Aside from Foxconn and Pegatron, Apple is tapping a new device maker to ramp up the production of the iPad Mini 2 and possibly to advance its supposed late Q3 2013 release date, a new report said.

The new iPad Mini maker is identified by Patently Apple as ODM Wistron, citing reports from DigiTimes. Like Foxconn and Pegatron, Wistron is based in Taiwan.

While the new development hints that the entry of a new iPad Mini player will speed up the production activities for the small Apple tablet and improve its volume output, the report suggest that Wistron's Mini involvement starts only on 2014 and going forward to the following year.

The Taiwanese firm, however, has already set up its iPad Mini production facilities, which the report is a prerequisite before winning Apple's approval.

So with the production lines all set, Apple can tap Wistron anytime to fill in the event minor or serious production glitches are encountered by Pegatron and Foxconn, the latter owned and operated by Hon Hai Precision.

According to DigiTimes, Wistron has a record of mass producing mobile devices for other brands so there is a chance that its iPad Mini contract with Apple will be extended for future collaboration.

The Taiwanese manufacturer specialises in tablet, smartphone and notebook production, hence it will be easy for the firm to transition into iPhone and iPad when required by Apple.

The deal with Wistron is in line with Apple's ongoing efforts to optimise its supply chain network for its purported big push to come by fall this year, as hinted in previous statements by company CEO Tim Cook.

Analysts have been projecting that the tech giant will unleash huge surprises by the second half of the year and part of the package is the two iPad Mini versions.

Both will be powered by faster processor with iOS 7 running the show. But only one will sport the much-awaited Retina display, which as a result will cost higher.

The cheaper Mini edition is likely to come out between September and October while the more premium build is set for a holiday quarter release, reports said.