Mass Production of the 5th Generation LCD

TFT-LCD has come up a mass production era of the 5th generation.

Samsung Electronics started the production and export of TFT-LCD products applying the 5th generation board in Cheonan factory, Chungnam on September 25. Since LG Phillips LCD operated the 5th generation line for the first time in the world in May, it has exceeded approx. 1000000 accumulated outputs on September 24.

As two companies have operated the 5th generation line which has higher productivity than the 4th generation, they defeated their competitors of LCD companies in Taiwan and Japan. Samsung Electronics, the first in the world market of LCD for notebook, and LG Phillips LCD, the first in the world market of LCD for PC will vie with each other in the LCD of 17 inch and 18.1 inch, which is the main product of the 5th generation.

Samsung Electronics said that the 5th generation production line (1100X1250㎜, a glass board size) can produce twelve 17 inch LCDs and six 24 inch LCDs and so the productivity will double the 4th generation (730X920㎜, six 17 inch LCDs).

Samsung Electronics plans to accelerate the panel production for 17-inch monitor which becomes the major force of PC monitor market through operating the 5th generation line. Samsung Electronics said that LCD for notebook caught up with by a ratio of 6 to 4, as the LCD production for PC monitor has increased to 19300000 units from 980000 units last year. Especially, 17-inch products have increased largely.

Besides, LG Phillips LCD plans to increase the production of 18.1 inch LCD against the demand increase of the large sized products. Over 80% of products produced by the 5th generation line are Premium 18.1 inch.

LG Phillips LCD said “Gumi Factory 4 which is the 5th LCD production line has shown high yield rate of over 80% in spite of short operation period, and has produced LCD products for monitor to monthly average 200000 units stably.”

Yeon-Su Shin ysshin@donga.com