Digitimes Research has released new information regarding large-scale display panel production.
The company has summarised what various panel-makers are planning with their new G10.5 production lines, including BOE, CSOT, Sakai Display Products (SDP) and LG.
These new G10.5 facilities are prioritising panels for 65″ and above 4K and 8K high-end displays. China’s BOE began construction of its $6.25 billion 10.5-Gen fab in December 2015 and is aiming to begin mass production in the second quarter of 2018, with a target of 120,000 glass substrates per month. The company has also been demonstrating prototypes of 8K panels (as we reported at SID).
Fellow Chinese vendor, CSOT, also plans to turn out 120,000 glass substrates every month, but will only aim for half of that number initially when its $8.12 billion G10.5 facility commences operations in the first half of 2019. CSOT will develop 43-75″ LCD and OLED panels for 8K displays.
The company said that another Chinese manufacturer, HKC, has had to abandon its strategy for a G10.5-Gen fab after failing to gain local government approval.
SDP has signed a framework agreement with the government of Guangzhou, China, to establish a $9.2 billion G10.5 facility producing 90,000 substrates per month, creating 8K panels for manufacturing displays, smart TVs, interactive whiteboards and other high-end display products. SDP is aiming to open the new facility by the end of 2019.
Meanwhile, in Korea, LG is on course to commence operations at its P10 factor in Paju, South Korea, in the first half of 2018. The $9 billion factory will produce large-sized OLED panels for the TV market, as well as flexible panels for in-car systems, smartphones and smartwatches.
The report also reiterated that LG will likely convert more and more of its existing TFT LCD facilities to OLED fabs over time.
