LG started AMOLED production in their new Gen-4.5 line, could launch OLED TVs at the end of 2011 or 2012

LG Display have started mass production of small AMOLED displays in their new Gen-4.5 line. The plant is currently producing 4,000 substrates a month (this will increase to 12,000 by the end of the year - which is about 1.5m 3" displays a month). This production line was announced back in April 2010 with a $225 million investment. A couple of weeks ago it was reported that Nokia will buy AMOLEDs from LG, and LG says it signed contracts with 3 other companies (besides Nokia and LG Electronics).

LG plans for the future are a big confusing. The company originally planned to build a Gen-5.5 OLED plant, but this has changed. The plan now is skip straight to a Gen-8 plant in early 2013 that will make large size panels for OLED TVs (the 2013 timeline for OLED TVs is consistent with earlier reports). The company could launch OLED TVs as early as the end of 2011 (or beginning of 2012) using the existing Gen-4.5 line, these will not be cost effective so it's not clear whether they'll actually do it.

The total investment in OLEDs in 2011 will be $720 million US - which will be used to increase the capacity of the Gen-4.5 line and to start working on the Gen-8 line.

Posted: Feb 01,2011 by Ron Mertens