Japan’s Dai Nippon Printing (DNP) has reportedly signed an agreement to supply BOE Display with fine metal masks for patterning OLED materials. This follows the news that DNP has terminated the exclusivity of its contract with Samsung Display.
BOE is only able to develop OLEDs with resolution of full HD level (1920×1080). However, when BOE applies DNP’s shadow masks, they believe that they will quickly be able to develop panels with resolution of QHD (2560×1440), which is enough to create the latest smartphone displays. BOE will now upgrade its production to higher-end displays using DNP’s masks.
Samsung, meanwhile, is said to be developing its own shadow masks, in collaboration with Korean Wave Electronics and TGO Tech and possibly may face some technical challenges before it can mass produce its own OLED shadow masks.
BOE recently started producing flexible OLEDs at the company’s new 6-Gen fab in Chengdu. BOE’s new fab has a capacity of 45,000 monthly substrates, which is enough to make around 90 million smartphone sized AMOLEDs annually. It is believed that only pilot production runs are taking pace currently with full production starting by the end of the year.
