Established in 1987, A4Tech Co. Ltd started producing Web cameras in 2004 to add to its growing line of computer peripherals that included keyboards, mice, multimedia speakers and headsets.

A4Tech projects Web camera sales of US$7 million in 2006. This is 35 percent higher than the US$5.2 million posted in 2005, almost all of which came from exports, out of total turnover of US$78 million. It forecasts shipment of Web cameras to reach 1 million units in 2006, an 82-percent jump from 550,000 units shipped in 2005.

The company's strengths are its in-house manufacturing and R&D capability, as well as more than 10 years of OEM experience. It offers OEM services, providing color and creating custom designs by request to match most systems. Buyers can also choose from a wide array of A4 Techbranded Web cameras.

A4Tech's major export markets are Europe, North America and Asia, taking up 60 percent, 20 percent and 20 percent of exports, respectively. HP, Circuit City, Fry's Electronics, Kensington, General Electric and RadioShack are some of its major customers.

To further boost international sales, A4Tech is a regular exhibitor in various trade shows including CES, Computex and CeBIT. Branch offices have been set up in Japan, mainland China, the United States, Germany, the United Kingdom and Austria.

Manufacturing capability

A4Tech manufactures Web cameras at its 25,000sqm factory in Dongguan, Guangdong province. Employing 2,000 workers, the factory can turn out 50,000 units per month.

Except for SMT and printing of gift boxes, A4Tech conducts all manufacturing processes including mold making, plastic injection, painting, assembly and packaging at this facility.

Inside A4Tech's factory are 50 plastic injection machines, 15 printing machines, 100 computers for testing, and eight shielded rooms. It continuously invests in R&D equipment such as 2.51GHz signal generators, spectrum analyzers, LCR electric bridges, and electrical safety compliance analyzers. Tooling is conducted in-house using turret milling machines, electric discharge machines and grinding machines, to ensure that the tooling process meets the standards demanded by customers.

All information contained in China Sourcing Reports is the result of exclusive, ground-level and definitive research conducted by Global Sources' analysts. Companies featured in these reports may or may not be clients of Global Sources.

	Supplier Profile
	Company background
	Year established		1987
	Head office location		Taipei, Taiwan
	Factory location(s)		Dongguan, Guangdong
	Total factory space (sqm)		25,000
	Total employees		2,000
	Manufacturing Index
	Year when Web cameras were first produced		2004
	Total monthly capacity (units)		50,000
	Average monthly output (units)		46,000
	Suppliers of CMoS/ CCD sensor		Micron
	Suppliers of DSP		Vimicro
	Number of R&D workers		60
	Quality/Safety approvals		CE, FCC, BSMI
	Management quality systems		ISO 9001, Six Sigma, 5S
	Sales/Export Performance
	2005 total sales (US$)		78,000,000
	2005 sales of Web cameras (US$)		5,200,000
	2006 estimated sales of Web cameras (US$)		7,000,000
	2005 output of Web cameras (units)		550,000
	2005 exports of Web cameras (units)		550,000
	2006 estimated output of Web cameras (units)		1,000,000
	2006 estimated exports of Web cameras (units)		1,000,000
	Major customers		HP, Circuit City, Fry's electronics, Kensington, General Electric, RadioShack
	Major trade shows attended		Computex, CeBiT
	Export Ports		Shenzhen
	Shipment destinations		North America, Europe, Asia