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The
smartphone market represents an important new opportunity for
Osram, which currently makes about half of its revenue from the
automotive sector.
The new hires would represent an increase of almost 50 percent
at the optical semiconductors plant, which is also responding to
increased demand for infrared and LED components for
driver-assistance systems in cars.
The new jobs are planned to be created between now and 2020 and
will be mainly in production and research and development, the
spokesman said in response to a query from Reuters.
Osram supplied iris-scanning infrared components for Samsung's
ill-fated Galaxy Note 7, which was recalled just after its
launch last September after some smartphones caught fire.
It is also expected to supply the technology for Samsung's next
flagship model, the Galaxy S8, which is likely to be announced
in March and go on sale in April.
Potential large competitors are Japan's Nichia and Lumileds,
which is being sold by Dutch Philips to a U.S. fund.
Osram on Wednesday reported first-quarter results that were
lifted by strong demand for LED components including infrared.
The company is investing a billion euros ($1.07 billion) in
building out LED components production capacity, the bulk of it
in a new plant in Kulim, Malaysia.
($1 = 0.9379 euros)
(Reporting by Georgina Prodhan; Editing by Maria Sheahan)
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