On October 21, TCL CSOT officially began construction – one month ahead of schedule – of its new 8.6-generation OLED production facility in Guangzhou, China.
Last month, after months of rumors, TCL confirmed its $4.15 billion investment in the T8 project.
The new 8.6G plant will use a novel inkjet printing method to manufacture OLED panels – it is the world's first.
Printed OLED panels
With its T8 factory, TCL CSOT is entering into direct competition with LG Display and Samsung Display in the OLED panel market for mid-size devices. These panels are expected to be used in products from TCL and other major brands.
- "Our t8 production line marks a breakthrough for the global display industry, showcasing technological capabilities and market potential in the high-generation AMOLED sector," said Jun Zhao, SVP of TCL Technology and CEO of TCL CSOT. "By bringing together the entire value chain, from foundational materials to final product assembly, we are building a fully integrated, end-to-end industrial cluster designed to compete on a global scale."
By using inkjet printing for OLED production, TCL aims to reduce manufacturing costs (by 20% reportedly) while delivering high-performance, high-resolution and energy-efficient RGB OLED panels.
- "It is wonderful to see the baton of printed OLED handed over to TCL. This has been the very best possible journey for the technology, and I’m so excited to see it move forward into its next very successful phase," said Prof. Sir Richard Henry Friend, Founder of Solution-Processed OLED and Director of Research at the Department of Physics, University of Cambridge.
The world's first dual-folding 4K display, a 28-inch OLED. Photo: TCL CSOT$4 billion investment
T8 represents a $4.15 billion investment in OLED manufacturing. The facility will have the capacity to produce 22,500 8.6G substrates per month (2290mm x 2620mm), which can be cut into smaller panels.
The company reiterated that initial production will focus on "high-end displays for tablets, laptops, and monitors". No update was provided on the plans for TV panels.
Also read: Cheaper OLED TVs expected in 2026
Mass production is scheduled for 2027.
Global OLED panel shipments are projected to grow from 1.01 billion units in 2024 to 1.33 billion by 2030.
