QD-OLED 생산라인이 위치한 삼성디스플레이 아산캠퍼스 전경./삼성디스플레이 제공
Samsung Display: Falling into an investment dilemma!
– 150 billion yen for one OLED vapor deposition machine in Japan –
Korean Samsung Display:
By 2026, it announced a plan to invest 4.1 trillion won (400 billion yen) in organic EL (OLED) production lines.
However, it became clear that “Samsung’s OLED process vapor deposition equipment and price negotiations are not going well.”
Korean economic newspaper Chosun Biz:
On May 12, according to Chosun Biz, a South Korean economic newspaper, “Japan’s Canon Tokki offered a price of more than 1.5 trillion won (150 billion yen) per vapor deposition device.”
Samsung Display and LG Display are concerned that the burden of OLED equipment investment will increase, making it difficult to guarantee medium- to long-term profitability.
Samsung Display or LG Display:
The two companies will ramp up their own investment in line with Apple’s adoption of OLEDs.
However, it is unclear whether the investment schedule and production capacity can be sufficiently secured.
Essential processes in OLED panel manufacturing:
The vapor deposition process is essential in OLED panel manufacturing as it heats the organic material in a vacuum and attaches it to the panel substrate.
The vapor deposition method includes a method of evaporating an organic material with a substrate set upright and a method of evaporating an organic substance with a substrate placed horizontally.
ULVAC Japan vertical deposition equipment:
Samsung Display said, “Initially, we plan to introduce Japan’s ULVAC vertical deposition equipment with a new deposition process.”
However, since Apple showed a sense of refusal due to technical issues, Samsung changed to “introducing Canon’s horizontal deposition equipment.”
Canon’s horizontal vapor deposition equipment:
According to Josungbiz, “Canon Tokki is fully aware that its equipment will suit Apple’s tastes.”
That’s why “Canon Tokki demands high prices from Samsung.”
Samsung Display is also considering changing to Korea’s Sonic System and US Applied Materials’ vapor deposition equipment.
A comment was posted by a Korean netizen. (*See Naver News comment)
South Korea has only grown in size. All core materials and parts are overseas products, and we pay high royalties.
Japan dominates the world’s factory automation and boasts the world’s highest return on investment.
South Korea is nothing more than a production power, and is still far from catching up with Japan’s basic technology.
– KOREA ECONOMICS