What They Say
The Elec published an extended article that included a substantial interview with UBI Research CEO Choong Hoon Yi. The article covers the technology of FMM. It also highlights that although Samsung would like to be able to buy FMMs from a Korean supplier, rather than DNP of Japan, there is a high risk if it is to break its exclusive contract with the Japanese firm. Yi estimates that investment of at least $88 million would be needed by alternative suppliers, but there are many challenges highlighted in the article.
What We Think
The article has lots of detail on the challenges of making and using FMMs.
The OLED industry has developed very differently from the LCD market. On the one hand, the LCD market developed very rapidly as suppliers, materials and technologies were broadly shared, so many companies came in, but profits have turned out to be difficult to win in the long term. In contrast, Samsung has worked hard to keep its technology to itself and to lock up suppliers and equipment makers to exclusive deals, where it could. That is leading to a much more differentiated market.
The challenges of making and using FMMs has been a long term challenge for the OLED industry. Over the years, I have heard many proposals for alternative deposition methods, but still it is the key one. (BR)
UBI Research CEO Choong Hoon Yi
