worldwide. The company’s products are sold to customers primarily in the United States of America (the U.S.) and Mainland China.
Segments
The company operates its business in three segments - home appliances, electronic components and other. The company’s home appliances segment primarily manufactures small electrical household appliances for branded marketers in North America and Europe. The company’s electronic components segment produces complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) camera modules (CCM) for sale to cellular phone manufacturers in Mainland China. The company’s others segment comprises various immaterial product lines and development programs, including units focusing on organic light emitting diode (OLED) and display-oriented products.
PRODUCTS
Home Appliance Business
The company designs and manufactures various small electrical household appliances. Its products categories include floor care products; kitchen appliances; and other products.
Floor care products: The company’s floor care products include hand-held steam vacuum cleaners, upright vacuum cleaners and extractors.
Kitchen appliances: The company has manufactured a line of kitchen appliances, including blenders, breadmakers, coffeemakers, electric knives, espresso machines, food choppers, food processors, food steamers, ice cream makers, and indoor grills.
Electronic components: The company started manufacturing camera modules (CCMs) utilizing CMOS (complementary metal oxide semiconductor) sensors in two sizes, 0.3 and 1.3 megapixels. The company also introduced the ‘Intellicorder’ home security device utilizing its CCM technology. The company intends to expand its CCM business by offering a 2.0 megapixel model. The company intends to develop other components and manufacturing services for its PRC based cell phone customers.
Other: The company's other products include garment care and travel products, environmental care products, personal and health care products and accessories.
Subsidiaries
The company’s subsidiary, GT Investment (BVI) Limited is the immediate holding company of Wing Shing Overseas Limited, Pentalpha Hong Kong Limited, Pentalpha Enterprises Limited, Global Rich Innovation Limited, Winway Technology Development Limited and Global Household Products Limited.
The company’s subsidiary, Consortium Investment (BVI) Limited (CIBL) is an immediate holding company of Lite Array Holdings Limited (LAH) and Kwong Lee Shun Trading Company Limited. Global Display Holdings Limited is an immediate holding company of Global Optics Limited and Global Digital Imaging Limited. Global Lite Array (BVI) Limited is an immediate holding company of Lite Array OLED (BVI) Company Limited and Lite Array, Inc. Global-Tech USA, Inc. is an immediate holding company of MasterWerke Ltd.
The company’s subsidiary Lite Array, Inc., a U.S. based technology company, involved in thin film electroluminescent displays (TFEL) and OLED.
The company established a separate subsidiary, Global Display, to develop and market various such display-oriented products focused initially on developing flat-panel high definition televisions (HDTVs) incorporating plasma or thin film transistor liquid crystal displays (TFT-LCDs).
The company has a majority controlling interest in Winway Technology Development Limited (Winway). Winway established its own marketing network for consumer electronic products in certain Asian countries, including China.
The company has formed Global Optics Limited to produce and market complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) camera modules (CCMs) and to develop household electronic products incorporating optical systems.
Joint Ventures
The company entered into a joint venture with Anwell Technologies Limited (Anwell) to develop a process for producing OLED equipment.
Customers
The company's principal customers include Royal Appliance Manufacturing Company; and Electrolux/Eureka.
History
Global-Tech Appliances, Inc. was founded in 1963.
