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Samsung SDI will Change PM OLED line 2008/12/05 By Seo, Han Samsung SDI will withdraw in phase from PM OLED business. The maker is considering the way to change existing production line into for other use like lighting panel production. Such decision was made because in mobile phone market, its only market, it has been fallen behind LCD and AM OLED and decreasing panel prices have worsened profitability. In last year, LGD suspended all PM OLED business, and Samsung SDI’s decision this time will leave only NeoView KOLON, heralding disappearance of PM OLED market. According to the industry on December 3, the subsidiary of the maker, Samsung Mobile Display (temporary title) will gradually withdraw from PM OLED business and began considering using Busan production line for other usage. An insider of SDI said, “PM OLED business is losing profitability, so we need to change current production line into for other use and we are looking at alternatives. We haven’t made decision to whether suspend PM OLED business entirely or which products will be produced in that line.” The world PM OLED market recorded minus growth in both shipment and revenue for the first time last year. This year has seen the same trend. PM OLED line operation rate for Busan line for 3Q was only 67%. Samsung SDI is considering mass-producing OLED panel for lighting in 2G (370㎜*470㎜) second production line in Busan plant. It recently began R&D. To produce OLED panel for lighting, current PM OLED line is useable only with white organic deposition process adding without large investment. Market potential is huge. White OLED panel has high brightness and low power and light emitting, so it was already commercialized in cell phone and car lighting. LG Chemical introduced recently 2G R&D equipment with considering lighting OLED panel business. A Samsung SDI insider said, “Lighting OLED business is only one to be considered. We will make a decision after fully looking at marketability and investment efficiency.” Once, the maker was leader along with Taiwan’s Rit Display, but as recently business has been contracted, Japan and Taiwan panel makers are dividing the market. NeoView KOLON is shipping bout 500,000 PM OLED panels a month on average.