A new round of OLED arms race kicked off in small and medium size or into a breakthrough in China's panel industry

For Chinese LC D panel companies that have not yet established themselves in the high-generation LC D panel field, it is rushing to follow up with O LEDs, or to follow up on the high-generation LC D, and the industry is controversial. Big.

An industry insider who did not want to be named said that Samsung, LG and other first-line panel makers vigorously promoted O LED. It is hoped that second- and third-tier manufacturers will be forced to escalate and be forced to fight fatigue and fight capital war. "Chinese panel companies should not keep up with the pace of giants such as Samsung, but should make more fuss about small and medium-sized O LEDs, accumulate technology and experience, and large-scale production lines should not enter too early."

Japanese and Korean companies launch O LED offensive

As a monopolist of OLED technology, Korean panel giants Samsung and LG have been increasing the speed of OLED production capacity since last year. It is reported that Samsung and LG will mass-produce OLEDs in the second half of this year. It is also reported that the Samsung 8.5 generation line and LG Guangzhou 8.5-generation LCD panel lines, which have just started construction, will be transformed into OLED panel factories in the next few years. Samsung Electronics executives said that the LCD TV market competition is too crowded. In the case of unable to continue to create profits, LCD TV is bound to be eliminated, and O LE DTV is the best choice to drive market growth.

Korean companies are aggressive on O LE D, and Japanese companies have to adopt a follow-up strategy. Not long ago, Japanese electronics giants Sony, Hitachi and Toshiba merged the small and medium-sized panel business into a joint venture, JapanD isplay, to promote the development of the small and medium-sized O LED industry.

In addition, Panasonic and Sharp are also interested in producing O LE D panels. Panasonic plans to invest 2 to 30 billion yen in the production of O LE D panels using the Himeji factory that produces LCD panels in two years. However, Panasonic will use the 6th generation line technology instead of the 8.5 generation line technology to mass produce OLED screens, and Panasonic plans to fully realize mass production in 2015.

Chinese companies should not blindly follow up

Faced with the aggressive posture of Korean manufacturers in the O LE D field and the follow-up strategy of Japanese companies, panel companies in China are caught in a dilemma. Through years of hard work, China's inland panel industry has made a foothold in the high-generation LCD panel field, and Korean manufacturers have burned the flames into the OLED field, which makes Chinese panel companies very embarrassing.

An expert from the Guangdong Flat Panel Display Industry Promotion Association said that the current domestic panel makers are not suitable for large-scale entry into O LE D, but should be entered in an orderly manner, otherwise it will result in over-investment and overcapacity. “O LE D technology is not an advantage of Chinese companies. It is not suitable for all enterprises. It should be a company with strength, conditions and market opportunities.”

Li Yaqin, the director of Qunzhi Consulting Research, also stressed that the timing of entering O LE D can not be overdone at any time. The key question is whether the reserves of technology, talents and patents are in place. Obviously, the preparation work of Chinese panel companies in the above-mentioned links is still not mature.

However, Li Qiuwei, general manager of Aowei Consulting, said that it is now an opportunity for domestic panel makers to enter OLED. "Because if we don't follow up now, we will fall behind in the next generation of display technology. On the LCD panel, it is not closely followed, and the country is about 3 years behind; now OLED is only one year behind, and should be quickly entered."

Small or medium size or breakout direction

O LE D is regarded as the representative of next-generation display technology. The transition from LCD to OLED is the trend of the times. The industry expects that the cost of O LED will be in line with LC D by 2018. Ouyang Zhongcan, an academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, once said that O LE D's status as the leader of next-generation TV display technology has been unshakable. If the technology reserves and resources are not built well, the future will inevitably be settled, and China will respond to the O LE D industry. Proactive technology layout is necessary.

Can not blindly follow the trend, but not too far behind, how should Chinese panel companies respond?

Experts from the Guangdong Flat Panel Display Industry Promotion Association suggested that domestic panel companies should start with small and medium-sized O LEDs and make breakthroughs in this field. "Now we can keep up with the small size O LE D. The small size terminal has advantages in manufacturing in China. We start from a small size and can absorb mature technology, craftsmanship and talents. The large-size technology and market are still immature. Size is not our advantage, if it is forced to go, the risk is greater and more terrible."

Li Yaqin also said that the OLED industry has high investment, long capital recovery cycle and fierce market fluctuations. Therefore, investment must be cautious, and the timing of selection and technical route selection are very important. Chinese panel makers should develop their strengths and avoid weaknesses, first gaining a foothold in the small and medium size field, and then expanding to large size.

In addition, since the core technology of OLED is mainly in the hands of Korean companies, many experts have stated that the Korean government has adopted a strict control policy on the export of high and new technology. It is impossible for Korean companies to transfer these core technologies to China in the near future. The so-called Samsung and LG will not convert the LCD 8.5 generation line under construction in China into the O LED production line. This also means that Chinese panel companies need to make arduous innovations in the breakthrough of O LE D core technology.