What Display Daily says: The TCL Group has been active in medical imaging for over a decade and it has some reach beyond China into places like South America. It seems as if the best conclusion we can draw from this news is TCL CSOT is going to get to test run its OLED displays in a highly regulated, technically stringent, market segment but one where prices are high, margins are high, and volumes are low.
It feels like a very soft launch for the company and a way to strictly manage a rollout of its OLED inkjet printing. It also suggests that the company is probably behind on its ability to deliver competitive products into the IT display market to go up against Samsung and BOE.
It’s a very cautious approach by TCL CSOT. The company has staked a lot of its image on its inkjet printing process but there was always a chance that it was not going to match up to traditional FMM production methods being used by the competition. So, despite the potential benefits of inkjet printing, such as improved material efficiency and reduced complexity in substrate handling, is the economic feasibility a concern? TCL CSOT is probably trying to figure that out for itself. It doesn’t sound like they have an answer, yet.
TCL’s Plans for OLED Inkjet Printing Line
TCL CSOT taking its next steps in the OLED market by starting production of its flagship inkjet-printed OLED technology on its T8 project by the end of 2024. According to The Elec, CSOT plans to use inkjet printing technology to produce 21.6-inch OLEDs intended for medical devices. The company anticipates broadening its range of inkjet-printed OLED models in 2025.
TCL CSOT is currently operating a Gen 5.5 production line that employs inkjet printing. This line was equipped with technology acquired from JOLED when it filed for bankruptcy in 2023. Despite having proven technology, the economic viability of the line is limited due to the smaller number of panels it can produce per run. BOE and Samsung have invested heavily in Gen 8.6 FMM OLED production lines. The FMM method is significantly more productive than inkjet printing in terms of panel output. For example, one glass plate in a 5.5-generation FMM production line can produce 24 14-inch panels, whereas an 8.6-generation FMM line can produce 88 panels. This means the 8.6-generation line can produce 3.7 times more panels than the 5.5-generation line using inkjet printing.
TCL CSOT’s T8 project, aimed at establishing a Gen 8.5 production line, is crucial for scaling up the inkjet printing capabilities. TCL CSOT plans to make a decision regarding the progression of the T8 project by the end of 2024, with a focus on expanding its product offerings and market presence. The T8 project was first announced in 2020, with initial construction set to begin in 2021 and mass production aimed for 2024.
In theory, inkjet printing has a lot to offer, and may be worth the risk for TCL CSOT. In the FMM method, the substrate is cut and deposited after TFT process, which can complicate the manufacturing process and increase the chances of defects. Conversely, inkjet printing does not require cutting the substrate after the TFT process, potentially streamlining production and reducing waste.mInkjet printing allows for the precise injection of organic materials directly into the required pixels, improving material efficiency. This method can theoretically be performed under low vacuum conditions. As a result, Inkjet printing has a higher chamfer rate compared to FMM. In theory, we should all be hoping for inkjet printing to deliver on its promise, but there seems to be some trepidation on the part of TCL CSOT.
