By Steve Toloken
STAFF REPORTER / ASIA BUREAU CHIEF
Published: September 18, 2014 4:37 pm ET
Updated: September 18, 2014 4:41 pm ET
Growth in supplying the smartphone and automotive industries helped Chinese processor Eva Precision Holdings Ltd. push injection molding sales up 52 percent in the first six months of the year, to HK$742.8 million (US$95.8 million).
The Hong Kong-based company, which has seven factories in mainland China, said capacity expansions in the last two years helped it secure orders in the smartphone and tablet industries, including launching production of tablet computer components for Korea’s Samsung late last year.
“With the roll out of the fourth generation (“4G”) wireless communication system licenses in China at the end of 2013, the smartphone and tablet industry has entered into another boom cycle,” said Eva Chairman Zhang Hwo Jie, in a statement.
“At the same time, competition among international and domestic brands is escalating,” he said. “Under this competitive environment, both international and domestic brands are imposing stricter requirements on product quality and production management standards.”
The company said its total corporate sales, including units for metal stamping and injection mold building, rose 35 percent in the first half, to HK$1.600 billion (US$206.4 million), a half-year record for the firm.
It said net profit rose to HK$123.9 million (US$16 million), from HK$27 million (US$3.5 million) in the first half of 2013.
Since 2009, the Hong Kong-listed company has been trying to diversify beyond its traditional business of supplying components to Japanese office automation equipment makers like Canon and Toshiba, into the global automotive and consumer electronics supply chains.
It also said in its financial report that it started manufacturing for domestic Chinese smartphone and tablet makers in the first half of this year. In investor materials, it lists Huawei and Lenovo as customers.
Eva also bought a Chongqing mold making operation in 2011 to help its entry into the automotive sector. | 
