SEC running world¡¯s largest TFT-LCD line

Samsung Electronics (SEC) revealed on August 16 that it began running the world¡¯s largest TFT-LCD production line, using fourth-generation boards, at its Tianjin plant.

The new line will produce 27 pieces of TFT-LCDs a month and together with Samsung Electronics¡¯ Kiheung plant, will produce 120 pieces in the 14.1-inch standard every month.

An official from SEC asserted that the production capacity of the new line will double to 54 pieces a month by next year, and thus the company will secure an annual production capacity of 1,500 pieces.

The fourth generation board that SEC has used on the new line can produce 9 pieces of 14.1-inch standard, 6 pieces of 17-inch, and 4 pieces of 21.3-inch TFT-LCDs, which are said to be far more cost effective than the existing 3.5 generation boards. With the help of this new production line, the company is looking at 3 trillion and 300 billion won in sales, an increase of 30% from last year in the TFT-LCD business. Moreover, SEC is planning to begin constructing fifth-generation boards by the end of this year. SEC asserted that it is fully utilizing all its production lines to meet demand for 14.1-inch products for notebook computers that has far exceeded supply, thanks to a rapidly growing market.

Hong Suk-Min smhong@donga.com