The Ontario and Canadian governments are supporting a $40 million investment by Waterloo-based start-up VueReal with $10.5 million in joint funding. To be clear, that sounds like the $33 million that VueReal has already raised plus the government’s injection of a further $10.5 million. This investment will enhance local manufacturing, foster cleantech innovation, and create 75 new jobs. Ontario’s Minister of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade, Vic Fedeli, expressed confidence in the province’s workforce and advanced manufacturing sector, while Canada’s Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry, François-Philippe Champagne, emphasized the importance of supporting cleantech entrepreneurs.
The investment will expand VueReal’s operations by increasing manufacturing capacity and accelerating MicroLED fabrication processes. Ontario is supporting this investment with $2 million through Invest Ontario, while the Canadian government is contributing $8.5 million via Sustainable Development Technology Canada (SDTC), marking the second SDTC investment in VueReal.
VueReal’s Micro-Solid printing technology offers several advantages in the MicroLED display manufacturing process. One of the key benefits is the improvement in yield and throughput. The technology employs a multi-cartridge transfer system that enables simultaneous printing of more than 100 cartridges at once. Coupled with the use of a single RGB cartridge to print red, green, and blue MicroLEDs, this approach can enhance throughput by over three times compared to traditional methods.
Another notable advantage of Micro-Solid printing technology is the significant reduction in repair costs. By integrating an inspection cartridge with existing transfer tools, the technology allows for the identification of defects, binning for performance, and protection of microLEDs during the printing process. This integration can lead to a tenfold decrease in repair costs, making the manufacturing of MicroLED displays more cost-effective.
The compatibility of VueReal’s technology with various MicroLED types, such as lateral, vertical, and flip chips, is also a crucial feature. Additionally, the technology is suitable for MicroLEDs smaller than five microns, enabling its use in a wide range of applications, including TVs, smartphones, watches, and automotive displays. This broad compatibility demonstrates the potential for VueReal’s Micro-Solid printing technology to transform the MicroLED display market.
One of the unique aspects of VueReal’s approach is the company’s patented continuous pixelation solution. This innovation allows for the creation of high-resolution displays, with the company successfully demonstrating a 30,000 PPI LED array. This level of resolution is far beyond what current display technologies can achieve, potentially setting a new standard for display quality.
In 2021, VueReal started sales of its Micro-Solid printing technology, targeting applications in smartphones, tablets, IT, automotive, and TV industries. The ability to use original mother glasses for these applications and the compatibility with sub-10 micron MicroLEDs make VueReal’s printing solution a potentially disruptive force in the display manufacturing industry. Back in 2020, Display Daily had covered VueReal at Display Week 2020 and said while other companies are also working on innovative MicroLED manufacturing techniques, VueReal’s unique approach in printing, inspection, and compatibility demonstrates a promising future for the company and its Micro-Solid printing technology.
Seems like things are moving along nicely for the company.
