What They Say
The Elec looked at the market for OLED deposition equipment and asked if Canon Tokki could continue to dominate in G8 as it has in previous generations as both Samsung Display (SDC) and LG Display (LGD) try to work with other partners. SDC is working with Ulvac on a ‘full cut’ vertical deposition system for its G8 fab for IT OLEDs, but Apple is said to favour Canon. The Ulvac equipment would initially make single stack OLEDs, although Apple is said to favour tandem devices, which SDC will make later. (The Elec previously reported that SDC & Ulvac were disagreeing over equipment pricing – Samsung & Ulvac Clash over Equipment Pricing)
LGD, on the other hand, may be forced by its dependence on Apple to give up work it has been doing with Sunic Systems, the blog said, and switch to Canon, which has said that it will develop the equipment on its own once it has orders. The Elec suggests this is to avoid co-development with a panel maker leading to exclusivity arrangements.
BOE is said to be planning to use the Canon equipment.
What We Think
The development of OLED has always been based around restrictive development, by SDC and LGD, where possible, as the lesson of the LCD business has been that sharing leads to huge success and growth for the industry in terms of penetration and share of the technology, but little or no profit for panel makers.
DSCC reported recently that Tokki had installed an early vertical evaporation tool at EDO in China.
Correction: DSCC reported recently that Ulvac had installed a Vacuum Thermal Evaporation tool at EDO in China. (Q2’22 Display Equipment Supplier Revenues Fall to Lowest Since Q2’20, Should Rebound in Q3’22) (BR)
