China TCL "Printing Method" Ambition to bet on mass production of large OLED Factory construction in 2022, aiming to break the monopoly of LG Korea

TCL Huawei Photoelectric Technology (CSOT), a major display panel company in China, is approaching the world's first mass production of large organic EL displays (OLED) by "printing method". On November 16th, Zhao Army, the company's COO (Chief Operating Officer), said in an interview with the media including Fortune Shin, "The mass production project for printing OLEDs is proceeding as planned."

CSOT is a subsidiary of TCL Technology Group, a major Chinese television company. In April 2021, TCL Technology Group raised up to 12 billion yuan (about 215 billion yen) through a third-party allotment and built an 8.6th generation liquid crystal panel production line using oxide semiconductors in Guangzhou City, Guangdong Province. Then announced. At the same time, it announced that it is considering the construction of an 8.5th generation OLED panel production line using a printing method. Construction of a printing OLED factory is expected to begin in 2022, according to a reporter.

OLED panels are even thinner than LCD panels, and it is possible to manufacture flexible panels that can be curved or bent. The market share of OLED is increasing year by year in the small panel market, and OLED is already the mainstream among high-end smartphone models.

30 billion yen for capital tie-up with JOLED in Japan

On the other hand, the share of OLED is sluggish mainly in large panels for TVs. The supply of large OLED panels continues to be virtually monopolized by LG Display, a Korean manufacturer. However, it is difficult to significantly reduce the cost of manufacturing by the "evaporation method" adopted by LG. According to Mr. Zhao of CSOT, OLED's share in the TV panel market is less than 5%.

Therefore, CSOT is trying to break the monopoly of LG display by using the printing method as a weapon. According to the company's explanation, the printing method has a simpler manufacturing process than the vapor deposition method, which is advantageous for cost reduction and yield improvement. However, it is said that advanced know-how is required for materials, manufacturing equipment, process control, etc. only for new technology.

The development of the printing method OLED was originally preceded by JOLED, a Japanese organic EL panel maker, and the first mass production shipment started in March 2021. However, its products are limited to medium-sized panels (such as for medical monitors). In 2020, TCL Technology Group invested a total of 30 billion yen to conclude a capital and business alliance agreement with JOLED and deepened its technical cooperation.

(New reporter: Shoki Susumu) * The original text will be delivered on November 17th.

Receive the latest published article by Zaishin Biz & Tech by email (following the author)