According to news website Korea Times LG Display is reported to begin mass producing plastic OLED (POLED) panels in the first half of next year. POLED panels use substrates made of plastic so the display is bendable, rollable and foldable.
LG Display has begun the installation and commissioning of manufacturing equipment for POLED panels at its E5 production line in Gumi, North Gyeongsang Province, which the company says is part of its aggressive investment drive to be a first mover in mass producing such next-generation display panels.
A group of 200 representatives and corporate executives from LG Display's partner companies joined together to celebrate the company's acceptance of the POLED-manufacturing equipment.
LG Display has invested a total of 18 trillion won (US$15.44 billion) in the Gumi manufacturing facility since 1995.
The company will conduct a pilot test for the new equipment this year before starting to supply POLED displays to its clients within the first half of next year, the company said.
The new equipment will be placed at the firm's E5 production line for which LG Display invested 1.5 trillion won in July last year in its bid to meet growing demand for flexible displays used for such products as smartphones and automobiles.
Gumi City is reported to offer substantial tax incentives in return for the firm's bid to revitalise the regional economy.
The investment drive is expected to make a huge contribution in generating new jobs and revenue sources for the people of Gumi, which is suffering under the economic slowdown, said LG Display.
Jeong Cheol-dong, LG Display Chief Production Officer (CPO), said, "In the display industry, bringing in core manufacturing equipment has a symbolic connotation as a successful investment drive." Jeong Cheol-dong added, "The latest move will allow the Gumi plant to become a key venue to manufacture small- and medium-sized POLED displays."