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OLED Encapsulation, TFE is the Top Trend

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  • Expected application of TFE to all edge type and full screen use flexible OLED
  • PECVD manufacturing equipment, 62% of total encapsulation manufacturing equipment market

According to 2017 OLED Encapsulation Annual Report published by UBI Research, of OLED encapsulation technology, TFE (thin film encapsulation) will be applied to approximately 70% of total OLED panel in 2021, and become the key encapsulation technology.

OLED display trend is heading toward minimizing bezel for full screen actualization from edge type, and flexible OLED is being considered as the most optimal display for full screen. As such, Chinese panel companies, as well as Samsung Display and LG Display, are concentrating on flexible OLED mass production line investment rather than rigid.

Flexible OLED must be thin and bendable; glass using frit encapsulation Is not suitable and TFE (thin film encapsulation) or hybrid encapsulation must be applied. TFE is a structure that is formed via laminating thin inorganic and organic materials. In the early stages of development, it had 11 layers of complex organic and inorganic material deposition with low yield. However, it now has been reduced to 3 layers and greatly improved productivity, yield, and cost and it is being applied to most of flexible OLED.

<Thin film encapsulation development history, 2017 OLED Encapsulation Annual Report>

Hybrid encapsulation, which uses barrier film, is being applied to some flexible OLED. However, due to the high cost of barrier film and relatively thick thickness, recent investment is focused on TFE application.

According to UBI Research analyst Jang Hyunjun, TFE encapsulation is expected to continue to be applied to edge type and full screen type flexible OLED panel, and related manufacturing equipment and material market will carry on their growth.

The report explains that TFE’s key manufacturing equipment are inorganic material forming PECVD and organic material forming ink-jet printer. In particular, PECVD is used in inorganic material film formation of hybrid encapsulation as well as TFE. Therefore, PECVD market is estimated to record US$ 6,820 million in 2017-2021, and occupy approximately 62% of the total encapsulation manufacturing equipment market.

<PECVD manufacturing equipment market volume, 2017, 2017 OLED Encapsulation Annual Report>

The report includes encapsulation related key manufacturing equipment and material market in addition to encapsulation development history and trend, and key panel companies’ trend.

Dramatic Growth for OLED Smartphone …Q2 2016 Panel Shipment Increased by 72%

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OLED Smartphone Galaxy Note7(Source = Samsung)

OLED Smartphone Galaxy Note7(Source = Samsung)

Hyunjoo Kang / jjoo@olednet.com

OLED smartphone market is growing prominently in the global market. Q2 2016 global 4~6 inch OLED panel shipment increased by 72% compared to the same period in 2015.

According to investigation by UBI Research, the shipment of OLED panel for smartphone in Q2 2016 is 88 million units, an increase of 72% compared to 51.2 million units in Q2 2015. This rapid growth of 4~6 inch OLED panel is led by key smartphone companies in Korea and China.

Samsung Electronics, a leading representative of OLED smartphone market, is expanding OLED smartphone products. The company recently announced flexible OLED panel equipped Galaxy Note 7, a first for a Galaxy Note series.

Not only Samsung, but Chinese companies are leading the market growth expanding the OLED application. In particular, Huawei’s smartphone business growth is significantly affecting OLED market. According to a market research company IDC, the global smartphone sales of the same period is only 3%. However, the sales of Huawei, possessing numerous OLED smartphone products, increased by 25% in H1 compared to the same period in 2015.

According to UBI Research, the total revenue of Q2 2016 global smartphone OLED panel market is USD 3,160 million, approximately 27% increase compared to the same period in 2015.

Dramatic Growth of Automotive OLED Lighting Panel …To Exceed Down Lighting in 2019

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OLED Lighting for Automotive (Picture Source = Novaled)

With the Forecast of Continued growth of OLED Lighting Panel Market, Automotive Lighting Market is Rapidly Growing ( Picture Source = Novaled )

Hyunjoo Kang / jjoo@olednet.com
With the forecast of continued rapid growth of OLED lighting panel market, automotive OLED lighting panel in particular is expected to lead the market.
According to 2016 OLED Lighting Annual Report, published by UBI Research on 8 August, the global automotive OLED lighting panel market this year is only USD 3 million. However, the market is estimated to rapidly grow from 2017 and record USD 296 million in 2019, and exceed indoor OLED lighting panel market. The 2019 indoor OLED lighting ( down lighting ) panel market is expected to be USD 183 million.
Furthermore, in 2020, the automotive OLED lighting panel market is estimated to record USD 821 million and widen the gap with indoor OLED lighting market and its USD 494 million. From then on, the indoor OLED lighting market is estimated to show impressive growth and move past automotive sector sales from 2023. However, the automotive sector is expected to occupy major areas of OLED lighting market along with the indoor sector.
OLED is receiving much attention as automotive lighting panel due to advantages such as diverse designs and being less harmful to human eyes. The fact that curved design is possible with OLED is a particular merit for an automotive lighting. In fact, UBI Research estimates that flexible OLED within automotive OLED lighting market will maintain its 75% or higher market share in future.
UBI Research explained that as flexible is possible with OLED, there are many advantages in terms of design in automotive indoor lighting, and taillights. He added that with thinner and freer curved designs, the OLED lighting can be applied to anywhere in cars and this will become a new differentiation point for automotive companies.

Global Lighting OLED Market, USD 1,600 Million in 2020… Half by LG Display

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Global OLED lighting panel revenue market share(출처 = UBI Research 2016 OLED Lighting Annual Report_

Global lighting OLED panel revenue market share (Source = UBI Research 2016 OLED Lighting Annual Report)

Hyunjoo Kang / jjoo@olednet.com

Global lighting OLED panel market is rapidly growing each year. In 2020, it is expected to record USD 1,600 million, and LG Display is estimated to occupy 53%.
According to 2016 OLED Lighting Annual Report, published by UBI Research on 8 August, the global OLED lighting panel market is expected to record USD 114 million in 2016 and show CAGR of 66% in 2017-2025.
Advantages of OLED lighting includes high energy efficiency and diverse application areas. The fact that the restrictions on the use of incandescent light is being tightened is also one of the reasons that OLED lighting is receiving much attention. As such, the global OLED lighting panel market will continue to grow and record USD 1,600 million in 2020.
LG Display is the only company that carried out investment while possessing OLED lighting panel mass production technology. In early 2016, OLED lighting business was moved from LG Chem. to LG Display.
In March, LG Display decided on 15K monthly capa. of Gen5 OLED lighting panel mass production line investment, and is actively expanding this business. The company is expected to record 53% of 2020 global OLED lighting panel sales with USD 848 million.
In terms of application areas, general indoor downlight and automotive lighting are estimated to show rapid growth and occupy the largest proportion of the OLED lighting market. Furthermore, OLED lighting market is expanding in other areas such as outdoor, medical, and exhibition use.
UBI Research estimates that in 2025, the automotive OLED lighting panel market will grow to record USD 2,786 million, and indoor lighting panel market to USD 3,409 million.

Innolux Constructing Gen8.6 LCD Factory… Mass Produce 50 inch, 100 inch TV Panel

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Source = innolux

Source = innolux

Hyunjoo Kang / jjoo@olednet.com
On 26 June, Digitimes reported that Innolux, TFT-LCD panel company, is constructing the world’s first Gen8.6 LCD factory in Taiwan. Quoting the company’s associate vice president Hung Mao-sheng, Digitimes reported that Innolux will begin installation in June and could start mass production by the end of 2016.
The monthly capacity of the factory is to be 50,000 glass substrates, and expected to mass to produce TV panel for 50 inch, 58 inch, 100 inch as well as 45 inch and 23.6 inch. Hung described this company as the largest supplier of 23.6 inch and 40 inch TV panel at present.
As the average size of LCD TV is increasing, Innolux decided on the factory to maintain competitiveness and respond to market demand. It is organized into three businesses, mobile products, TV products and AII ( automotive, IT, industrial and special-use products such as medical and aviation ).
In January 2015, this company reduced its total number of employees to 68,000 from 98,000. The number of employees at LCD module production line decreased to 42,000 from 70,000,

Panel Shortage for Chinese Smartphone Industry…Supply Discussion with Taiwanese Panel Companies

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ZTE`s Smartphone (출처=GSMARENA)

ZTE`s Smartphone (출처=GSMARENA)

Hyunjoo Kang / jjoo@olednet.com

Recently, DigiTimes reported that Chinese smartphone companies are discussing supply with Taiwanese panel companies due to panel shortage. According to the report, executives of Chinese smartphone companies such as ZTE, Vivo, GiONEE, etc. and Chinese panel companies including Truly recently met with Taiwanese panel companies, AUO, Innolux, Chunghwa Pictures Tubes, etc.

The reason that Chinese smartphone companies are experiencing the panel shortage is known to be because their panel suppliers reduced smartphone panel production due to too low prices. However, DigiTimes reported that Huawei is receiving relatively sufficient amount of panels from BOE, Tianma, etc.

Meanwhile, Skyworth, one of key Chinese OLED TV selling companies, showed lower than anticipated OLED TV sales in financial year of 2015 which ended in March. Chinese media reported that this is due to insufficient supply of OLED panel from LG Display.

[SID 2016] Samsung Reveals 806 ppi VR Panel, Highest Resolution in Industry

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SDC Showcasing an 806ppi OLED Panel for VR ( San Francisco = OLEDNET )

Hyunjoo Kang / jjoo@olednet.com

Samsung Display is drawing attention with 5 inch level VR (virtual Reality) device display with the highest resolution in the industry. The company also displayed Bio Blue, which minimized blue wavelength harmful to human eye.

At Society for Information Display 2016 ( SID 2016, 22-27 May), Samsung Display drew visitors’ attention with their new panel products such as OLED for VR and rollable OLED. At the exhibition booth, Samsung Display presented new 5.5 inch panel. The panel’s resolution, 806 ppi, is the highest pixel density of the 5 inch level VR panels published so far. The resolution is 3840 x 2160 with 306 nit brightness and 97% color gamut.

SDC`s ‘Bioblue’ (Sanfrancisco = OLEDNET)

Additionally, Samsung Display revealed another OLED panel for VR named Bio Blue. Bio Blue minimized harmful blue light by adding light blue to the existing RGB pixel structure. Displaying Bio Blue, the company emphasized that OLED is better for eye health compared to LCD. Of the total blue spectrum, the proportion of blue light harmful to human eye is 66% for LCD and 32% for AMOLED. Samsung Display added that AMOLED will be able to reduce this figure to 6% in future.

Samsung Display exhibited diverse OLED panels including 5.7 inch rollable and panel for notebook use.

Japan “Catch the OLED Market”… Dai Nippon Printing to Expand OLED Evaporation Mask Capa by 3 Times

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Source = Dai Nippon Printing

Source = Dai Nippon Printing

 Hyunjoo Kang / jjoo@olednet.com

Japan’s Nikkei recently reported that Japan’s Dai Nippon Printing will expand their capa. by 3 times. Dai Nippon Printing occupies 50% of the global OLED evaporation mask market as a dominating leader of the market.

Dai Nippon Printing is planning to invest USD 54.6 million in stages until 2020. Through this, the company is striving to strengthen their position as the evaporation mask leader in the OLED market where a rapid growth is expected.

Evaporation mask is used when red, green, and blue emitting materials are coated in order to produce OLED panel production. The performance of the mask is directly related to increasing the panel resolution. Dai Nippon Printing is aiming to increase their client base in future and achieve revenue of JPY 30,000 million in 2020, which is 3 times higher than the current revenue.

Nikkei also reported that Japan’s Screen Holdings began manufacturing equipment to mass produce OLED panel. The company only handled test production manufacturing equipment, but they recently developed product compatible with Gen6 substrate, and began supplying to panel mass production line from April. The manufacturing equipment is used to coat polyimide, high performance resin to produce OLED panel.

Display related Japanese industry, following Korean and Chinese, is also busy to seize the OLED market, which is expected to rapidly grow.

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.

LED Market Revenue ↓ for First Time…2015, $14,300 Mn

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 Hyunjoo Kang / Reporter / jjoo@olednet.com

Last year, the global LED market recorded its first decrease. This is analyzed to be due to aftermath of price competition.  the spread of OLED is also one of the reason.

According to recent report of LEDinside, the global LED market recorded revenue of US$ 14.32 billion in 2015. This is a 3% fall compared to 2014, and this is the first time that this market recorded a fall.

This is judged to be due to intense price competition from the oversupply. In fact, 2015 LED’s ASP (average selling price) fell by over 40% compared to 2014 due to price competition.

Along with this, OLED lighting market growth is also becoming one of the factors in LED market depression.

OLED lighting panel is more expensive, and still has technical issues. However, it is light and flexible, and technical issues are gradually improving; OLED lighting market is continuously growing. Above all, that it can create a new market that did not exist in the existing lighting sector is receiving much attention.

IDTechEx forecasts that the OLED lighting panel market will reach US$ 1.8 billion in 2025.

 

 

LCD or OLED…JDI CTO “Will Seize Mobile Market though LTPS”

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JDI’s CTO Emphasizing LTPS Technology(Tokyo=OLEDNET)

Hyunjoo Kang / Reporter / jjoo@olednet.com

As a response strategy for the future smartphone display market, Japan Display (JDI) nominated LTPS evolution. This is to continue the position that JDI achieved within the LCD market through LTPS technology in the OLED market using Advanced backplane technology.

JDI’s CTO, Hiroyuki Ohshima gave a keynote speech titled Future Perspective for Small to Medium-sized Displays in FineTech Japan 2016 (April 6-8), and emphasized that they will continue developing backplane technology prowess.

Furthermore, Ohshima stressed that whether the mobile display’s frontplane is IPS LCD or OLED, the key backplane technology is LTPS. he explained that unlike LCD’s stabilized technology, OLED still has issues that need to be solved such as high uniformity and stability. However, he added that OLED is the best technology to achieve flexible display comparing the merits of LCD and OLED.

Ohshima told the attendees that LTPS is a widely used technology applied to both LCD and OLED, has high electron mobility compared to other TFT technology, and high resolution, low power, etc. are possible. From 2015, JDI has been using 60 Hz Gen1 LTPS technology, and expected to use 30 Hz Gen2 Advanced LTPS from 2016, and Gen3 with 15 – 5 Hz from 2017. The evolved technology can greatly reduce energy consumption compared to the previous versions of the technology.

Furthermore, Ohshima is planning to respond to the small to medium-sized display market by developing in-cell touch, low power technology, etc. He added that small to medium-sized display, represented by smartphone, requires the integration of developed technology

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.

[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.

Life of OLED lighting panel, to reach LED

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The life of OLED lighting panel is improving equal to the level of LED (more than 50,000 hours).

According to the NIKKEI report, Kaneka developed the OLED lighting panel with a lifetime of 50,000 hours. The panel is 8×8 cm in size and 1 mm thick, and samples are shipped to some lighting companies. Applying enhanced Blue material, the color change due to thermalization has dropped under 40% and the price is about the same.

KANEKA is producing OLED lighting panel with an annual capacity of about 20,000 panels. In the Lighting fair 2013, the company exhibited OLED lighting panels of 50x50mm and 80x80mm sizes in diverse colors of white, yellow, red, green, and blue which are currently sold at about 4,000 yen for the 50x50mm panel and 6,000 yen for the 80x80mm panel.

The OLED lighting panel with the longest lifetime on sale is LG Chem.’s 100x100mm panel with 80lm/W and 50,000 hours.

The UBI Research issued “2014 OLED lighting Report” prospecting the OLED lighting panel market to be open actively from 2015 and reach about US $ 4,700 million by 2020.

 

<Kaneka announced OLED lighting at Lighting fair 2013>

 

reporter@olednet.co.kr