Samsung is considering investing $2.5-4 billion in a new OLED factory. The Korean company will reintroduce OLED TVs no later than 2018, according to several reports out of Korea.
Samsung plans comeback in OLED TVs
Samsung is currently promoting its “SUHD” sub-brand of LCD TVs as a competitor to OLED TVs. However, behind the scenes the company is scrambling to re-enter the OLED TV market that it embarrassingly had to forfeit to LG a few years ago.
Samsung is currently in late-stage testing of production technologies for OLED TVs, according to Korean media reports. The company will decide whether to go ahead with mass-production plans in May.
Samsung is reportedly planning to invest between 3 and 5 trillion won (2.5 to 4.15 billion USD) in an 8-gen OLED factory. Such a factory would be capable of producing large-size OLED TVs in 55 inch sizes and above. They are considering using a combination of CVD deposition and inkjet printing for production, and are planning to use WRGB OLED pixels, like LG. However, there are some conflicting reports on the choice of WRGB since LG holds all the relevant patents.
If Samsung decides to go ahead with its investment it will enable them to mass-produce OLED TVs “next year at the earliest and no later than 2018”.
In related news, Samsung has confirmed a plan to double capacity at its plant that produces flexible OLED displays for phones and wearables. Capacity will double from 15,000 substrates per month to 30,000 and the expansion should be ready by early 2017.
- Source: ETNews, Pulsenews, Business Korea, Korea Times via OLED-Info.com
