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Visualization of display for mirror-less automobiles, Green light to OLED display

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After Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport did pre-announcement of legislation about partial revised plan of ‘Regulations on the performance and standards of automobiles and auto parts’ on the 7th, interests in ‘mirror-less automobiles’ having not side mirror (rearview mirror) are getting hot. This is a method of securing eyesight through display screen in the car after installing subminiature camera to car front and rear and also front doors of both sides, and solving blind zone problem which was the defect of existing side mirror and improving fuel efficiency and designs are expected, even though there are problems on functional errors and design development.

Thus, display for mirror-less automobiles is getting attentions as a drive of new market in display market for automobiles. Display fields for automobiles belongs to the industry to which creating high added value is expected because further customization is required compared to mobile and TV. So LGD or SDC panel enterprises are developing products for market penetration, and two companies are known as setting up policy of progressing differentiating strategies differently from Taiwan, Japanese companies by focusing on Flexible OLED especially.

Flexible OLED has thin, light characteristics and a nature to be able to bend, so it is favorable to mirror-less automobiles requiring new designs from free installing aspects. Also, mirror-less is being evaluated to be suitable to the display for automobiles because it can implement high visibility with very fast speed, contrast range, and wide viewing angle. On July 1st last year, Continental Corporation, auto parts supplier, revealed the possibility of better eyesight provision even in dark situations or the rain while introducing several merits of mirror-less automobiles to which 2 OLEDs were applied through its homepage. In addition, Alfred Eckert, Director of the Advanced Engineering department in Continental’s Chassis & Safety Division mentioned “The effects of unwanted optical phenomena such as glare and weak light can also be compensated”

<Mirror-less concept car to which 2 OLEDs were applied> (Source: www.continental-corporation.com)

Samsung Electronics is recently propelling automobile electric apparatus business in earnest by taking over Harman, US automobile electric company, and the industry foresees that competency of Samsung Electronics’ OLED and semiconductor would make great synergy effect to electric apparatus business. Furthermore, they lighted up goals such like securing world 30% market share in display for automobiles based on OLED display in 2018, and achieving 2 trillion won in sales.

In this way, OLED display is expected to play core roles in expanding business to electric field industry from electronic/display industry, and it is anticipated that OLED could be a new dynamic to growth of display industry.

LG OLED TV Dominates the North American Premium Market, Overtaking LCD

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At the 2016 IMID Business Forum held at COEX in Samseong-dong on October 26, 2016 LG Display managing director Kim Gwang-jin announced that the share of OLED TV overtook that of LCD in the North American premium market, and they will put more focus on the premium market.

LG Display managing director Kim Gwang-jin added “Larger than 65inch US$ 3,000 had a 53% market share and larger than 55inch US$ 2,000 had a 80% market share in the North American premium TV market in the first quarter of the year. And, the result indicates that consumers spend their money to buy premium TVs, so OLED TV is now successful in the premium TV market and they will continue to concentrate its energy on OLED TV of the premium market”.

He also said that the lifespan that has been pointed as one of the OLED TV’s problems guarantees more than 10 years of lifespan if it is used for 8 hours a day, compared to American TVs with 8 years of replacement period and Chinese TVs with 6 years of replacement period. With regard to image sticking, OLED TV has been upgraded by compensating circuit, sensing, and algorithm with no problem.

In addition, he expects to produce 900,000 this year and more than 1.5 million large-size OLED TV panels next year according to the next year’s market forecast, and create such various areas of markets as monitors and signage besides TV.

Meanwhile, this year LG Display made the third investment in large-size OLED panel production line, aiming to run it in the first half of 2017.

Display for automobiles, newly expected revenue sources of OLED

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Display market for global automobiles has continued stable growth of approximately 10% yearly recently, and LG Display and Samsung Display do not save investments by paying attention to it as new application. In this regard, Senior Researcher Yang Seong-jin of LG Economic Research Institute lighted up the entry reason of display for automobiles such like creating effects of new revenue are anticipated.

Senior Researcher Yang said “Display market for automobiles has 10% volume of the whole display market and belongs to 2% levels of total cost, but automotive industry has been developed steadily through smart-car and connected-car etc. In contrast, display market has been withered gradually, and panel prices are being lowered continuously, and thus it is directly connecting to survival matters actually.” While stating display market for automobiles as an alternative for this problem, he revealed the reason by saying “The number of participating companies is a few, and average price of display panels for automobiles to which thorough commercialization is required is higher than mobile phone or tablet pc two or three times.”

In display market for automobiles, Innolux and AUO, CPT, Japan display, Sharp occupied about 70% of total market based on 2015 sales of Taiwan, and LG Display recorded 10% share uniquely in domestic, but Samsung Display, second mover, failed in entering ranks. However, LG Display announced a plan that they were planning to enter the market with POLED to which flexible function was available after having designated display for automobiles as a promotion business, and Samsung Display was known to set up a policy of progressing differentiation strategies on display for automobiles based on small& medium OLED technology, so market share is expected to be increased little by little.

<LG Display/Flexible Automotive Display, SID 2015>

In the display market having been stagnated currently, concentration on display market for automobiles would be resultantly necessary for high profits, and OLED panel could get opportunities of creating new revenue sources by overpassing mobile and tablet pc market, if OLED panel solves demanding requirements of display for automobiles.

[CEATEC JAPAN 2016] NHK, 130inch 8K OLED Display Showcase

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The 130inch 8K OLED Display went public through NHK, a Japan’s public broadcasting from 4th to 7th October at the CREATEC JAPAN 2016 held in Tokyo, Japan as part of a research on the future TV’s form factor.

The 130inch 8K OLED Display which went public this time has been jointly developed with the Japan’s Astro Design and manufactured using a total of 4 panels, 2 horizontal and 2 vertical LG Display’s 65inch 4K OLED panels.
The thickness of the panel is only 1mm and even after attaching the back panel in order to fix the display, the thickness is only 2mm, implementing an ultra slim display.

NHK has been developing an 8K broadcasting technology for over 10 years, and has introduced its first developed product in 2002. In addition, it has broadcasted an experimental broadcast using a satellite at the Rio Olympics, and is expecting to begin a regular 8K broadcasting from 2018, and is aiming to supply a real time broadcasting service at the Tokyo Olympics in 2020.

The contents market continues to focus on the development of the 8K following through from UHD. In order to respond to this, the LCD camp is also focused on developing the 8K and is expected to be at the center stage of the next generation’s premium TV market.

In order to compete with the LCD within the premium TV market, it is analyzed that it is also time to actively develop the 8K for large area OLED display.

OLED is the trend in Korea from now on!

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7th Display Day ceremony was held in the evening of October 4 at JW MARRIOTT Seoul. In the congratulatory message, Vice Chairman of LG Display Han Sang-beom, President of Display Association, stressed like “LCD industry of Korea surpassed Japan in 2004, and there is not much time left in being chased from China within approximately 10 years,’ and expressed his opinion that concentrating on OLED will be the best way so that display industry could do sustainable growth afterwards.

These atmospheres were revealed clearly to achievements of awardees. Responsible persons belonged to companies that have significant achievements on OLED were awarded including Bronze tower industrial order, Industrial service merit, Presidential citation, and Prime Minister citation.

<From Left, Managing Director Lee Jong-hyeok of Samsung Display, Representivative Shin Dong-chan of INVENIA, Head of Research Center Yoon Soo-yeong of LG Display>

Representative Shin Dong-chan of INVENIA who won bronze tower industrial order was awarded for developing 8th generation WOLED deposition equipment, and Managing Director Yoon Soo-yeong, Head of Research Center in LG Display who developed 55inch transparent OLED together with Managing Director Lee Jong-hyeok of Samsung Display having developed OLED key technology were recognized as making Samsung Display occupy 97% of OLED market.

LG Display OLED TV, ‘Top in all fields’ according to an expert evaluation on picture quality

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OLED TV of LG Display Co., Ltd won praise of the highest quality from DisplayMate, US display expert group.

On 4th (US Eastern time bases), DisplayMate opened an evaluation result which compared picture quality of 65inch OLED TV having UHD with that of the latest LCD TVs through posting titled ‘2016 LG OLED TV Display Technology Shoot-Out.’ in its homepage.

The comparative evaluation of DisplayMate was made over whole picture quality parts such as ‘Black expression,’ ‘HDR realization,’ ‘Viewing angle,’ ‘Color/Brightness accuracy,’ ‘Response speed,’ and ‘Reflectivity’ by objecting 65inch OLED TV (Model name: 65E6) that has UHD resolution and is currently on the market and the latest LCD TVs.

In ‘Black expression’ evaluation first, DisplayMate analyzed that OLED TV expressed perfect black color without leak of light phenomena by controlling each pixel differently from LCD TVs.

Specially, in the item ‘High Dynamic Range realization,’ DisplayMate praised OLED TV highly in that it realized HDR of infinite levels by exceeding high ones, while the latest LCD TVs have limitations of not being able to satisfy black and white color simultaneously owing to the light emitted from close backlight in spite of applying its local dimming technology.

In the viewing angle evaluation, DisplayMate analyzed that contrast changes did not occur even when watching OLED TV from the side, but phenomena of lowered color reproduction rate, reduced color shift and contrast were made in case of LCD TVs.

From the accuracy aspect on color and brightness, OLED TV had little color equation shown from input data and output images when doing analyses with HDTV standard (BT.709) having been decided by International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and Digital Cinema Initiatives, so it was analyzed as having a clear relative predominance vs. the latest LCD TVs.

In case of response speed, ghost image appeared in the latest LCD TVs after have shot dynamic video (2,544 pixel shift per second) with 1/320 second, but OLED TV showed perfect images that had not blurs at all.

In addition, Displaymate analyzed that OLED TV realized vivid picture quality having not light reflection in home background where effects of lamination and sunlight were large because reflectivity on exterior lighting was only 1.1%. This was derived from excellent results of about 2 times compared to LCD TVs whose reflectivity was 2.2%.

From evaluated results by DisplayMate, a fact that OLED TV of LG Display have a different technology in dimensions by exceeding LCD is proved again such like ① OLED TV realizes perfect black color by spontaneous emission, ② Belongs to an optimistic TV in realizing HDR, ③ Expresses same color without its fading from any angle, ④ Boasts of perfect picture quality without distortion by expressing correct color, ⑤ Gives vivid screens without afterimages through quick response speed, ⑥ Has an aspect of being optimistic to home TV environment due to low reflectivity.

Doctor Raymond M. Soneira of DisplayMate said “In terms of picture quality, the 65inch OLED TV of UHD resolution having adopted OLED panel of LG Display is visually indistinguishable from prefect,” and paid OLED TV the highest compliment by adding “It is unquestionably the best performing TV that we have ever tested or watched.”

Meanwhile, DisplayMate is a display specialty media which operates US display expert group, and its influences are enormous to the degree that citation numbers of tech-related articles are a lot as ranking 61 following USA Today among media around the world, and Doctor Soneira who progressed this evaluation majored in Theoretical Physics in US Princeton University, and also is undertaking Representative of DisplayMate now as a display specialist who passed through AT&T Bell laboratory and CBS broadcasting station etc.

Possibility for market entry of Solution process OLED and QLED with new technology of large surface.

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Currently in the market of premium TV, OLED TV and QD- LCD industries are highly competitive.

QD vision with Nanosis and SID 2016 and IFA 2016 also emphasized quality of TV with QD material included comparing quality of OLED TV. Against this, LG Display joined the completion by emphasizing quality of OLED TV as an ideal display for HDR with comparison between QD-LCD and OLED in IFA 2016 with from SID 2016,

In current large surfaced TV market, LCD TV is taking overwhelmingly large share in distributed market while OLED TV gradually is growing large share in premium market.

In looking into strategies of each industry, large surfaced OLED is developing solution process OLED in order to achieve broader market share with from premium model to distributed model. To overcome weakness compared to OLED, LCD TV industry progressively use QD material with the final goal of development of QLED technology

As a competition in premium TV market gradually extends to entire area of TV market, present condition and possibility of market entry with solution process OLED and QLED is one of major interest.

For this matter, there is seminar host by Ubi Industrial Research with the theme of “analysis in possibility of market entry with QLED and Solution process OLED” in Medium sized business center, Yeouido, October 14th and will be discussing present market industry of large surfaced TV and panel and also will be dealing with present condition and issue of QLED and Solution process OLED, and future possibility of market entry.

Choong-Hoon Lee, president of Ubi Industrial Research, will suggest future direction of OLED industry with analysis of present condition and possibility of market entry in OLED and QLED.

Sung-Jin Jung, head of department of Du Pont, will be discussing the timing of market entry of solution process OLED with the demonstration of soluble OLED material, the essential part of solution process OLED, including present trend and up to date developmental technique

Professor Chang-Hee Lee and senior researcher Ji-won Bang from Korean Institute of Ceramic Engineering and Technology(KICET) will be discussing about advantage and developmental issue of Quantum dot material and direction of future development.

The seminar attracts attention in terms of providing an opportunity to share and discuss regarding issue through media and exhibition with technological and market perspectives of Ubi Industrial Research and share opinions and future possibility.

For registration and any inquiry, please contact to Hana Oh (hanaoh@ubiresearch.co.kr, 02 577 4940) from Ubi Industrial Research.

[OLED summit 2016] HDR contents- OLED TV, most suitable

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Movie companies in Hollywood has begun to produce HDR contents since 2015, and recently so have media contents companies. Consequently HDR-supporting 4K TV becomes a center of attention in the market.

HDR is being applied to Samsung SUHD TV and LG OLED TV, as well as most 4KTV companies.

HDR applicability will be a daunting challenge for a premium TV.
At OLED summit 2016 LG Display proudly announced that OLED TV is the best to express HDR contents among existing TV sets in the market.

<Senior researcher Yu, SahngJin at LG Display>

Yu, SahngJin, the senior researcher at LG Display screen quality development team said, “the most critical component to express HDR is peak highlight and the most frequent peak highlight size in the HDR screen is less than 1% window size. In case of more than 1% window size, the peak brightness of QD-LCD is over 1,200nit, higher than OLED TV, however if it is reduced to 1% or less the peak brightness of QD-LCD is drastically reduced and for the 0.01% window size, approximately 100nit merely. OLED TV can express consistent peak brightness over 500nit on average in a less than 10% window size. Say HDR contents expression range is 100. QD-LCD TV is equivalent to 40 while OLED TV, 60, 20% better quality than QD-LCD to express HDR contents.” Certainly OLED TV is most suitable for HDR.

At the demonstration of OLED TV and QD-LCDTV, OLED TV stressed on the best screen quality ever in the existing market with the crystal clear presentation of black and other colors plus wide visual angle-.

QD-LCDTV is also being developed to express various and rich colors on TV screen but there is a limit of non-emissive display in BLU, which therefore presumably cannot exceed LG OLED TV screen quality.

[OLED summit 2016]LG Display, presentation of must-be developed pOLED’s core technology

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In OLED summit 2016 held in San Diego, USA on 21st(local time), general manager of LG Display Joosu Im gave presentation on “Going forward with pOLED & future challenges” which is about 5 core technology that must-be developed in pOLED and the next pOLED.

As 5 types of core technology of pOLED, dream picture quality, design freedom, process simplication, cost innovation, a diversity of pOLED products were selected.

The presentation focused on topics such as, in dream picture quality, HDR and BT-2020 are applied in high resolution, and in design freedom, new TSP sensor development such as low stress TFT and metal mesh, and durability improvement of flexible window cover.

Also, he emphasized the process development for reducing the panel layer such as low temperature process and touch integration for process simplification, and the need for cost innovation through it. Lastly, he suggested material development (such as phosphorescence, TADF blue) in low power for diversity of pOLED products such as monitor for VR and PC, and automobile diversity of pOLED products, and also suggested changes of pixel design for enhancing the open ratio.

As a new opportunity for pOLED, he pointed out applications on foldable, automotive, and VR devices, and mentioned transparent display as the next pOLED.

This LG Display presentation is very much similar to Samsung’s previous presentation about Samsung Display in IMID 2016, and it looks like the development process and roadmap of the two companies are identical in pOLED (flexible OLED).

Especially, seeing that BT2020 application in AMOLED panel for mobile is previously mentioned by Samsung Display early this year, and now also mentioned by LG Display, it is expected that BT2020 application will become another main issue.

< LG Display general manager Joosu Im >

< Samsung Display presentation contents, IMID 2016 >

OLED Technology, extend the field from automobiles to airline industry.

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It is expected that we may be able to meet flights with OLED technology soon.

In existing OLED market, display is applied in mobile field and lighting is applied in indoor lighting field, and it was known several companies seem to be proceeding projects to apply it at either rear lamp or dash board area of the automobile.

However, in IFA 2016 held in Berlin Germany, LG vice president of HE Bongseok Kwon had reporter meeting where he said “we are currently in negotiation with two global airlines to install OLED display at front monitor and window, and the period of application must be discussed for not only seats but also including all parts such as windows.

Especially, several companies including Lumiotech, OSRAM, and LG Inotech already introduced technologies for applying OLED in indoor purposes as well as other fields, and third panel companies are known to be developing technologies for engrafting airline industry, so there is much attention of the outcome of new application.

OLED is designed with thin and light characteristics as well as flexibility where it is good at utilizing space without taking up large volume. Due to its characteristics, the installation is easy without location or space restrictions. So if OLED is applied in window then the flight crew can control the light penetration without having to check the window, and also people will be able to check the flight information they desire through display, and diversify the size and shape of the main display and dashboard.

Aside from these visual effect, it is expected to lower the fuel usage by decreasing the total weight of the flight. According to the contents presented in UK governmental emerging institution CPI (Centre for Process Innovation) in 2014, the fixed fuel usage is expected to decrease by applying OLED due to decreased weight of the flight fuselage and fuel, and the fuel consumed by air-conditioning can also be reduced due to low power consumption and heat, as well as the exhaustion of greenhouse gas is expected to be minimized.

<Concept picture of flight’s interior with CPI’s OLED display applied>

Along with this, OLED related application and its industry is expected to develop continuously. According to 2016 OLED Display Annual Report published by the market research company Ubi industry research, AMOLED market is expected to be worth 14,800 million USD in 2016, and approximately 71,705 million USD in 2020 where the average yearly growth of about 49%. Also, starting from 2019 where companies’ investments actually begin, the profit for OLED lighting will also largely increase which it is expected to reach above 7,500 million USD by 2025. Therefore, it is expected to see various types of applications with OLED display or lighting in the near future.

Sunic System Suggests High Resolution 11K AMOLED Panel Solution through Plane Source

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Sunic System’s solution for 11K (2,250 ppi) AMOLED production revealed in IMID 2016 held in Jeju ICC, South Korea is receiving much attention.

In the 2nd OLED Korea Conference held earlier this year, Samsung Display’s principal engineer Insun Hwang told the attendees that high resolution is the key in VR, and approximately 2,000 ppi is required for suitable realism. He explained that the resolution of VR falls as the distance between the user and display is short and this is an issue that needs to be solved.

The highest resolution of the current AMOLED panel for mobile device is 806 ppi, revealed by Samsung Display in SID 2016. The technology being applied to AMOLED panel mass production is evaporating OLED emitting materials through heat from linear source, and depositing the OLED emitting materials onto substrate through fine metal mask (FMM).

However, during the deposition stage of the OLED emitting materials, due to the distance between the evaporation source and FMM, thickness of FMM, and distance between FMM and substrate, incidence angle (θ) is produced. Due to the incidence angle, shadow distance (SD) is generated. Because of the SD issues, mask thickness and step height that minimize SD have to be decided, and these are the main reasons for the FMM production difficulty.

Plane Source Process, Sunic System IMID 2016

Plane Source Process, Sunic System IMID 2016

To solve these issues, Sunic System suggested plane source, instead of linear source, and reported that this will become a key technology for high resolution AMOLED panel. Plane source technology deposits OLED emitting materials on metal plate and vertically evaporates the materials through heat after reversing that metal plate. If OLED emitting material shadow angle (Ф) becomes 90, the SD (shadow distance, step height / tanФ) theoretically becomes 0. This means FMM can be designed to be thin and high resolution, allowing for high resolution AMOLED panel production.

Sunic System’s Dr. Chang Hun Hwang explained that plane source can reduce SD figure up to approximately 8 times compared to existing technology, and 11K (2250 ppi) AMOLED panel for VR use becomes possible. Through this 8K (200 ppi) RGB OLED TV panel production becomes possible in large area SMS evaporation technology.

Particularly, if plane source using SMS evaporation technology can be applied to large area, it is also expected to have significant impact on large area OLED panel production technology.

So far, inkjet printing technology applied solution process method has been mainly developed for RGB large area OLED panel production, but soluble OLED emitting materials’ performance fall short of existing evaporation OLED emitting materials. However, if plane source technology is successfully developed and applied, evaporation OLED emitting materials can be used. Accordingly, this could become large size OLED panel production technology that replaces solution process OLED.

Sunic System supplied Gen6 evaporator to LG Display, a first for a Korean manufacturing equipment company, and active mass production is expected to be possible from 2018.

LG Display ‘POLED, Key Differentiation of Automotive Cluster and CID Design’

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LG Display

LG Display’s Automotive Sales and Marketing director Sanghyun Ahn

Hyunjoo Kang / jjoo@olednet.com

LG Display emphasized that the automotive industry can differentiate design through plastic OLED (POLED).

 

During the Industrial Forum IMID 2016 held on 23 August in Jeju ICC of South Korea, LG Display’s Automotive Sales and Marketing director Sanghyun Ahn gave a key note presentation titled ‘Plastic-OLED Market Projection and Application in Automotive Display’, and explained advantages that POLED brings to automotive interior design. In particular, Ahn emphasized that POLED allows design freedom for automotive cluster and CID (center information display).

 

Ahn told the audience that cluster and CID related design differentiation and large size actualization is possible in the automotive market and requires unbreakable panel. POLED allows for integration of CID and cluster, a large size CID, and unconstrained cluster design, and can become a differentiation point in the automotive industry.

 

Compared to LCD, OLED is thinner and superior in contrast ratio, color gamut, and response speed. However, Ahn added that OLED’s lifetime and burn issues remain to be solved. He explained that POLED’s lifetime at 25°C LT80 is expected to increase to 15,000 in 2020 from 10.000 and reliability is estimated to improve from 2016’s 240 hours to 2018’s 500 hours.

 

Ahn revealed that regarding POLED for cluster and CID use LG Display is planning to release 13 inch FHD curved POLED in 2018, and curved and freeform 25 inch POLED in 2019.

[ SID 2016 ]Samsung Rollable vs. LG 77“…Collision of OLED

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Rollable AMOLED at SID 2016 Samsung`s Booth (Source = Samsung Display)

Hyunjoo Kang / jjoo@olednet.com

Samsung Display and LG Display will showcase the technologies for next-generation displays at the 2016 Society for Information Display( SID 2016 ) conference, which is being held at the Moscone Convention Center in San Francisco from May 22 to 27.
LG Display’s next-generation technologies including OLED TVs and automotive displays will be on show at the company’s booth from May 24 to 26 At this year’s SID 2016 , LG Display is placing its emphasis on the advantages of OLED and in particular the superior picture quality it offers along with its unlimited potential in application and design. The company will present its 77-inch Ultra HD OLED TV panel which provides the same level of color gamut in displays used by film-editing professionals.
It boasts unbeatable picture performance with perfect black expression and improved brightness by applying the High-Dynamic-Range (HDR) technology. LG Display will also showcase future concept displays such as 55-inch double-sided and 65-inch concave OLED displays for signage to meeting customers’ expectation for what’s coming next.
For customers in the rapidly rising automotive display market, LG Display will showcase its automotive display product line-ups from cluster displays to the Center Information Display (CID), including a 12.3-inch curved plastic OLED display and a 12.3-inch LCD panel realizing over 1,000 nit of brightness.
LG Display will also highlight its lifelike picture quality 31.5-inch 8K4K monitor and 14-inch Ultra HD resolution notebook panel embedded with high resolution and touch functions. In addition, the company will showcase a range of displays featuring its exclusive touch embedded technology, Advanced In-Cell Touch (AIT), from the 6-inch mobile display, and 9.2-inch and 10.3-inch automotive displays that feature touch response even with a gloved hand, to the world’s first touch-enabled 15.6-inch notebook panel and 23-inch monitor panel.

Samsung Display will present latest displays from 5.7 inch rollable AMOLED, AMOLED for laptop, VR, and automotive to hologram at the company’s booth At this year’s SID 2016 .
The 5.7 inch flexible OLED that will be shown at Samsung booth has the highest industry resolution of QHD (2560×1440), and it is ultra-thin with 0.3 mm thickness.
The 5.7 inch rollable AMOLED that can be rolled to the width of a finger weighs 5g. With resolution of FHD (1920×1080) and curvature radius of 10R, the company explains that this has the best specs in terms of resolution and curvature radius of rollable products.
The 13.3 inch and 14 inch QHD AMOLED for laptop used on-cell touch technology. By internalizing the touch censor within the AMOLED panel, the thickness was reduced by 45% compared to LCD to 1.01 mm and weight by 33% to 120 g (13.3 inch). Samsung Display will also show 5.5 inch UHD (3840×2160, 806 ppi) prototype for VR. The number of pixels increased by approximately 2.3 times compared to QHD which is mainly used at present.
Samsung’s 65 inch UHD LCD product increased contrast ratio to 6,000:1 and reduced reflectance level to 2.3%, and HDR actualization is possible in mainstream products. The company will also display 65 inch UHD curved slim product with 5.9 mm thickness.
Samsung will also present Light Field technology related to 3D dimensional video that often appears in science fiction. The technology actualizes an object that looks different from different viewing angles on display and produces 3D film with high degree of completion. The digital hologram technology that allows 3D images to be projected will also be shown. These technologies could be applied to 3D pop-up book, 3D game, VR, AR, HUD, etc. in future.
Additionally, the company will show diverse lineup from Central Information Display to Cluster including 12.3 inch curved display equipped with automotive POLED and 12.3 inch product with high resolution and high brightness of over 1,000 nit.

Not Only Samsung and LG, but Also BOE and AUO…Panel Profit Plunges due to LCD

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Source = BOE

Source = BOE

 Hyunjoo Kang / Reporter / jjoo@olednet.com

Although Samsung and LG both had smooth Q1 2016 for set businesses including TV, display sectors were different. The majority of the industry believes that global oversupply of LCD’s effects was great. Key LCD players in China, who could be seen as responsible for the LCD oversupply, also showed bleak performance. Key global LCD panel companies, including BOE and AUO, also revealed much reduced Q1 2016 profit.

On 28 April, Samsung Electronics and LG Electronics announced that the business profit in Q1 2016 improved. Samsung Electronics recorded KRW 6.68 trillion business profit, a 12% increase compared to Q1 2015. LG Electronics also announced operating profit of KRW 505.2 billion, up 65.5% from last year. Both companies emphasized favorable TV business.

On the other hand, Samsung and LG both received significant damages in display sector. In Q1 2016, Samsung Display recorded operating loss of KRW 270 billion. Samsung Display recorded a profit against expectations. However, the business profit of KRW 39,500 million in Q1 2016 is a 94.7% fall from last year.

Not only Samsung and LG, but display leaders in Greater China region also showed much diminished performance. BOE, which has been aggressively investing in large area LCD mass production, showed a 6.7% increase from previous year with approximately CNY 12,300 million for Q1 2016 revenue. In Q1, BOE showed business profit of CNY 108 million, but profit ratio plummeted compared to the same period in 2015. The profit ratio in Q1 2016 fell to 0.8% from 8% in Q1 2015. On 28 April, Taiwan’s AUO also revealed TWD 5.58 trillion business loss in Q1 2016.

BOE and AUO are both key players within the global LCD TV panel industry, and within the top 5 in the Greater China region. BOE, in particular, is chasing the leader LG Display with aggressive product supply. The fact that BOE recorded dismal results despite this is analyzed to be due to price fall due to the oversupply of LCD and spread of OLED among others.

For global OLED leader for mobile device, Samsung Display, was known to have recorded deficit of approximately KRW 900 billion in LCD despite Samsung Electronics’ strength in OLED smartphone. Essentially, LCD eroded the profit that OLED brought. For LG Display, experts believe that as a leader of OLED for TV market, the company could avoid deficit by making up for the damages from the LCD price fall.

An expert of the display industry explained that LCD leaders such as BOE might have expanded market share with the product supply, but would have received significant damage in profit ratio. However, he explained that compared to 30 inch LCD panel, 50 inch and 60 inch level large area LCD panel received less fallout from the price fall. He then estimated that as the large size TV demand is increasing, the LCD industry could be improved in Q2.

 

LGD Records 40 billion KRW Profit Against Expectations…“1 Million OLED TV Panel to be Shipped 2016”

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Source = LGD

Source = LGD

Hyunjoo Kang / Reporter / jjoo@olednet.com

LG Display reported today unaudited earnings results based on consolidated K-IFRS (International Financial Reporting Standards) for the three-month period ending March 31, 2016.

  • Revenue in the first quarter of 2016 decreased by 20% to KRW 5,989 billion from KRW 7,496 billion in the fourth quarter of 2015 and decreased by 15% from KRW 7,022 billion in the first quarter of 2015.
  • Operating profit in the first quarter of 2016 recorded KRW 40 billion, a quarter-on-quarter decrease of 34% from the operating profit of KRW 61 billion in the fourth quarter of 2015, and a year-on-year decrease of 95% from the operating profit of KRW 744 billion in the first quarter of 2015.
  • EBITDA in the first quarter of 2016 was KRW 853 billion, compared with EBITDA of KRW 882 billion in the fourth quarter of 2015 and with EBITDA of KRW 1,595 billion in the first quarter of 2015.
  • Net income in the first quarter of 2016 amounted to KRW 1 billion, compared with the net loss of KRW 14 billion in the fourth quarter of 2015, and a year-on-year decrease from the net income of KRW 476 billion in the first quarter of 2015.

LG Display announced its sixteenth straight quarterly operating profit at KRW 40 billion, which resulted from a thorough and profit-focused management based on differentiated technologies in response to a difficult market situation caused by panel oversupply and falling panel prices.

To deal with the difficult market situation, LG Display reduced the manufacturing of TV panels of 30-inches and below, which faced a large fall in prices, while expanding production of 40-inch range TV panels and those of 60-inch and above. The company also increased profitability by focusing on premium differentiated products based on M+ technology and maximized production efficiency in its overall operations by flexibly allocating production between IT product panels and TV panels.

Panels for TVs accounted for 38% of the revenue in the first quarter of 2016, tablets and notebook PCs for 24%, mobile devices for 23%, and desktop monitors for 15%.

With 77% in the liability-to-equity ratio, 153% in the current ratio, and 15% in the net debt-to-equity ratio as of March 31, 2016, the financial structure of the company remains stable.

LG Display will continue to increase profitability by concentrating on premium products such as Ultra HD TV panels based on its M+ technology to respond to a growing demand for large-size TVs, and make efforts to maximize efficiency by improving the manufacturing process in the second quarter of 2016.

Mr. Don Kim, CFO of LG Display, said “Panel shipments in the second quarter of 2016 are expected to increase by a mid-single digit percentage compared to the first quarter. Panel prices are expected to stabilize due to global sports events and an increase in new product shipments.”

 

◆ 65 inch, 30% of Total OLED Panel Shipment… 4-5 Trillion KRW Installation Investment

 

During the morning conference call on 27 April, LGD emphasized that the proportion of panel for ultra large size TV is increasing.

LGD reported that OLED panel shipment in Q1 2016 is slightly less than 200,000 units and estimated they will be able to ship 1 million units this year. While the 55 inch occupied over 85% of the total in 2015, in this year’s quarter the 55 inch proportion decreased slightly and 65 inch increased up to 30%.

LGD is operating OLED panel mass production line at 34,000 units per month as of H2 2015, and explained that the company will achieve Gen8 60,000 units capacity from Q2 2017. This year’s installation investment is expected to be of 4-5 trillion KRW. Along with this, LGD expects global oversupply of LTPS capacity, and revealed they will transform LTPS into plastic OLED (POLED) in stages.

LGD emphasized that the 55 inch FHD line’s golden yield has been almost achieved. The UHD section is also improving yield according to plan.

Foxconn’s Large Size Panel Yield, Equal to Samsung·LG within 2016

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Foxconn is expected to occupy approximately 22% of 2016 Q4 global large size panel yield(Source : Foxconn)

Hyunjoo Kang / Reporter / jjoo@olednet.com

Foxconn is expected to occupy approximately 22% of 2016 Q4 global large size panel yield, similar to the levels of Samsung Display and LG Display.

Foxconn, recently confirmed to buy 66% of Sharp’s stake for $ 3.5 billion, is estimated to actively invest in improving Sharp’s panel competitiveness against Samsung Display and LG Display.

DigiTimes recently reported their research indicates Sharp’s large size panel yield will occupy 5.3% of global market in Q4 2016. This places the company on the 7th place after Samsung Display, LG Display, Innolux, AUO, BOE, and CSOT.

However, Sharp and Innolux are under Hon Hai Precision (Foxconn Technology). If the Q4 2016 large size panel yield of Sharp and Innolux are combined, the global occupancy is added to 21.9%. This is approximately the same level as Samsung Display (23.7%) and LG Display (22.7%).

Foxconn is analyzed to be investing in Sharp mainly with focus on OLED. According to a recent DigiTimes article, Foxconn is planning to invest approximately US$ 1.8 billion in OLED development.

DigiTimes estimates that Foxconn will actively begin mass production of OLED for smartphone from 2018, and expand the production to large and medium-sized OLED panel for TV, notebook, etc. Foxconn is forecast to begin shipment of OLED for TV from 2021, and annually ship 7,200,000 units of OLED panel for TV in 2025.

LGD’s Head of OLED TV Development Group, “65·55 inch, Growth Engine”

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LGD’s ChangHo Oh, “65, 55 inch TV are OLED TV’s Growth Engine”(Tokyo=OLEDNET)

LGD’s ChangHo Oh, “65, 55 inch TV are OLED TV’s Growth Engine”(Tokyo=OLEDNET)

Hyunjoo Kang / Reporter / jjoo@olednet.com

LG Display has once again reaffirmed its determination to lead the TV market with OLED as the growth engine. In particular, the company is planning to actively respond to the increase of demand for 65 inch and 55 inch OLED TV.

On April 7, during the FineTech Japan Special Session, ChangHo Oh, LG Display’s OLED TV Development Group, gave a talk titled ‘Technology for Large Size OLED Display’ and emphasized the superiority of large area OLED panel.

As a display for a large size TV, LCD has light leakage issue, but Oh explained that OLED can solve this and actualize natural colors without distortion. Oh added that through self-emitting characteristic of OLED, the demands for large size TV picture quality can be solved, and through freedom in forms such as foldability, the design can be improved to less than 1 mm thickness. Furthermore, he added large size OLED panel’s advantages including superior light actualization in same color sector

a-Si, poly Si, and oxide substrates are mainly used for LCD, and for OLED it is oxide, and poly Si. Oh explained that as a part of responding to the panel enlargement, changing the a-Si of the existing mass production line to oxide could improve enlargement and safety.

Oh reported that as the demand for 65 inch and 55 inch TV is increasing, this will become the growth engine of the OLED market, and that P10 factory establishment in Paju is being carried out.

FineTech Japan 2016 (April 6-8) is a display technology related exhibition held in Tokyo Big Sight. The 26th annual event is participated by approximately 260 companies including Samsung Display, BOE, and Japan Display.

A Window that Turns into a Billboard…Samsung Display’s CTO “AMOLED, to Open New Era?”

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 Hyunjoo Kang / Reporter / jjoo@olednet.com

SDC’s CTO Sungchul Kim During Keynote Speech at FineTech Japan 2016

 

Samsung Display’s CTO, Sungchul Kim, displayed infinite potential of AMOLED’s new market creation ability, and emphasized that panel, manufacturing equipment, materials, and communication sectors need to grow together. He also suggested new life through AMOLED and technologies required for this.

On April 6, during the Technical Conference of FineTech Japan (April 6-8), Kim gave a keynote speech on the new market creating AMOLED’s next generation application and key technology.

As the market that AMOLED will newly open, Kim suggested mobile device, TV, VR and AR (virtual reality and augmented reality), automotive, PID (public information display), etc. According to Kim, these applications will be actualized through various forms of AMOLED such as foldable, rollable, stretchable, mirror, and transparent.

Explaining the utilization of mirror and transparent AMOLED, Kim emphasized that what is normally a wall or window can be turned into a PID that shows required information when needed. Kim explained that AMOLED is suitable for VR or AR that allows the user to realistically experience a particular environment or situation by combining the imaginary and reality. He added that when foldable and rollable displays are applied to mobile device, IT device, TV, etc., large screens can be produced while the device is small, and space utilization and mobility can be increased. Regarding automotive AMOLED, Kim explained that it will provide required information without disrupting driving, as well as improving the design of the vehicle.

Additionally, Kim suggested key technology required for actualization of each application. In the case of a window display, a technology that can simultaneously produce flexibility and hardness is required, and for automotive AMOLED, the technology for blue materials of phosphorescent materials needs to be improved. For transparent display that actualizes PID, transparency of each layer, substrate heat resistance, etc. have to be achieved.

Kim explained that in future, new life which is smart and connected through AMOLED will open. He further emphasized that for this to happen panel, manufacturing equipment, materials, and communication sectors need to grow together.

FineTech Japan 2016 (April 6-8) is a display technology related exhibition held in Tokyo Big Sight. The 26th annual event is participated by approximately 260 companies including Samsung Display, BOE, and Japan Display.

Foxconn to Actively Mass Produce phone OLED in 2018…7.2mn for TV in 2025

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Hyunjoo Kang /Reporter / jjoo@olednet.com

Foxconn Headquarters, Source: Foxconn

With the forecast of gradually bolstered investment in OLED by Foxconn that recently bought Sharp for $ 3.5 billion, there is a possibility that this company could actively mass produce OLED panel for smartphone from 2018.

DigiTimes recently reported their research indicates that Foxconn will actively mass produce OLED panels for smartphone from 2018 and increase the OLED panel mass production in stages.

According to DigiTimes, Foxconn is planning to first mass produce small size OLED panel for smartphone and then begin medium size OLED for tablet, notebook, and TV. In 2021, It is expected to release 3 million units of OLED panel for tablet and notebook, and increase it to 10.4 million units in 2025. Hence, Foxconn is expected to occupy a quite significant amount of market share in future OLED panel market.

IT is estimated to begin releasing OLED panel for TV in 2021. It’s OLED shipment for TV in 2021 is expected to be 252,000 units, but it is estimated to gradually increase to record 7.2 million units per year in 2025.

 

◆ “IGZO Technology to be Applied to OLED”

 

In a recent press conference regarding the Sharp takeover, Hon Hai’s Chairman Terry Gou said that IGZO, which is LCD (liquid crystal display) technology of Japan’s Sharp, is better than OLED, Korea’s newest display technology. He further revealed that future Sharp display will utilize IGZO technology for approximately 60% of the panel and OLED for 40%.

IGZO (indium gallium zinc oxide) display is Sharp’s LCD. IGZO is known to have superior picture quality in comparison to the general LCD, with less power consumption. It is used in the majority of smartphone and tablet PC such as iPad.

As Foxconn’s Sharp is IGZO technology’s leading company, DigiTimes estimates that IT will apply the IGZO backplane technology on OLED panel.

UBI Research, an OLED specializing market research company, explained that as Sharp’s small size LCD process is LTPS based, and can be transformed to OLED line, it will be easier for Foxconn to achieve OLED mass production ability through Sharp. He added that this added Foxconn to the lineup of Samsung Display, LG Display, and Japan Display as the likely supplier for iPhone OLED panel for Apple. Furthermore, he analyzed that although Foxconn and Japan Display are both latecomers in OLED sector, Foxconn is in a more favorable position due to its solid relationship with Apple.

2015 OLED Emitting Materials Market, Dow Chem and LG Chem in Slump…Why?

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Hyunjoo Kang / Reporter /jjoo@olednet.com

 

 

In the midst of UDC`s domination of 2015 global materials market, with Japanese Idemitsu Kosan`s rapid growth and slump of emitting materials companied, there has been changes to the enviroment.

According to [2016 OLED Emitting Materials Annual Report] to be published by UBI Research in mid-April, the 2015 global emitting materials market recorded approximately a 17% growth compared to 2014

 

 

UDC’s revenue decreased from previous year, but remained at the top, the same as 2014. UDC was closely followed by Idemitsu Kosan despite its fourth place in 2014.

Such growth of Idemitsu Kosan is mainly due to its supply expansion in regards to Korean companies such as Samsung Display and LG Display. In 2015, Idemitsu Kosan began actively supplying Samsung Display with blue materials. Together with the increase in Idemitsu Kosan’s client LG Display’s OLED panel for TV mass production line’s operation rate, Idemitsu Kosan’s supply increased.

 

2015 Global OLED Emitting Materials Market Ranking
Source: UBI Research, 2016 OLED Emitting Materials Annual Report

◆ Samsung Display to Determine Up and Down of Companies

On the other hand, some OLED emitting materials companies that ranked high until 2014 showed poor performance. Dow Chem., that reached the second place in 2014 after UDC in revenue, fell to the fourth place in 2015 due to a big sales decrease. The third and fifth companies in 2014, LG Chem and Duksan Neolux respectively, fell below fifth place in 2015 due to the same reason.

Dow Chem. and Duksan Neolux are analyzed have recorded sales decrease in comparison to 2014 due to the supply chain changes of Samsung Display. In the case of LG Chem, the sales fell as the Samsung Display’s supply volume decreased.

However, Samsung SDI recorded sales increase, and entered within the top 5 in 2015. This company’s performance improved as it supplied Samsung Display with green host.

The company that recorded greatest growth is a Germany company Novaled that Samsung SDI, then Cheil Industries, took over. This company recorded approximately 150% revenue increase compared to previous year, and reached the third place in 2015 following UDC and Idemitsu Kosan. With the increase in OLED panel for TV mass production line’s operation rate, Novaled’s revenue greatly increased.

UBI Research estimated that in 2016, LG Display’s OLED TV mass production line operation rate and Galaxy Note series’ material structure, to be mass produced in the second half, will greatly affect revenue of OLED emitting materials companies.

Foxconn’s Takeover of Sharp, Who is the Biggest Casualty?

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Hyunjoo Kang / Reporter / jjoo@olednet.com

 

Sharp_Head_Office(Source : Wikipedia)

Sharp_Head_Office(Source : Wikipedia)

Following Foxconn’s takeover of Sharp, which company will end up suffering the most?

On March 30, Taiwan’s Hon Hai’s Foxconn agreed to buy Sharp for about $ 3.5 billion. With this decision, there is much focus on how it will affect the global display market.

 

Korean companies leading the global display market such as Samsung Display and LG Display as well as key display companies in Japan, China, and Taiwan are keenly interested in this takeover.

 

Some experts analyze that, out of these companies, the one being most threatened by this takeover will be Japan Display.

 

◆ Japan Display, May Not be Able to Retain OLED Supply for iPhone

 

As it became known that iPhone will replace the LCD panel with OLED for future iPhone, it is expected to create a great business within the OLED market. 3 companies, Samsung Display, LG Display, and Japan Display, have been considered as the most likely supplier for iPhone’s OLED panel.

 

Some media have reported that Samsung Display and Apple have already signed OLED supply agreement, and LG Display and Japan Display are known to be having a heated competition to become the secondary supplier.

 

However, this Foxconn’s takeover of Sharp could break the big 3. Of these, experts estimate that Japan Display is most likely to be pushed out.

 

iPhone’s largest LCD panel supplier is LG Display, with over 50%. Following this, Samsung Display and Japan’s Sharp are the second and third LCD panel supplier for iPhone but the order has not been confirmed.

 

As it became known that Apple will utilize OLED, Japan Display with investment plans for OLED mass production line rose as the possible panel supplier for Apple. Rather than Sharp, Japan Display became a strong candidate for OLED supplier for iPhone along with Samsung Display and LG Display.

 

However, it all changed when Foxconn bought Sharp. Sharp does not have OLED line for mobile device at the moment, but its small device LCD line is LTPS based that could be transformed to OLED. Foxconn, expected to invest in OLED sector, is likely to turn Sharp’s small device LCD line into OLED line.

 

Furthermore, Foxconn is Apple’s key production collaborator. Worse, even Foxconn’s newly bought Sharp is one of Apple’s panel suppliers. Excluding Samsung Display and LG Display with verified OLED technology prowess, Apple could choose Foxconn with closer connections rather than Japan Display as an OLED supplier.

 

One display industry expert explained that Foxconn could push out Japan Display regarding iPhone OLED supplier issue, and even if that does not happen, it will have very narrow standing. He added that although compared to Samsung Display and LG Display, Foxconn and Japan Display are both latecomers in OLED sector, Foxconn is in a more favorable position due to its solid relationship with Apple.

Foxconn Takes Over Sharp…what will happen to Samsung·LG?

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Hyunjoo Kang / Reporter / jjoo@olednet.com

Foxconn Decided to Buy Sharp for Approx. $ 3.5 billion, Source: Foxconn

 

On March 30, 2016, Taiwan’s Hon Hai’s Foxconn agreed to buy Sharp for about $ 3.5 billion. With this decision, there is much focus on how it will affect Korean display and set companies including Samsung and LG.

 

Foxconn, primarily an electronics contractor manufacturer, became responsible for Apple’s iPhone production and continued its growth. The fact that through this takeover Foxconn now possesses display mass production ability can greatly affect Korean companies that are currently leading the display and set market.

 

◆ Competition with Samsung·LG for iPhone Panel Supply Intensifies

 

A possible scenario for future includes Foxconn becoming a strong competitor for Samsung Display and LG Display in smartphone OLED sector for Apple’s iPhone.

 

Although Sharp is a company that produces LCD, it is estimated that Foxconn will invest in Sharp to mass produce OLED.

 

Apple is expected to release OLED equipped iPhone from 2017, and it is known that Samsung Display, strong in OLED, have agreed to supply the initial volume. As Apple has been close with LG in supply and demand of display, some believe that LG Display will become the biggest supplier in future.

 

However, if Apple’s key collaborator Foxconn begins to produce OLED, it could become a strong rival for Samsung and LG.

Sharp Headquarters, Source: Wikipedia

Sharp Headquarters, Source: Wikipedia

 

◆ Suggestion of Foxconn’s Own Brand Set Production Prospect

Foxconn, despite being a contract manufacturer, became widely known with great growth. As such, the company could branch out into producing sets under their own brand name. Furthermore, with the display mass production now possible with the Sharp takeover, this scenario is gaining traction. According to market experts, Foxconn is now able to expand its smartphone and TV set business. As Chinese set companies are rapidly growing to threaten Korean companies, the prospect of Foxconn’s set business cannot be ignored.

 

One display expert explained that as a key collaborator of Apple, Foxconn can successfully enter the smartphone panel market. He further analyzed that with Foxconn’s expertise in set production, their own brand set release is not too much to expect, and that this will be easier with the takeover of Sharp.

Blossoming April… Hurt by LCD, Heal with OLED

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Hyunjoo Kang / Reporter / jjoo@olednet.com

Flexible OLED from LGD(CES 2016)

From April, the display industry is estimated to start mending the damage carried out by LCD with OLED.

 

In Q1 2016, Korean display industry suffered due to oversupply of Chinese LCD panels. Market experts believe that Samsung Display and LG Display will announce large Q1 deficit in April due to LCD.

 

However, the display market is expected to actively improve its performance from April.

 

Dong-won Kim, analyst with Hyundai Securities, estimated that great increase in profit is expected from Q2 2016 due to the increase in OLED operation rate and yield improvement. Also because of profitability improvement effect following LCD panel’s price rebound, the deficit will decrease.

 

LG Display’s performance in OLED sector is expected to noticeably improve. Over 90% of LG Display’s total mass production line is LCD at present. Hence, the fall of LCD price in Q1 is expected to have hit hard and OLED business is also showing deficit.

OLED TV from LG(CES 2016)

◆ After Harsh Q1, Warm Breeze of OLED… Spring for Equipment Industry Too

 

However, this will change from Q2. Analyst Hyeoncheol So of Shinhan Investment forecast that LG Display’s OLED TV sales volume and revenue in Q2 2016 will increase by 144% and 106% respectively. He added that the business deficit of OLED TV sector will greatly decrease.

 

LG Display is anticipating that the deficit will turn to profit in H2 2017, with the business profit of up to 1 trillion KRW in 2017, an increase of 115%.

 

Samsung Display, whose LCD and OLED ratio is 50:50, is expected to show 900,000 million KRW in deficit in LCD sector this first quarter. However, this is estimated to be compensated to some degree by the profit in OLED.

 

Samsung Display and LG Display are actively carrying out investment in OLED panel mass production line in Q1. As well as the investment in turning the existing LCD line to OLED, investment in new OLED line establishment is actively being carried out.

 

As such, with the optimistic outlook on OLED within the display market, flexible OLED manufacturing equipment companies such as Tera Semicon, Viatron Technologies, and Dong A Eltek had been discussed as the favorites of securities companies. In fact, Samsung Display’s flexible OLED manufacturing equipment related key collaborator AP Systems showed remarkable growth recording 12,100 million KRW in business profit last year.

 

UBI Research forecast that Korean companies will strengthen their dominance with their 2016 AMOLED shipment’s 95% occupancy of the global market. As OLED is becoming stronger in the TV, smartphone, and VR market, this will become a huge growth engine for global panel companies such as Samsung and LG.

 

“Can’t Cope Because of LCD”… Samsung·LG, in Despair over Large Deficit

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Hyunjoo Kang / OLEDNET / jjoo@olednet.com

 

<CES 2016 Exhibition. Many Chinese Companies’ LCD TV Were Present.>

Due to the oversupply of LCD panel in global display market, the opinion that Samsung Display and LG Display will also not be able to avoid large amount of deficit is becoming stronger.

 

As of March 28, according to market experts including securities industry, Samsung Display and LG display will both face sizable deficit in LCD sector this quarter.

 

For Samsung Display, Q1 LCD sector is expected to record up to 900,000 million KRW. The company is estimated to reduce the overall display industry deficit with the OLED profit of approximately 400,000 million – 500,000 million KRW. Consequently, Samsung Display is to record approximately 400,000 million – 500,000 million KRW of deficit in Q1 2016.

 

LG Display, whose over 90% of the current production line is for LCD, is estimated to be hit more directly. LG Display has been showing profit in LCD until 2015, but is expected to turn to deficit in Q1 2016. LG Display has been showing deficit in OLED, and market experts are also expecting more deficit in Q1 2016.

 

◆ Unlike Samsung and LG’s High Quality, China Floods Cheaper LCD

The main reasons that display industry is having difficulty include oversupply of Chinese LCD, and overall market depression. Chinese companies’ affordable LCD supply, backed by active support of Chinese government, is damaging Korean companies.

 

Particularly, companies such as BOE, which greatly improved productivity with much assistance from Chinese government including corporate tax exemption, have been pressuring Samsung, LG, and others in the global LCD market. As the Chinese companies are still aggressively investing in LCD facilities, the LCD oversupply is analyzed to continue until 2018.

 

Accordingly, the majority of the industry believe that both Samsung Display and LG Display will carry out LCD production line restructuring. In a recent conference hosted by information company IHS, senior analyst Jeong Du Kang revealed that LG Display could restructure Gumi’s P2, 3, 4 production lines, and added that some thinks L6 production could stop following the same of L5 production line last year.

 

As expected, both companies do not officially comment on these forecast. However, most of the industry players believe that the production line changes of the 2 companies are inevitable.

 

One display expert explained that “unlike Samsung and LG which do not accept even small faults, Chinese companies are pouring out products with slightly lesser quality armed with lower price, and will dominate the mainstream market”.

 

He also estimated that as Samsung and LG are nearing the situation where they have to give up LCD, the speed of which OLED will settle as the main player within the global display market will increase.

Samsung, Even if OLED TV is Released, Different from LG

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Hyunjoo Kang / Reporter / jjoo@olednet.com

<LG Elec. is Introducing OLED TV in CES 2016>

 

Within the TV market, there is an opinion that even Samsung Electronics which believes it is not yet the time for OLED panel cannot continue to insist on LCD. Experts estimate that even if it is the same OLED TV, Samsung Elec. will differentiate the actualization method from competitors’ including LG Electronics. One of the possibilities suggested is Samsung’s selection of ink-jet printed OLED TV panel.

 

Hyun-Suk Kim, Samsung Elec. Visual Display department’s vice president, who recently announced new LCD based SUHD TV mentioned that OLED TV is premature and also needs technological improvements.

 

However, it looks to be difficult for Samsung to insist on LCD TV only in the long term. China is threatening Korean companies in LCD panel market with superior price competitiveness; there is too much risk for Korean display companies such as Samsung Display to invest further in LCD production line. Although Samsung Elec. is not receiving panel supply exclusively from Samsung Display, Samsung Display is the biggest supplier. Therefore, Samsung Display’s LCD investment reduction is also expected to affect Samsung Elec.’s TV business.

 

Furthermore, Samsung Elec. is in the position of having to emphasize OLED’s superior picture quality over LCD in smartphone business, but highlight the opposite in TV. This is also an issue that needs to be tackled.

 

Despite these issues, Samsung cannot easily start on OLED TV as several problems such as price competitiveness have not been solved.

 

◆ Ink-jet Printing, Can it Solve OLED for TV Price Issue?

 

According to Dong-won Kim, analyst with Hyundai Securities, Samsung Display, with Samsung Elec. as the biggest client, has unfavorable structure for reducing production cost as 65 inch OLED TV panel production efficiency is low in Gen8 line.

 

Kim estimated that Samsung Display will apply solution process ink-jet printing technology to OLED TV with 2018 mass production target in order to solve this problem.

 

When producing OLED TV panel, WRGB OLED method, which uses evaporation method, can only reduce production cost by certain amount as the material usage efficiency is low. On the other hand, ink-jet printing RGB technology finely deposits ink in liquid form and can reduce materials cost. Additionally, RGB OLED has fewer organic layers compared to WRGB OLED and processes can be decreased.

 

For these reasons, some believe that Samsung will select ink-jet printing method rather than evaporation for OLED TV in future. There is also a view that LG Display, which is currently using evaporation method, will also actively consider producing ink-jet printed OLED TV panel in the long term.

 

A display expert explained that although ink-jet printing processes are simpler than evaporation method, that does not necessarily mean materials cost is always cheaper. The ink-jet printing technology is not yet perfect, and particularly for blue the efficiency issue has not yet been solved.

 

He added that Samsung Elec. has strong tendency to differentiate itself from competitors such as LG, and even if Samsung Elec. releases OLED TV, it is likely that ink-jet printing, which is different from LG, will be the preferred method.

LG Electronics Launches 58:9 Signage…Transforms Columns and Corners to Billboards

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Hyunjoo Kang, Reporter, OLEDNET

 

 

On March 23, LG Electronics launched world’s first 86 inch 58:9 commercial display Ultra Stretch.

 

Ultra Stretch signage allows places which have been difficult to install signage, such as columns and corners, to be used as billboards.

 

LG Elec.’s Ultra Stretch has the widest screen ratio of the signage released. The display is 2,158 mm wide and 349 mm long, and can be installed horizontally or vertically.

 

Ultra Stretch can be used on media pole, which is integrated into columns within buildings such as airports or hotels, and billboards above building entrances. Total of 16 units of Ultra Stretch, maximum 4 units lined horizontally and vertically, can be tiled. When installed on a separate stand, Ultra Stretch can be moved to where needed.

 

This product uses LG IPS panel, and with ultra HD resolution (3840 x 600), small writing as well as customary images are clearly shown. The IPS panel has wide viewing angle of 178°, and clean images can be viewed from any directions.

 

With consideration for commercial use of signage, it was designed to for easy editing of contents as well as other amenities. The display can be divided into 4 screens maximum and provide diverse information simultaneously.

 

For example, if installed in an airport, the display can be divided into 4 sections and each can show information such as weather, traffic information, news, advertisement, and others. This will allow foreign visitors to easily receive information.

 

SuperSign W media editor is equipped for easy transformation of existing contents to 58:9 ratio. Ultra Stretch also includes around 30 sample styles specific to the product.

 

LG Elec.’s Korean B2B Marketing representative explained that Ultra Stretch is a signage never been experienced and will lead the new commercial display market.

[Light + Building 2016] OLEDWorks Presents Diverse Lineup to Open OLED Lighting Market

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Hyunjoo Kang, Reporter, OLEDNET

<OLEDWorks’ Keuka Module, Light + Building 2016>

 

OLEDWorks, an OLED panel lighting production company, is carefully opening the future lighting market with diverse future product lineup.

 

At the Light + Building 2016 (March 13-18), OLEDNET could observe OLEDWorks’ 6 types of Brite FL300 series, Brite Amber, Keuka module and others. The products showed 10,000-50,000 hours of lifetime, average efficiency of approx. 50 lm/W, CRI of 80-90, and with diverse color temperatures.

 

The OLEDWorks representative at the exhibition told OLEDNET that the company is aiming for general lighting market and the OLED lighting market will be actively open after 2-3 years earliest. OLED lighting has advantages of thickness and design freedom, and they estimated finding the killer application that can utilize these OLED merits is the key for the OLED lighting’s success.

 

[Light + Building 2016] OSRAM to Release Automotive OLED Lighting within 2-3 Months

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Hyunjoo Kang, Reporter, OLEDNET

 

<OSRAM’s O-ring, OLED Product Applied Automotive Rear Lamp>

 

During the Lighting + Building 2016 exhibition (March 13-18) held in Frankfurt, Germany, OSRAM revealed that OLED rear lamp equipped cars will be on the road within 2-3 months.

OSRAM exhibited O-ring, OLED product applied to automotive rear lamp at this exhibition, and OLEDNET could see the fruit of OSRAM’s steady automotive lighting product development.

 

 

<General OLED Lighting Concept Suggested by OSRAM>

The OSRAM representative at the exhibition explained that OSRAM will continue their focus on automotive lighting and develop products but at the right moment, will enter the general lighting market. The representative added that although only the basic concept of the general lighting is present for now, further development will be carried out in future.

[Light + Building 2016] “OLED is Organic Food of Lighting”… LGD Presents Diverse Lighting

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Hyunjoo-Kang, Reporter, OLEDNET

 

<LGD’s Flexible OLED Lighting>

 

OLEDNET visited Light + Building 2016 (March 13-18) held in Frankfurt where LG Display unveiled product line up that can be used to diverse applications such as flexible solution, luminaires, mirror solution, module solution, OLED panel products, and transparent connection solution.

During this exhibition, LGD demonstrated their well-deserved reputation as the world leading OLED lighting panel producer.

LGD presented diverse applications for OLED lighting that many people wanted to know. Although they were not directly displayed in the exhibition, the company showed photographs of OLED applied Korean traditional house hanok, as well as more commonly imagined uses such as cosmetic shop, office, show room, café, and restaurant.

<LGD’s Flexible OLED Lighting>

Speaking to the foreign press who attended the exhibition, Joon Park, LGD’s Head of OLED Lighting Sales & Marketing Division, explained that if world’s first Gen5 OLED lighting (1,000 mm x 1,200 mm) investment is carried out and mass production is carried out in H1 2017, additional cost reduction is possible in comparison to before the investment. Park added that the current OLED lighting places more importance to the user experience rather than profit. As organic food is receiving positive response within the market as premium products, OLED lighting will play the role of organic food within the lighting market.

LGD to Build 5G OLED Light Panel Plant…15,000 sheet monthly

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Hyun Joo Kang, Reporter, OLEDNET

LGD is Showcasing it`s OLED Light products at Light+Building 2016(Source :LG Display)

LG Display announced today that it will invest in a new OLED light panel manufacturing facility.

The planned facility will be the first 5th generation (1000 x 1200mm) OLED light panel manufacturing plant in the world. It is to be located in the South Korean city of Gumi, where it will produce a range of OLED light panels. The initial input capacity at the plant will be 15,000 glass substrates per month.

The monthly input capacity could be gradually ramped up depending on the market situation. LG Display expects the increased production with the new facility to give the company economies-of-scale.

This will help the company obtain significant price competitiveness. In addition, the accumulated OLED display technical know-how will allow LG Display to considerably enhance OLED light product quality.

The 5th generation facility will give the company panel size flexibility. With the larger glass substrate, LG Display will be able to produce a wide range of different size light panels, including giant ones. Further, this ability to make giant panels will better enable the company to penetrate the general lighting market.

The investment decision follows the acquisition by LG Display of the OLED light business of its sister company, LG Chem in December, 2015. The plan for the new facility is in keeping with LG Display’s vision of bringing the exciting new OLED technology to customers around the world in the broadest array of applications.

The company will firstly focus on task lighting and decorative lighting in high-end retail stores and in luxury hospitality; and expand to the general lighting market going forward.

Also, the company will focus on automotive and convergence applications such as OLED light panels merged with furniture, architectural materials, electronic devices and more.

Mr. Young Kwon Song, Senior Vice President and Head of Strategy & Marketing Group at LG Display, said, “Our OLED light business will further strengthen LG Display’s commitment to nurture OLED as the future growth engine. Based on LG Display’s strong track-record and know-how in OLED display business, we will create synergy with the OLED light business and maintain our strong position in the overall OLED industry going forward.”

LG’s OLED light experience began in 2000 with R&D into OLED materials at the Group’s chemicals affiliate, LG Chem, with production of OLED light panels beginning in 2012.

The acquisition last year of the OLED light panel manufacturing business by LG Display has been creating synergies with its production infrastructure and technology in OLED displays.

It allows the company to save costs through integrated purchasing and shared investments, increase productivity by drawing on the accumulated knowledge of the display business, and help improve production infrastructure and use of technology patents.

OLED light is made up of layers of organic materials which is self-illuminating and consumes less power and also emits lower heat than conventional lighting.

It is environmentally friendly and is closest to natural light. Due to its ability to be thin and flexible, it is suitable for different applications and venues and could create new markets for lighting.

According to UBI Research, a market research firm, the OLED light market is expected to grow rapidly from US$ 135 million in 2016 to US$ 1.6 billion in 2020.

2016, Korea Seizes AMOLED Market…95% of Global Market

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2016-2020 Global AMOLED Panel Market Shipment [1 Million] (source : UBI Research)

This year, Korea is expected to secure overwhelming leadership position within the global AMOLED panel market with 95% market share.

According to 2016 OLED Display Annual Report, recently published by UBI Research, approximately 270 million units of AMOLED panel are to be produced from Korea in 2016, approximately 95% of the global shipment.

For AMOLED panel market revenue, Korea is estimated to occupy 96% of the total market in 2016 with US$ 14,218 million. Korea is expected to maintain approximately over 70% of the market share until 2020, and lead the global market for several more years.

This is analyzed to be due to active response by Korean display companies against AMOLED application expansion by influential global smartphone companies.

Samsung Electronics is forecast to sell over 47 million units of AMOLED panel equipped Galaxy series in 2016. The projection that Apple will also apply AMOLED panel to future iPhone series for product differentiation is gaining traction.

Several companies, including LG Display and Samsung Display, are carrying out active investment for AMOLED panel mass production line from H1 2016.

Other than Korea, China is showing rapid movement within the global AMOLED market. China is estimated to produce approximately 11 million units of AMOLED panel in 2016, and occupy approximately 4% of the global shipment, marking the second place after Korea’s 95%. China is estimated to increase the market share each year and reduce the gap with Korea; in 2020, China is expected to hold 24% of global AMOLED panel shipment in 2020.

China’s AMOLED panel market revenue is also forecast to show significant growth with approximately US$ 500 million in 2016 to US$ 13,700 million in 2020, a 20% of the total market.

2016 OLED Display Annual Report forecasts that the global AMOLED market is to record approximately US$ 15,000 million in 2016, and grow to approximately US$ 70,000 million in 2020.

 

[Light+Building 2016]LG Display to Showcase Cutting-edge OLED Light Products and Solutions

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Hyun Joo Kang, Editor, OLEDNET

LG Display announced today that it is showcasing its latest advanced OLED light products and solutions at Light+Building 2016, one of the leading global trade fairs for lighting and building services technology, in Frankfurt, Germany, from March 13th to 18th.

Eleven OLED light panels are being exhibited along with four solutions using the panels. LG Display is highlighting the key advantages of OLED light, including the design flexibility that makes it suitable for different applications and venues, as well as its supreme light quality which is closest to natural light, thereby making people feel comfortable and reducing eye fatigue.

The company is exhibiting four solutions using OLED light panels:

Flexible Solution Section

The flexible OLEDs can be used to create unique and creative decorative lighting fixtures. The creativity in design increases along with the length of the panels. The flexible OLED light panels are light-weight and unshatterable. There are applications using 200x50mm flexible panels and 406x50mm flexible panels. The main highlight in this section is an application using many 320x320mm flexible panels.

Transparent Connection Solution Section

The LG Display OLED light panel generates a floating light effect by attaching the panel to glass and providing power through metal mesh transparent conductive film. It can be applied to display cabinets, shelves, and furniture. Especially when it is applied to shelves at stores, the lack of heat preserves product quality while the lack of shadow makes them more visually appealing to customers. The simplicity of OLEDs opens up the possibilities of various designs and applications.

Mirror Solution Section

By embedding the OLEDs into mirrors, LG Display has created a solution that can have a variety of uses. It can be used as a mirror in upscale hospitality settings or as a unique display box in high-end retail stores. When other light sources are used in a mirror solution, they tend to make the mirror too thick whereas OLED keeps the mirror thin and also minimizes glare.

Module Solution Section

OLED light panels allow for easy installation in diverse settings. LG Display is introducing super-slim OLED light modules at the fair with a simple aluminum housing that connects multiple panels into each module, generating unique and sleek designs. The company is showcasing the module solutions in order to demonstrate how well OLED light can be applied to interior design and architecture. It is committed to develop other solutions in order to encourage more and more people to easily use OLED lights.

[2nd OLED KOREA Conference] LG Display, OLED is the Next Generation Display that Satisfies Both Performance and Design

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In the 2nd OLED KOREA Conference (Feb 24-25), Won-Gyun Youn, LG Display’s head of OLED TV Product Planning Team, gave a keynote speech. Through the presentation, he emphasized the importance of display’s design and performance and discussed why OLED will become important in next generation display.

 

Youn told the attendees that in the last few years, display performance issues, such as 3D, UHD, and HDR, and design issues, such as curved and super slim, arose together. Emphasizing these issues, Youn revealed that OLED is the display that can solve both. He added that in terms of performance, OLED can actualize perfect black and colors, cleanly express movement, and has wide viewing angle. In terms of design, OLED is thin and flexible, and can produce diverse shapes and be transparent.

 

LG Electronics and LG Display recently installed ultra large OLED signage OLED Moment in 2 places inside Incheon International Airport. They also presented OLED sculptures in various shapes such as tunnel, waves, cylinder, and others using 250 units of 55 inch OLED panels at N Seoul Tower. The 2 companies are carrying out aggressive marketing promoting OLED. Regarding OLED’s future, in short term, form factor changes are expected to occur following design change, and in mid-to-long term, the paradigm will shift with the introduction of rollable and transparent display.

 

Youn revealed that at present OLED has to resolve the expansion of the market and infrastructure, and improvement of productivity and technology. In order to solve this, research in improving the TFT mobility by more than 50%, and increasing the efficiency and lifetime is being carried out. He also added that they are researching ink-jet process, manufacturing equipment, and materials to develop soluble process.

 

OLED Frontier Forum’s 3rd Section Panel Discussion Summary

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The 3rd section of the 1st OLED Frontier Forum (Jan 28), OLED’s Future, held a panel discussion with government, industry, and academia experts discussing OLED industry development strategy, such as next generation technology development, convergent areas, and personnel training, and future forecast. OLEDNET summarized the answers that each expert gave to the questions of the panel chair (Professor Changhee Lee, Seoul National University).

 

Jun-hyung Souk (Professor, Sungkyunkwan University)

For SDC mobile, as the OLED depreciation is ending the OLED production cost is becoming almost the same as LCD. If OLED related experts stay within Korean industry as well as the technology, Korea can continue to lead for 4-5 years. In order to achieve the continued leadership, differentiation through flexible R2R has to be carried out, as well as the materials and encapsulation technology development.

 

 

Sung-Chul Kim (CTO, SDC)

As a-Si is an existing technology, there is no room for further advancement. Sharp’s difficulty in panel business is due to lack of technology research on the panel. Because one technology can only be used for approximately 7 months, diverse technology development is required.

 

 

In-byeong Kang (CTO, LGD)

Fast organizations cannot but win. Therefore, rapid change to OLED from LCD is needed. As difficult is the technology, cooperation between academia and industry is needed. Now is the time when this cooperation for next generation technology development is more in demand. LGD is putting in much effort for OLED profitability.

 

 

Sung-Jin Kim (Vice President, Toray Advanced Materials Korea)

Cooperation between materials and manufacturing equipment companies is important in solution process materials development. Particularly, how to control dry process is an important issue. Also, Kim expects the current solution process materials development to show tangible results in 3-5 years.

 

 

Junyeob Lee (Professor, Sungkyunkwan University)

Solution process is favorable for materials optimization. From the initial concentration on polymer materials, recently small molecule materials focused soluble materials development is being carried out, and how to implement common layer is an issue. Emitting layer is using the small molecule materials that are being used as evaporation materials. The difference is the higher cost as the solvent is used. Also, as there is an issue (formulation problem) when used in large area, solution is required.

 

 

Kyoung-Soo Kim (Vice President, Korea Display Industry Association)

Expert acquirement is a key issue. Through upgraded cooperation between industry and academia, and industries, cooperation between panel, manufacturing equipment, and materials has to progress into a positive cycle. Also the open platform regarding new OLED application is needed.

 

 

Young-Ho Park (PD, Korea Evaluation Institute of Industrial Technology)

Flexible display competitiveness acquirement is a big concern. Programs for challenging R&D, and high added value product/technology development, and R&D infra establishment (highly cost-effective R&D) have to be considered.

 

In-byeong Kang, CTO of LG Display, Discusses the Past, Present, and Future of Large Area OLED Panel

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On January 28, Korea Display Industry Association organized the 1st OLED Frontier Forum in JW Marriott Hotel Seoul.

 

Under the title ‘OLED, Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow’, the forum attendees could review Korean OLED research results of the past 20 odd years, and discussed regarding future OLED industry growth strategy.

 

LG Display’s CTO In-byeong Kang gave a presentation on Large Area OLED Status and Future and talked about the current status and forecast of large area OLED which is expected to become the key area of future display.

 

Since the mass production of first 55 inch OLED panel that utilized WRGB method and oxide TFT, 3 years went past. During those 3 years, Kang revealed that many innovations were carried out in terms of TFT device, compensation algorithm, OLED device, OLED materials, and processes.

 

First, the oxide TFT structure changed to coplanar method from etch stopper method, and for compensation wiring, the internal compensation was changed to external compensation. Also, he revealed that through much effort, the existing OLED device and materials were changed to new structure and high efficiency and high color gamut OLED emitting materials. Kang added that the uniformity, which becomes the most crucial point in large area OLED panel mass production, was greatly improved in Gen8 manufacturing equipment.

 

In 2013, there was only 1 LG Electronics’ OLED TV, 55 inch FHD, but recently 77 inch and 65 inch were added, and the resolution increased to UHD. Kang emphasized that although the 2013 product was priced at 11 million KRW with 100/400 nit of brightness but recent products have brightness of 150/450 nit at the reduced price of 4.2 million KRW.

 

LG Display is going through many changes recently. OLED business department began operation from last year. Large area OLED panel, which started with 8K monthly mass production at Gen8, is now being produced at 26K in full operation. Also, additional investment of 10 trillion KRW to large area panel has been decided, and new factory is being built in Paju. Kang told the audience that he heard many positive views on large area OLED at CES, and that there was a huge response regarding the 77 inch HDR video. Kang revealed confidence in the technology reporting that rather than replacing LCD, OLED could succeed as a totally different display.

 

Regarding the next 20 years, Kang forecast that the flat will move toward transparent and flexible, and OLED is the most suitable for this. He explained that the Korean government estimated this and is carrying out national project titled ‘≥60 inch UHD level transparent flexible display and applicable IT fused infotainment system development’ for the past 4 years. LG Display is responsible for this project’s overall consortium, and is planning to reveal UHD level 60 inch transparent flexible OLED panel in 2017 summer when the project is complete.

 

At the end of the presentation, Kang summarized 3 innovation factors for large area OLED. First, the substrate materials at Gen8 has to change to PI and transparent PI. Second, even for flexible substrate, the structure has to change to top emission from bottom emission, and lastly, Kang added that much more diverse applications have to be considered for flexible panel.

 

LG Display to Focus on OLED Investment in 2016

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On January 27, LG Display held Q4 2015 earnings announcement, stating that the business profit recorded a surplus for 15 consecutive quarters, and annual profit of over 1 trillion KRW for 3 years.

 

LG Display’s Q4 2014 sales recorded 7,495,700 million KRW, a 5% increase from the previous quarter’s 7,158,200 million KRW and 10% decrease from 8,341,900 million KRW of the same period from the previous year. The business profit of 60,600 million KRW in Q4 is a significant decrease from previous quarter’s 332,900 million KRW and previous year’s 625,800 million KRW, a decrease of 82% and 90% respectively.

 

Sang-don Kim, LG Display’s CFO, mentioned that the business condition has been difficult due to weak demand and reduced panel prices as a result of China’s additional capa. establishment. Stating that it is hard to expect demand recovery as the economy continues to be uncertain in 2016, they suggested that the poor performances could continue.

 

Kim, in order to overcome the current situation, put up the keywords ‘choice and focus’. He reported that the investment could be flexible at times, but 50-60% of this year’s investment will be focused on OLED. He emphasized that choice and focus will be on areas with technological merits such as large area, M+, and AIT.

 

During the LG Electronics performance announcement (January 26), CFO Do Hyun Jung asserted world’s top premium image mentioning the OLED TV. LG Display also showed confidence in large area OLED technology. Sang-don Kim stated that OLED is a technology that exceeds existing LCD, and not only will it replace LCD TV but it is expanding the market and cemented its place as a premium product, jumping ahead of quantum dot TV. He added that whether in large size or small to mid-size, the technology difference of LCD with Chinese companies is 2-3 years, OLED is 5-6 years.

[CES 2016] Big Changes in LG Display

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On January 6 (local time), LG Display held a press conference with key board members in attendance including CEO Sang-Beom Han, CTO In-Byeong Kang, and head of marketing Young-Kwon Song.

 

lgd1

 

At this conference, unlike previously, Han conveyed strong determination and announced LG Display will invest in future large area display with OLED. This was a conviction never seen before.

 

The evidence of the confidence could be read at the exclusive exhibition. OLED TV achieved 800 nit, 150% higher than UHD Alliance’s standard of 540 nit.

 

lgd2

 

With transparent OLED, LG Display reached leading specs. The WRGB OLED structured transparent OLED has 40% transmittance and 600 nit of brightness through the application of the 800 nit OLED technology.

 

lgd3

 

Flexible OLED also was significantly different from last year. In 2015, the comparison between LG’s OLED and LCD for automotive dashboard display showed OLED to be lacking in brightness. However, this year’s exhibition showed OLED panel to have similar level of brightness as LCD and exceeding LCD’s spec with deeper black.

 

lgd4

 

The exhibition showed rapid development of LG Display’s OLED technology.

Looking Ahead to 2016 OLED Industry through Keywords

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  1. Flexible AMOLED Investment

In 2016, flexible AMOLED mass production line investment is expected to be actively carried out by Samsung Display, LG Display, BOE, and Japan Display. For Samsung Display to apply flexible AMOLED panel to the new Galaxy model, the mass production line investment is necessary. If they supply flexible AMOLED panel to Apple, volume of the flexible AMOLED mass production to be invested in 2016 is estimated to be grow significantly. LG Display also is expected to actively carry out flexible AMOLED line manufacturing equipment order for Gumi’s P6 line, as well as additional flexible AMOLED mass production line investment following Apple’s demand. BOE is estimated to seriously begin orders for Chengdu’s Gen6 45K flexible AMOLED mass production line.

 

  1. P10

With the announcement of new factory establishment and 1.84 billion KRW investment for part of facilities in Q4 2015, as the first step of the investment, LG Display began site construction for P10 line factory that can produce large area panel. However, the investment direction has not yet been decided. P10 could be directed to only producing large area LCD panel, large area OLED panel, small-to-medium size OLED panel, or large area and small-to-medium size OLED panel simultaneously. China’s Gen8 LCD facilities investment is quite advanced and BOE’s Gen10.5 LCD line investment has also been confirmed. As such how much LG Display’s large area LCD can bring profit has to be carefully considered. Additionally, with the increase of OLED TV consumption and the supply of OLED panel to Apple practically confirmed, OLED investment is essential. P10, Gen11 line, is the world’s largest factory site, and depending on the investment direction in 2016, it is estimated to affect OLED market’s opening time.

 

  1. Chinese OLED

Everdisplay is supplying AMOLED panel to some several Chinese set companies, and Visionox is also expected to actively supply AMOLED panel from 2016. As such, most of Chinese OLED panel companies’ OLED mass production preparation is anticipated to conclude in 2016. Accordingly, second investment by companies including Everdisplay, Visionox, and Tianma is analyzed to be possible and serious movement by China’s OLED industry could occur.

 

  1. Evaporation Equipment

Flexible AMOLED mass production line investment by Samsung Display, LG Display, Japan Display, and BOE, and other Chinese OLED panel companies’ additional installation are expected to be actively carried out from 2016. Amidst this, order of evaporation equipment, OLED production’s essential component, is expected to be an issue.

 

Evaporation equipment currently being used in mass production is mostly Japanese Canon Tokki’s. As this evaporation equipment has been verified in mass production, it is estimated that most companies, including Samsung Display, LG Display, BOE, and JDI, will want to order Canon Tokki’s evaporation equipment. However, as the production capa. of Canon Tokki’s evaporation equipment is limited, the issue is expected to be which panel company will be able to order early. At the same time, this could be a new opportunity for Korean evaporation equipment companies.

 

  1. Samsung OLED TV

At present, the TV industry trend is moving to OLED from LCD. Accordingly, Samsung Display is continuing research to resume their large area OLED for TV panel business. It is analyzed that Samsung Display possesses RGB OLED technology that uses SMS evaporation method, white OLED, and solution process OLED technology. However, as each technology has its drawbacks, they are carefully considering future directions. First, RGB OLED technology is estimated to lack Gen8 mother glass substrate evaporation equipment at present. Solution process OLED method has low material performance. For white OLED, as the key patents are owned by LG Display, technology that avoids these has to be first developed. Therefore, much attention is focused on which technology Samsung Display will use and invest in production line to enter the TV market.

Reviewing 2015 OLED Industry through Keywords

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  1. OLED TV

OLED TV, first released in Q4 2013, recorded approximately 50,000 units of shipment each in Q1 and 2 this year. The shipment increased to 100,000 units in Q3, more than twice the amount of each quarter in H1 2015. As it is estimated that close to 200,000 units were released in Q4, over 90% of LG Display’s 2015 target is expected to be achieved. This is considered to be showing price competitiveness against other TV as the price of OLED TV fell to 1/2 of the initial price and effectiveness of aggressive marketing emphasizing the advantages of OLED TV compared to newly released LCD TV. In Q3 earnings results announcement, LG Display revealed their plan of 1,000,000 units of OLED TV panel shipment in 2016 and forecast OLED TV’s growth. For the industry, 2015 has been the year that secured foothold for OLED TV’s market expansion.

 

  1. Galaxy S6 Edge

At the time of Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 Edge’s release, Samsung Electronics estimated the initial supply to be 50:50. However, Galaxy S6 Edge showed 70% in actual demand and this led to shortage in supply. Samsung Display met the demand by starting flexible AMOLED line operation earlier than scheduled. 2015 proved future market growth potential by opening consumers’ wallets through designs possible only with flexible AMOLED panel.

 

  1. Samsung Display Supply Diversification

During the Q3 earnings announcement, Samsung Display revealed their plan to expand non-Samsung clients by 30%. Accordingly, in Q3, when smartphone market’s growth was expected to slow down, the sales performance improved by 13% compared to its previous quarter through key client’s new product release and expansion of client base. Particularly, the market occupation of AMOLED panel shipped toward China is analyzed to have increased within the global mobile market as Chinese set companies released AMOLED panel equipped smartphones.

 

  1. Apple’s OLED Application

Apple, which has been using LCD panel for all products, first applied flexible AMOLED panel, produced by LG Display, to 2015 smartwatch Apple Watch and drew much attention. In H2, Apple diversified suppliers by using Samsung Display’s flexible AMOLED panel. This move is analyzed to be groundwork for flexible OLED application to smartphone following smartwatch. 2015 has been a year with much interest in when flexible AMOLED panel equipped iPhone will be released.

 

  1. OLED Lighting

Global OLED lighting industry went through a great transformation in 2015. OLEDWorks announced they will acquire key parts of Philips’ OLED lighting business, relevant production facilities, and intellectual property. With this take over, OLEDWorks greatly expanded business through widened product portfolio and simultaneous lighting panel mass production in the US and Germany. LG Chem. transferred OLED lighting business to LG Display. The value of transfer is 1.6 billion KRW, and it is seen to be a strategy to increase competiveness by transferring the business to LG Display with their OLED panel mass production knowledge and to focus on existing materials business. The take over and business transfer of the main players in OLED lighting industry, OLEDWorks and LG Chem., are following their own business strategy. However, following these moves, related investment is expected to be delayed for some time and eyes are on how these will affect the OLED lighting business overall.

 

Korea’s Last PMOLED Company to Fade into History?

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NeoView Kolon, a subsidiary merged by Kolon Group in order to foster electronics business in 2001, is known within the industry to close down the PMOLED sector on December 31.

 

NeoView Kolon established factory in Hongseong, South Chungcheong Province of South Korea in 2003 and began PMOLED mass production. At this point, Samsung SMD (the current Samsung Display) and LG Electronics were also mass producing PMOLED. Other PMOLED producing companies included Korea’s Orion, Japan’s Futaba, and Tohoku Pioneer, and China’s Visionox. However, Samsung SMD stopped PMOLED business and sold manufacturing equipment to China’s Truly, and Samsung Display began AMOLED business from 2007. Subsequently, LG Electronics also closed down PMOLED sector and merged OLED related personnel to LG Display and launched AMOLED business. Orion was sold to China’s Changhong.

 

With the active application of AMOLED to Samsung Electronics’ Galaxy series, global PMOLED business began to rapidly shrink, and in order to maintain business, PMOLED companies pushed ahead with OLED lighting panel business.

 

NeoView Kolon entered into the automotive instrument panel business with PMOLED transparent display, but this business was also not easy. Furthermore, as the factory location is Hongseong, deep in the countryside, there was high turnover of employees and difficulty in technology development and recruitment. Despite the investment of over 100,000 million KRW, the company showed continued deficit.

 

NeoView Kolon turned into a financial sinkhole for Kolon Group and worsened the Group’s financial structure, leading to persistent discussion of selling or withdrawal of the business. Recently, Samsung Display is actively pushing forward the transparent AMOLED panel business. As such, transparent display business value for Kolon decreased, and it is estimated that this led to the decision of closing down the business.

[2015 OLED Evaluation Seminar] Oxide TFT Technology that 2015 should Spotlight

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By Hyun Jun Jang

 

During the 2015 OLED Evaluation Seminar (December 4) hosted by UBI Research, Professor Jin-Seong Park of Hanyang University gave a presentation titled OLED Oxide TFT Technology Trend, discussing oxide TFT, related industry, and technological issues as well as TFT technology that should receive the spotlight in 2016.

 

Oxide TFT has an advantage of high mobility and large area uniformity compared to a-Si TFT. As such, it is being more applied to large area OLED panel and used in LG Display’s OLED TV.

 

Park revealed that there are mainly 4 issues regarding oxide TFT and led with the reliability issue. Oxide TFT is essentially in amorphous state but when crystalized, the density and crystallizability increase; as oxygen does not move away and stay in place, defects occur less and reliability is high. Japan’s SEL and Sharp published CAAC (C-Axis Aligned Crystal) structure related oxide TFT paper, and Cornell University produced CAAC oxide TFT by increasing the substrate temperature and adjusting oxygen’s partial pressure.

 

The second issue is composition ratio. Park reported that composition ratio is the most closely related characteristic to TFT’s mobility. He revealed that recently research is being carried out centering around IGZO (indium gallium zinc oxide), but also oxide TFT research with different composition ratio is continually published. For example, ITZO (indium tin zinc oxide)’s mobility has been reported to reach 30cm/Vsec, and BOE is working on the related research. Research results, which showed increased mobility and reliability for IGZTO, which is IZTO with G added, was published, as well as ZnON (zinc oxide nitride) TFT’s 100cm/Vsec mobility. BOE demonstrated ZnO TFT applied 14.1inch AMOLED.

 

The third issue is the device structure. Park explained that efficiency can increase when top gate structure is used to oxide TFT as parasitic capacitor is not needed, but that the process is difficult. However, Park reported that JOLED revealed when self-alignment is used the number of masks used can be reduced and increases performance. This structure is applied to OLED TV by LG Display.

 

Lastly, Park gave the safety of device as the last issue. Oxide TFT can exhibit degradation effects from light, oxygen, hydrogen, and moisture. Park reported that hydrogen particularly has great effect on the safety. He explained that although the current prevailing OLED TFT is LTPS, as the panel becomes larger there will be technological competition between oxide and LTPS. Reporting that TFT which is cost efficient and shows high performance in diverse factors such as resolution will dominate the market, Park concluded his presentation.

 

 

 

[2015 OLED Evaluation Seminar] Can LG Display and Samsung Display Become OLED Market’s Rule Maker?

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By Hyun Jun Jang

 

At 2015 OLED Evaluation Seminar (December 4) hosted by UBI Research, UBI Research’s president Choong Hoon Yi gave a talk titled AMOLED Panel Industry Trend and Market Forecast discussing OLED industry until 2015 and forecasting 2016 OLED market.

 

Yi presented 2 issues related to flexible OLED. The first issues he discussed was regarding foldable types in foldable display. Yi explained that in-folding is where display is placed inside and out-folding has display on the outside, and revealed that in-folding type is mainly being developed. He also added that these technologies will be useful in FinTech (financial technology: new form of financial technology using mobile, social network, big data, etc.).

 

According to Yi, another issue for flexible display is film application. In order to increase the yield of flexible display, film has to replace cover glass. However, this could lead to unpleasant touch sensation and Yi emphasized technology such as polishing has to be applied to improve this to convince the consumers.

 

Regarding the market, Yi estimated that the total global smartphone market will grow to record approximately 2,000 million units until 2020, with Samsung Electronics’ 400 million units. He also estimated that the OLED display proportion of Samsung’s Galaxy series will continue to increase and that most of Galaxy products will have AMOLED panel in 2019. Of this, Yi announced that flexible OLED and rigid OLED are to record approximately 280 million units and 120 million units respectively. He also forecast that the OLED TV market will grow into approximately 11 million units and that materials and equipment companies will rapidly grow.

 

At present, the display market is entering low growth state, and companies are focusing on strengthening the market competitiveness through new technology development and production potential increase. Samsung Display is actively striving to increase OLED panel’s supply for external companies. LG Display announced 1.84 billion KRW investment for world’s largest OLED focused P10 factory and other areas.

 

Yi reported that as flexible OLED evolves, the mobile display resolution competition of the present will disappear, and he estimated that as LTPS-LCD market decreases, the sales of related panel companies, such as BOE, Sharp, JDI, and LGD, will diminish.

 

Yi also told the audience that he is expecting Samsung Electronics to put OLED TV on the market from 2018 and the sales of the companies, Sharp, AUO, and CSOT, that were supplying them with LCD panels will fall. Essentially, he explained that as the OLED market grows, LCD dealing companies’ position will weaken which will lead to the strengthening of OLED panel production and related companies’ position.

 

When asked about the future of Korean display panel companies, Yi replied that when LCD and OLED are competing, set companies decides the market. However, if OLED can unite the market, Yi emphasized that the display panel will be rebranded as Rule Maker and LG Display and Samsung Display will be in its center.

 

 

[2015 OLED Evaluation Seminar] Transparent Flexible Display’s Necessity Found in Worth

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On December 4, UBI Research hosted 2015 OLED Evaluation Seminar in HJ Convention Center in Seoul, South Korea. The first speaker, LG Display TFD Biz Operation Group’s Chief Research Engineer Jeonghyun Kim spoke on transparent and flexible display’s worth.

 

Under the title of ‘Transparent/Flexible Display’s Future’, Kim discussed overall development trend of display and marketability. At present, the display market is changing to OLED, but as the growth rate is decreasing Kim added that new market creation is necessary. He explained that this is the time for a breakthrough of new market and transparent flexible display can play the lead. Kim also mentioned the marketability of transparent flexible display that can be actualized through OLED.

 

Transparent flexible OLED display possesses high technology level required by plastic substrate, low temperature process technology, and module among others. However, while introducing transparent and flexible OLED display’s worth, Kim emphasized the need for related technology development. The transparent display’s worth, mentioned by Kim, includes space expansion potential through home interior design, communication and safety increase within public facilities, AR information on existing transparent area, and sentimental and recreational experience at observatory and gallery. Regarding flexible display’s worth, he cited mobility in thinness and lightness, utilization through digital board, and space expansion through design freedom.

 

As a prime market for transparent flexible display application, Kim discussed automotive display market; considering the automotive market trend toward driverless/electric vehicles, display utilization inside the vehicle will increase and automotive industry will seek OLED display first.

 

With the LG Display’s video with diverse applications of transparent flexible display and future direction for display, Kim concluded his presentation.

Korea’s Survival Hangs on OLED; Government Support is Urgently Needed

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The last 5 years of budget for Korean semiconductor, which is a key industry for the nation, and display related industry’s original technology development expenses was researched and analyzed.

 

Electronic information device sector’s expenses can be categorized into semiconductor, display, LED/lighting, and evaluation maintenance fee.

 
In 2011, 130,000 million KRW was provided as technology development expense, but since then the amount annually decreased. In 2015, the amount was 95,000 million KRW, but in 2016, it is estimated to decrease further 42% and only 55,000 million KRW is expected to be provided.

 

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weekly focus 2

 

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Semiconductor funding for 2015 occupies 58% of the total budget with 54,800 million KRW. Although that amount will be reduced to 35,600 million KRW in 2016, it is expected to occupy 65% of the total funding.

 

For display section, the 2015 funding is only 19,500 million KRW, a 21% of the total budge. In 2016, this is estimated to fall to 17%.

 

The government funding for display sector, which is the core of Korean electronic information industry, is around the same level as LED/Lighting sector.

 

The rapid reduction of government funding for display industry is expected to cause much difficulty in future display business.

 

weekly focus 4

 

 

The Korean display panel market that is being maintained by 2 companies, Samsung Display and LG Display, recorded 62 billion KRW in 2012. However, it fell to 52 billion KRW in 2014, and the market power is gradually weakening. As Chinese companies are becoming more active in LCD market, Korean companies’ price competitiveness is waning in low-priced panel market.

 

If BOE’s Gen10.5 line begins operation in 2018, Korean display companies’ market power is analyzed to rapidly fall in LCD market. In order for the Korean display business to take-off again, now is the time for the government to fund OLED panel which has high added value.

LG Display Reveals Confidence in OLED

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On October 22, LG Display emphasized their conviction in large area OLED and plastic OLED once again when announcing the performance results held in LG Twin Towers. LG Display revealed that their future business will be OLED and will lead the market through OLED.

 

LG Display’s CFO Sang-don Kim announced that OLED is the top priority in terms of portfolio, and regarding display’s future direction, explained that there is new momentum through automotive, IoT, and commercial display. He also added that the sales did not quite meet what was estimated earlier this year but it is on proper track.

 

LG Display is estimating 400-500 thousand units of OLED TV panel shipment for TV and aiming for 1 million units next year. Regarding the poor sales, he gave trial errors in new technology development, which was the main focus, as the reason. LG Display will plan optimized investment after market trend consideration.

 

In 2015, 55inch or larger panel for TV occupied 8% of the shipment, but the target is gradually increasing it to 20% or higher. LG Display highlighted TVs are becoming larger at a fast pace; 65inch and 77inch OLED TV, rather than what was expected to be the main product 55inch, showed higher than expected sales. Kim explained that to maximize production cost reduction of OLED panel, they are internally adjusting material cost and yield. He also forecast that the demand will increase through production increasing projects.

 

LG Display recorded 7,000 million USD* of revenue in 2015 Q3. This 7% increase compared to its previous quarter is due to the increase of shipment area through TV’s panel size increase and success of product mix. Business profit fell by 32% compared to previous quarter with 300 million USD*. LG Display revealed they will push for profit improvement through inventory level management and operation rate adjustment. They also reported they will strengthen competitiveness through synergy with OLED lighting business and showed anticipation for future.

 

* 1 USD = 1,100 KRW

 

LG디스플레이

Samsung and LG’s Shared Vision for OLED

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On the first day of OLEDs World Summit (October 27-29) held in Berkeley, USA, Samsung Display and LG Display gave their talks back to back. Samsung Display’s Vice President Chang Hoon Lee and LG Display’s Joo Soo Lim discussed their thoughts on OLED under the titles of ‘The Future of OLEDs’ and ‘A Future Game Changer’ respectively.

Samsung Display’s Lee, who gave his presentation first, reiterated Samsung Display’s leadership position in the mobile market and how Samsung Electronics’ recent mobile display reflects this. Comparing RGB pixel structure and their own diamond pixel structure, Lee drew comparison between human eyes and diamond pixels; due to cell distribution in eyes, humans are more sensitive to green colors and that diamond pixels reflect this by having twice as many green subpixels as blue and red ones. The diamond pixels also maximize the sub-pixel packing and increases the PPI.

Regarding the advantages of OLED display, Lee gave 2 examples using Samsung Electronics’ latest smartphone models. Utilizing the fact that selective control of each pixel is possible in AMOLED displays, Samsung provided Vision Aid to help people with color blindness. OLED’s ability to achieve total black is used in Super Dimming function where screen brightness can be reduced to 2nits to be used in the dark environment.

LG Display’s Lim revealed that an adult in the US spends 9 hours 40 minutes a day on average looking at one form of display or another. Highlighting the need and importance of quality display, Lim also discussed advantages of OLED display over LCD such as total black, 3D effects, and color gamut.

As the future OLED display, Both Lee and Lim placed slightly more emphasis on flexible (plastic) OLED than transparent or mirror display. Samsung Display discussed requirements necessary for a successful flexible display in more depth touching on the need for suitable cover window, flexible touch (sensor), flexible encapsulation, and flexible backplane. On the other hand, LG Display discussed flexible display’s design freedom and its influences on the wearable, mobile, and automotive markets. Lim also placed much importance on how flexible OLED can be used in virtual reality display market. The 2 speakers ended their talks affirming the need for new display market and innovation through OLED technology and new applications.

The presentations given by the 2 apparent leaders in the OLED display industry were remarkably similar with both speakers underlining major points of OLED in broad strokes. The need for solutions for future OLED, whether it be flexible, transparent, or mirror display, through innovation and technological advances is an absolute truth if not maybe too obvious. There also may be some comfort to be had in the shared vision within the OLED community. However, it is also a fact that numerous attendees of the conference commented on the similarities of the 2 presentations and the lack of any surprises.

LG Chem.’s OLED Lighting Business Toward LGD. What is the Future Direction?

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It was announced that LG Display will take over LG Chem.’s OLED lighting business department. As the department that was leading the opening of OLED lighting panel market is being merged into LG Display, a significant change in OLED lighting industry is anticipated.

 

One of the merits of this merge is expected to be further improving OLED lighting panel’s mass production potential through LG Display’s existing OLED panel mass production line, labor, and technology. Additionally, when new investment of OLED lighting panel mass production line is being processed, time and cost can be reduced on the basis of LG Display’s manufacturing equipment/material supply chains.

 

On the other hand, as OLED lighting market is still in initial stages the size is not so large. As such, whether LG Display will newly invest is a key issue. Generally, for display panel companies that invest with market size of thousands of millions of dollars in mind, OLED lighting panel line’s new investment does not seem to have a great advantage for LG Display.

 

Therefore, if LG Display carries out OLED lighting panel business, the first step is estimated to be mass production in parts of Paju’s AP2 line rather than new investment for OLED lighting panel mass production line. If parts of AP2 line begin mass production first, mass production timing can be much sooner than new investment and can positively affect expansion of OLED lighting panel market.

 

The issue is marketing strategy. In 2009, Samsung Electronics successfully opened AMOLED smartphone market in Korea via push strategy using AMOLED themed music video that became viral. Much like this, in order to show profit in OLED lighting panel business, LG Display should open the market through push marketing strategy.

LG UHD OLED TV Price Falls Once More

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The price of OLED TV by LG Electronics is falling fast. The 55inch flat UHD OLED TV (55EF9500), released last month, fell to $3,999 in 3 weeks, a 27% decrease from the initial $5,499. This price decrease is much faster than that of LG Electronics’ curved model of 55inch UHD OLED TV released in April.

 

Samsung Electronics’ 55inch SUHD TV, UN55JS9000, showed approximately over $2,500 price difference in comparison with 55EF9500 between the 1st week and the 2nd week of September. However, in the 3rd week, UN55JS9000 and 55EF9500 each showed 4% and 15% of decrease rate to record $2,497 and $3,999 respectively, with approximately $1,500 difference. This is the highest reduction rate for LG Electronics’ OLED TV.

 

lg oled tv price fall

 

In addition to the price reduction, LG Electronics is marketing their products aggressively. They are in the process of installing OLED TV this month in 39 key airports in 23 countries including the US, Germany, and Russia, with plans to install approximately 200 units of OLED TV by the end of October.

[IAA 2015] Audi and Porsche, Propose Future Models of Smart Car

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At IAA 2015 (September 17 – 27), Audi and Porsche presented OLED lighting and display equipped vehicles.

 

In the past, Audi has proved OLED technology’s excellence through diverse models and demonstrations, including introduction of ‘swarm’ in 2013 with its 3D OLED car rear lighting panels. At this motor show, Audi revealed Audi e-tron quattro, the first concept car with Matrix OLED technology. As well as the Matrix OLED lighting, interior OLED display was also applied to the concept car. Audi explained that the Matrix OLED lighting, which was applied to the rear lighting, can continuously change lights and does not cast shadow. Full OLED interface was also applied to the car and all functions required in driving can be control by display touch. Audi revealed that they will gradually apply these technology to next generation Audi series.

 

Porsche presented their first four-seat electric sports car Mission E as a concept model. The instrument cluster for this concept car is displayed virtually in OLED. The menu can be activated through buttons on the handle. It can also be automatically activated as the cluster’s eye tracking system can perceive the driver’s attention. The display also follows the seat position and body attitude of the driver in what is known as a parallax effect; the display moves according to the driver’s posture for easier viewing. Porsche revealed that Porsche Car Connect technology will also be applied which will allow the user to control key functions of the vehicle through a smartphone.

 

As OLED using lighting and display are actively applied to smart cars, attention on the automotive OLED is also increasing. At the National Research Development Industry General Workshop, held in July 2015, Samsung Display and LG Display each stated their thoughts on display that will be applied to future smart cars.

 

Samsung Display’s executive director Hye Yong Chu asserted that smart is display’s future, including smart car. She also explained that for the actualization of smart technology, other ancillary smart technology, such as eye tracking and voice recognition technology, are required.

 

Yoon Sooyoung, LG Display’s vice president, stated that automotive display can be used for CID, dashboard, cluster, and window, and that the development of transparent and flexible technology is necessary.

 

During the keynote session of IMID 2015, Munhyun Kim of Hyundai Motors revealed that OLED panels will mainly be applied to smart car compared to LCD as it can easily be flexible. He also added that the automotive OLED’s percentage within the total OLED market will increase, and anticipated that it will exceed 30% in 2017.

 

 

Porsche Mission E, Porsche Home page

Porsche Mission E, Porsche Home page

Q2 AMOLED Market, the Largest So Far

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According to UBI Research’s Weekly OLED Analysis Report, Q2 AMOLED panels recorded the largest shipment and sales so far. With 56 million units, the Q2 shipment increased by 35% in comparison with Q1, and a 19% increase compared to the same period last year. US$ 2,800 million was recorded for sales, which is a 65% increase compared to its previous quarter.

 

Last quarter’s AMOLED market growth is due to Samsung Display’s AMOLED panel supply volume for Chinese set companies and increase in LG Display’s flexible OLED panel production for smartwatch.

 

LG Display Opens 2015 Tech Forum in Collaboration with Other Companies

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Source : LG Display

LG Display set out to discover new technology through open innovation in collaboration with other companies.

 

On September 15, LG Display invited top global display material and component companies to Paju factory and opened 2015 LG Display Tech Forum. The invited companies included Merck, Asahi Glass, and Sumitomo.

 

Under the heading of ‘OLED, New Opportunity and Challenge’, 13 key collaborating companies in material, process, glass, and circuitry sectors participated. They promised to share market trend, and LG Display’s OLED and LCD technology development direction and cooperate regarding future technology.

 

LG Display increased emphasis on OLED; LG Display revealed detailed business strategy for large and small size OLED, and discussed technology and products that should be developed together in collaboration with companies in each stage.

 

Additionally, LG Display newly established Technology Innovation Award for collaborating companies that contributed to LG Display’s product improvement with innovative technology. The award was presented to Asahi Glass for developing glass light guide panel used in thin panel actualization, and display material companies Merck and Nitto Denko.

 

LG Display’s CEO Han Sang-beom explained that LG Display could pave the way for OLED with world’s first technology due to much effort and enthusiastic corporation from R&D partners. He also entreated each company to continue to change and evolve through their own R&D competitiveness and creativity and lead the future display market.

Minus Growth for H1 OLED Material Market with Mere US$ 564 Million*

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According to UBI Research, the 2015 H1 OLED material market recorded approximately US$ 564 million; this is a 14% increase compared to 2014 H2, but a 24% decrease against 2014 H1.

 

Despite reports that Samsung Electronics and LG Electronics are selling much larger volumes of flexible OLED applied Galaxy S6 Edge and OLED TV respectively compared to last year, the OLED material market is gradually stagnating.

 

The main reason for this OLED material market’s downward turn is Samsung Display’s operation level which remained stationary at 50% in H1. This led to stationary material usage compared to the year before. LG Display is producing flexible OLED and large size OLED panel for TV. However, approximately only 100,000 units of OLED panels were sold in H1 and material usage was also lowl. The current capa. is 34K but as the OLED material cost spent in H1 is approximately US$ 36 million, the operation rate is analyzed to be only 30% of the total capa.

 

The OLED material market is decreasing because the supply price is rapidly falling without increase in production volume. OLED material companies are frustrated at the 10-15% price decrease per quarter. At present, as the only clients are Samsung Display and LG Display, material companies are compelled to reduce the price as the failure to do so could lead toward the termination of business. OLED material companies spend several thousands of millions of dollars annually on development to meet constant improvement demanded by clients. There is much difficulty for OLED material companies as display companies continue with one-sided demands without compensation regarding development cost.

 

For OLED industry to maintain its continued growth, it requires more than success of panel companies. Material companies that play a pivotal part within the industry have to continue development and production of quality materials in order to create a healthy growth cycle. However, display companies are destroying the ecosystem.

 

What OLED material companies currently crave is for Chinese display companies to mass produce OLED panels as soon as possible.

 

* 1 USD = 1,100 KRW

 

OLED Material Market Revenue 2014 H1 – 2015 H1

OLED Material Market Revenue 2014 H1 – 2015 H1

[IFA 2015] Panasonic OLED TV

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Panasonic that used to lead Japanese electronics industry with Sony is focusing more on OLED TV industry. Until IFA 2014, Panasonic exhibited self-made OLED TV using oxide TFT and solution process OLED technology. However, since CES 2015 Panasonic presented LG Display’s WRGB OLED panel applied OLED TV. It is unusual to introduce OLED TV through IFA 2015 when Panasonic is only selling TV domestically and stopped TV business abroad. According to Panasonic the company is planning to mass produce within 2015.

 

OLED TV revealed in IFA 2015 is a CZ950 model with 4K resolution. It is interesting to note that special material is used to cover the back of the set to give a furniture look.

 

Panasonic OLED TV, IFA 2015

Panasonic OLED TV, IFA 2015

 

Panasonic OLED TV, IFA 2015

Panasonic OLED TV, IFA 2015

 

Panasonic is also presenting OLED TV and LCD TV in darkroom to demonstrate OLED TV’s superiority in contrast ratio.

[IMID 2015] LG Display Reveals Detailed OLED Plans

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During the keynote session of IMID 2015 (August 18 – 21), LG Display’s Sang Deog Yeo, the head of OLED division revealed LG Display’s intention to change the world with OLED together with everyone and strength in OLED industry expansion. Yeo explained that the most important factor in the success of large area OLED is strong conviction in OLED’s success and courage; he also announced further investment for OLED as future growth stimulus.

 

Yeo reported that TV’s first revolution was a change from black and white TV to color. The second revolution was the appearance of flat panel display and that the third revolution will be OLED. He explained that the key factors in TV panels are design and picture quality. He evaluated that these factors are advancing separately in other display while OLED is improving these issues together.

 

Explaining in more detail, Yeo reported that OLED has high design freedom as OLED structure is simple, a self-emitting light without BLU. Additionally, each pixel of OLED can operate independently and actualize true black, leading to differentiated picture quality.

 

In the beginning, LG Display struggled in applying WRGB technology and oxide TFT to OLED TV, which resulted in almost 0% of yield. Even within the company, there were opinions that oxide TFT application to Gen8 panel or larger will be almost impossible. However, the effort including introduction of external compensation circuit and coplanar structure, and compensation algorithm application to brightness and color brought LG Display’s current success of OLED TV mass production.

 

Yeo announced that much like how LG Display solved OLED TV’s technological problems of the past, they will improve the oxide TFT mobility to 50. He also revealed that LG Display is searching for a method of applying top-emission technology to mass production in order to improve transparent and flexible OLED technology, and researching light shutter technology and improved plastic substrate application technology.

 

LG Display recently announced their decision to invest approximately US$ 9,300 million centering around OLED. During the keynote session, Yeo reported that LG Display will increase the large area OLED panel’s production rate through investment, specifically from current 600 thousand units to 2 million units in 2017. He also announced that they will expand Gumi Gen6 line which will be used to increase production rate of small to medium-sized OLED panels and plastic OLED panels.

 

Although there has been speculation regarding this investment, through this keynote speech, it can be forecast the investment will be used in specific roadmap of large and small to medium-sized OLED. For the progress of OLED industry, which is growth stimulus of the future, Yeo emphasized the need for closer cooperation between materials, components, manufacturing equipment, and set companies, and laboratories and universities.

LG Display’s Sang Deog Yeo, IMID 2015

LG Display’s Sang Deog Yeo, IMID 2015

How Can Small and Medium-Sized OLED Panel Companies Survive?

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With the great increase of interest in flexible OLED from China and Taiwan’s small and medium-sized panel companies, diverse issues related to this are emerging.

 

Recent smartphone trend is moving from high resolution and specs toward diverse designs such as curved or bendable/foldable and flexible display that can differentiate applications. AMOLED flexible display is currently being applied to smartphone and smartwatch. However, only 2 companies, Samsung Display and LG Display, are supplying these high spec flexible AMOLED panel.

 

Small and medium-sized panel companies do not have the technology to mass produce high performance flexible AMOLED panel and cannot invest in mass production. For these reasons, Chinese and Taiwanese small and medium-sized companies are aiming for finding new applications where flexible PMOLED or low resolution flexible AMOLED can be applied and make mass production investment. Accordingly, set companies’ interest in flexible OLED applied application is also increasing.

 

Additionally, companies are in agreement that yield of flexible PMOLED that is applied to some smartbands does not meet demand. Taiwan’s wisechip and RiTdisplay, key PMOLED companies, are concentrating on developing flexible PMOLED and flexible OLED lighting. Taiwan’s AUO and Innolux, and China’s Visionox and EDO are also among those that are developing wearable flexible AMOLED.

 

Diverse application development where lower resolution flexible AMOLED, flexible PMOLED, or flexible OLED lighting, instead of expensive high-end smartphone and smartwatch, can be applied is essential. The outcome of this is forecast to greatly affect the growth of small and medium-sized OLED panel companies.

[Analyst Column] Korean Display Industry Is On Descent

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Dr Choong Hoon Yi, UBI Research Chief Analyst, ubiyi@ubiresearch.co.kr

 

The analysis of 2015 2Q results of Samsung Display and LG Display shows clear indication that Korean display industry is on descent.

 

[2015 Q2 Korean Display Total Sales Analysis]

According to the results announcement of the 2 companies, the total of 2015 Q2 sales is approximately US$ 11,000,000,000. Compared to the total sales in 2013 Q2 which was US$ 13,000,000,000, Korean display industry trend is exhibiting clear downward tendency.

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2015 Q2 Korean display sales records -4% QoQ, and 8% YoY.

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The main reason for the decrease in sales is Samsung Display’s deterioration of earnings results. While LG Display’s sales of the past 3 years remain fairly consistent but Samsung Display’s sales is gradually decreasing.

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[2015 Q2 Korean Display Total Business Profit Analysis]

Connecting the high points of the total of 2 companies’ business profit reveal that the business value is worsening as the trend moves downward. This also is much contributed to Samsung Display’s business profit decrease.

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[Samsung Display and LG Display Sales Analysis]

According to the earnings announcement of both companies, Samsung Display and LG Display recorded sales of approximately US$ 5,500,000,000 and US$ 5,600,000,000 respectively. LG Display is maintaining higher sales results compared to Samsung Display for the past 5 quarters. Each company’s QoQ showed to be -4% (LGD) and -3% (SDC) and YoY to be 12% (LGD) and 5% (SDC). The simultaneous decrease of QoQ sales of both companies demonstrates that the Q3 sales could also fall.

 

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[Samsung Display and LG Display’s Competitiveness Analysis]

Looking at the profit/sales graph of Samsung Display and LG Display, it is apparent that Samsung Display showed superior competitiveness until 2013 Q3, but since then LG Display averaged higher.

 

 

[Conclusion]

The reason for the downward trend of Korean display industry is analyzed to be the fall of display panel price due to the Chinse display companies’ mass production through aggressive investment. Particularly, in or after 2017 when China’s BOE is estimated to begin Gen10.5 LCD line, LCD panel price will fall even more rapidly. This is forecast to lead Korean LCD industry to suddenly lose competitiveness. For Korean display companies that have immense LCD sales to show positive growth, it is time to expand OLED business that can be differentiated from Chinse display companies.

 

The only solutions for Korean display industry are OLED investment in large scale and conversion of LCD line to OLED line. At the time of BOE’s Gen10.5 line operation, Korean display companies also should respond with Gen6 flexible OLED investment and early establishment of Gen8 OLED line.

[Analyst Column] LG Display Q2 Earnings Analysis and Signification of Flexible OLED Investment

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Dr Choong Hoon Yi, UBI Research Chief Analyst, ubiyi@ubiresearch.co.kr

 

On July 23, LG Display announced its earnings results at LG Twin Towers in Yeouido, South Korea. LG Display reported that their Q2 sales recorded approximately US$ 5,700,000,000 with business profit of approximately US$ 420,000,000.

 

Although sales fell by approximately US$ 260,000,000 (-5%) compared to the previous quarter, it was an increase of US$ 620,000,000 (12%) compared to the year before. Business profit showed approximately US$ 210,000,000 decrease (-34%) QoQ, and YoY US$ 280,000,000 increase (206%).

 

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LG Display’s sales and business profit of Y/Yo (green line) showed U shape of trend of growth in previous 5 quarters but this quarter recorded a fall. It is analyzed that the growth could slow down from 2H 2015.

 

The drop of the LG display’s Y/Yo growth in this 2Q is much attributed to smartphone market’s slow down and TV market reduction. It is also estimated the panel price reduction due to Chinese display companies’ aggressive investment is reflected.

 

0805 graph2

 

 

For LG Display to stop the degrowth, mass production of products that are differentiated from competition, is urgently needed, away from LCD panel that is LGD’s current major business.

 

On the day, LG Display’s management announced approx. US$ 900,000,000 investment for Gen6 flexible OLED line in order to lead flexible OLED market. The investment location is Gumi factory. Investment location is Gumi factory with the initial investment of 7.5K. It is expected world’s second flexible OLED exclusive line will established following Samsung Display. It is anticipated that up to 15K will be established for this line.

 

Considering last year’s LG Display’s business profit was approx. US$ 1,100,000,000, the US$ 900,000,000 flexible OLED investment is very large. The investment decision must have been very difficult. However, the reasons for LG Display’s drastic flexible OLED exclusive line investment are because companies that produce LTPS-TFT LCD (LGD’s existing main market) is increasing, and because Samsung Display is already monopolizing rigid OLED market and therefore difficult to secure market share.

 

LG Display’s CFO Kim Sang-don explained that flexible OLED Gen6 line investment was decided at the board of directors meeting on July 22, and was made official on the morning of July 23. Kim added that the decision was reached so that LG Display can lead the OLED business in terms of technology and to occupy initial market in foldable and rollable technologies. He also commented the monthly capa. of the flexible OLED line will be 7.5K.

 

Regarding large area OLED panel, it was emphasized that this year’s panel production target remains to be 600,000 units and 1,500,000 units next year, same as the ones announced during the Q1 earnings results presentation. It was also revealed that 34K, approximately 9K higher than current capa., will be in operation in 2016. Addressing the concern of oversupply of next year’s 1,500,000 units while the OLD TV market is still small, LG Display suggested the solution of increasing the demand by active promotion from the second half of this year.

 

 

 

Despite the fall of mid to large size panels’ sales price, from the enlargement of sets and AIT technology applied sales performance, the business profit of approximately US$ 4,000 million was recorded. This is a 34% decrease compared to the previous quarter but a 199% increase from the same period in 2014. LG Display estimates that the sales will increase in the third quarter due to seasonal factors and panel’s enlargement trend.

Korean Government, Will It Give Up Its Top Spot in Display Industry?

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Recent Samsung Electronics and LG Electronics’ TV and smartphone performance results are causing experts to be concerned over degrowth.

 

The axis that is centering Korean industry is dependent on these 2 companies and Hyundai Motor Company. In the 20th century when technology skills were lacking, Korean government and these 3 companies closely cooperated and coordinated product development and market cultivation. The low value of KRW invigorated the 3 companies’ export business. Strong government support allowed development of products that could compete against Japanese products occupying the international market. The potential that allowed the companies to overtake Japanese firms that were dominating electronics industry and increase the international market share was based on Korean government’s diverse interest and enthusiastic backing.

 

Japan’s display industry collapsed due to several reasons. Their pride that that latecomers including Korea will not be able to catch up to their technology, the discontinuation of investment by overlooking the need of the 21st century of information for display market, and the disregard of latecomers’ price competitiveness can be attributed to the collapse.

 

Korean display companies gave up on Gen10 investment in LCD business and began localization in China though establishing Gen8 LCD factory in China. However, Chinse display companies, with the backing of their government in large scale, continue to invest despite the deficit.

 

If BOE’s Gen10.5 LCD factory is complete, China will lead the global industry in terms of yield, and overtake Korea through China’s domestic market and price competitiveness. Now there are only 2 years left. It is only a question of time before Korea’s LCD industry falls apart.

 

The only thing that is left for Korean display industry is OLED. As Korean display industry plays an important role in Korean economy, the decline of display industry will have direct impact on employment, export, and domestic market.

 

However, Korean government is currently ignoring display industry. LCD and OLED have been excluded from WTO’s tariff elimination. China, which is rapidly becoming a new contender in display industry, has agreed with the U.S. to exclude LCD and OLED advocating protection of Chinese market and industry, and other countries followed. China is adding 5% tax for 32inch products or larger; Samsung Display and LG Display are operating LCD factories in China in order to be exempt. The labor force is moving away from Korea to China. Korea’s Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy is overlooking the importance of Korea’s display industry.

 

To make matters worse, Korean government has no tax regarding manufacturing equipment. When display companies import expensive manufacturing equipment, no tax is added. Recently, due to a low exchange rate of the yen, Japanese companies’ price competitiveness is 1.5 times higher than several years ago. At a time when Korean manufacturing equipment companies are losing heavily in the competition against Japanese, Korean market is actually giving up the market to Japanese companies.

 

For example, if Samsung Display and LG Display have saved 10,000,000 USD on the purchase of manufacturing equipment, the result is Korean companies’ loss of 100,000,000 USD. Although 10,000,000 USD is a large amount of money to Samsung Display and LG Display, the consequential loss of 100,000,000 USD for Korean manufacturing equipment market is even more immense.

 

The Korean display ecosystem that has been carefully established is being destroyed by its own government.

 

Although Korean government is paying lip service to build strong small and medium-sized businesses, in actuality, it is giving small amount of money to large companies and continuing to ignore smaller Korean manufacturing equipment companies. For the future of the smaller Korean manufacturing equipment companies struggling against the weak yen, a system of where they can at the very least survive in domestic market is needed.

 

Job creation for the young engineers requires more consideration for small and medium-sized businesses rather than large companies that can thrive without any help.

LGD Expands Market Through Active Support of OLED

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On July 23, LG Display announced its earnings results at LG Twin Towers in Yeouido, South Korea. During this event, LG Display revealed its decision to invest approximately US$ 900 million in Gen6 flexible OLED line in order to lead the flexible OLED market.

 

LG Display’s CFO, Kim Sang-don, explained that flexible OLED Gen6 line investment was decided at the board of directors meeting on July 22, and was made official on the morning of July 23. Kim added that the decision was reached so that LG Display can lead the OLED business in terms of technology and to occupy initial market in foldable and rollable technologies. He also commented the monthly capa. of the flexible OLED line will be 7.5K.

 

Regarding large area OLED panel, it was emphasized that this year’s panel production target remains to be 600,000 units and 1,500,000 units next year, same as the ones announced during the Q1 earnings results presentation. It was also revealed that 34K, approximately 9K higher than current capa., will be in operation in 2016. Addressing the concern of oversupply of next year’s 1,500,000 units while the OLD TV market is still small, LG Display suggested the solution of increasing the demand by active promotion from the second half of this year.

 

Despite the fall of mid to large size panels’ sales price, from the enlargement of sets and AIT technology applied sales performance, the business profit of approximately US$ 4,000 million was recorded. This is a 34% decrease compared to the previous quarter but a 199% increase from the same period in 2014. LG Display estimates that the sales will increase in the third quarter due to seasonal factors and panel’s enlargement trend.

 

China’s Gen10.5 Investment, Korean Display Companies’ Countermeasure?

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At the 10th National Research Development Industry General Workshop in Display (8-10 July) in Muju, South Korea, industry-academy experts gathered and held a discussion on the future display strategy under the heading ‘Korean Display Industry Crisis, What is the Solution?’.

 

At the previous keynote speech, vice president of LG Display, Yoon Sooyoung explained that the key points for the third revolution will be design innovation, design freedom differentiated though real image, and picture quality that can closely resemble visual reality. He also added that the third display is OLED that can actualize various advantages such as transparency, flexibility, and high picture quality at once, and considering material/component and mass production technology status, OLED will also be able to achieve competitive prices soon.

 

Samsung Display’s executive director Hye Yong Chu forecast next generation display will be smart display, human friendly, holographic, and disruptive innovation. Particularly she estimated that thorough size and design innovation, flexible display will be able to create new application and market and that flexible OLED will form the core.

 

The shared opinion of Samsung Display and LG Display, key Korean display companies, at the keynote session was Korean display industry’s need to lead the next generation display market in order to prepare for China’s pursuit and requirement of active participation and cooperation from industry-academy to achieve this.

 

During the panel discussion that followed the keynote session, many different opinions were suggested regarding Korean display industry status from academy-industry. Of China’s BOE’s Gen10.5 investment, Samsung Display’s Chu disclosed that investment at the right moment was more important than preemptive investment; the focus will be curved and edge display market expansion and widening the technology gap with latecomers, and investment will be carefully considered before making a decision. LG Display’s Yoon also explained that areas where cost innovation are possible are limited even with investment is carried out as the current display market is different from previous ones. He added that Gen10.5 investment has to be deliberated and emphasized that focus should be on how to make OLED competitive.

 

Against the China’s aggressive investment on Gen8 or higher, Samsung Display and LG Display’s positions are analyzed to be of same opinion of carefully considering investment while pioneering the market maximizing the existing technology prowess.

 

미래 디스플레이 전략 대토론회

 

[SID 2014] Latecomers catching up aggressively

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AMOLED latecomers; BOE, AUO and Tianma are rapidly catching up the AMOLED development of Samsung Display (SDC) and LG Display (LGD) at SID 2014.

BOE expressed possibility of investing in TV following mobiles by displaying 55” FHD AMOLED panel. In terms of technology readiness level, it is incompatibly lower than panels of LGD and SDC though, it is considerably fast that it was developed in six months and produced in a pilot line in Hefei.

AUO showed that its AMOLED technology had reached at certain level by unveiling 5.7” WQHD (513ppi) ultra-high resolution AMOLED panel. More attention drew towards AUO’s panel because its production method is RGB+FMM as SDC uses and the high resolution is realized with real RGB strip type rather pentile. AUO also expressed its will on AMOLED business by showing 5” HD flexible AMOLED panel and 1.6” AMOLED panel for a smart watch.

Tianma also unveiled 5.5” HD AMOLED panel. Its performance lags behind the current AMOLED panel, but it ai    ms to supply middle-end and low-end panel targeting mass-production of 5.5” FHD AMOLED through continuous R&D.

Challenges of Chinese and Taiwanese makers become serious in the AMOLED market, where Korean makers, SDC and LGD, are dominant, and the latecomers are about to invest in the sector. Thus, it is expected that the AMOLED industry will constantly grow.

<BOE’s55ich FHD OLED panel>

 <AUO’s 5.7inch FHD AMOLED panel>

<AUO’s 5inch HD flexible AMOLED panel>

<Tianma’s 5.5inch HD AMOLED panel>

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