Aaron Lee, Taipei; Steve Shen

 

Apple reportedly plans to add a second manufacturer for iPad 3 tablet PCs in addition to Foxconn Electronics with Taiwan-based Quanta Computer and Petagron Technology being indicated as the potential contenders for the possible orders, according to industry sources in Taiwan.

Petagron, which reportedly have landed iPhone 5 orders from Apple, stands a better chance of winning the iPad 3 orders, the sources noted.

Apple previously outsourced the production of iPad-series tablets to only Foxconn, which assembles the tablets mostly at its production base in Chengdu, western China. However, an explosion occurred at a Chengdu factory building on May 20 leaving three dead and 15 injured on May 20. The accident has forced Apple to seek a second contractor in order to minimize production risk.

The latest market rumors also indicated that the new iPad may be named iPad 2 plus and will be thinner than its predecessors yet with upgraded display.

The new iPads will be launched at the end of the third quarter or early in the fourth quarter, noted the sources. Total shipments of iPad tablet PCs are expected to top 13 million units in the third quarter, estimated the sources.