JOLED has announced they will be establishing JOLED Nomi Site in Nomi City, Ishikawa Prefecture on July 1, 2018 for the mass production of printed OLED displays.
According to the announcement this will be the world's first mass production plant for printed OLED. JOLED aims to commence production in 2020.
The JOLED Nomi Site, will initial with a monthly production capability of approximately 20,000 Gen 5.5 glass substrates (1300 mm × 1500 mm), is planned to become JOLED’s main production site. Initial panel production will focus on mid-size 10-inch to 32-inch printed OLED displays for use in areas such as automotive displays and high-end monitors.
JOLED has been pursuing the research and development of printed OLED as well as establishing technology for their mass production ever since being founded in 2015.
A Gen 4.5 (730 mm × 920 mm) pilot line was opened at Ishikawa Technology Development Center in 2016. Currently, 21.6-inch 4K high-resolution OLED displays produced at this pilot line are being shipped for use in medical and high-end monitors.
JOLED - to further expand this business - embarked on establishing a mass production plant with an even bigger production line.
JOLED Nomi Site was originally Japan Display's Nomi Plant acquired from Innovation Network Corporation of Japan.
However, to maximise existing facilities, a new building for production and additional facilities will be built to accommodate the new production line for manufacturing OLED displays.
JOLED is using its research and development capability for achieving the commercialization of OLED displays produced using the RGB printing method and manufacturing expertise to achieve the early launch of a mass production line and efficient production as well as establish JOLED’s display panels in the market for OLED panels.
Overview of JOLED Nomi Site
| Date of establishment | July 1, 2018 |
| Location | 1-47, Iwauchimachi, Nomi City, Ishikawa Prefecture |
| Site area | Approximately 100,000㎡ |
| Floor area | 104,000㎡, five stories (after completion of new building) |
| Start of production | 2020 (plan) |
| Production line | Printed OLED displays (substrate size G5.5 [1300 mm × 1500 mm]) |
| Production capability | 20,000 sheets/month (based on glass substrate input) |
About printed OLED displays
Characterized by their simple structure, ultra-thin profile, and light weight, OLEDs are gaining attention as next-generation displays that can deliver superb picture quality.
The printing method, which is one of the methods for manufacturing OLED displays, is a technology in which OLED materials are applied to the substrate through a printing technique to form an electroluminescent (EL) layer.
Due to the simplicity of the production process, it is expected that this technology will be easily adaptable to OLED production in various screen sizes.
JOLED plans to popularize its printed OLED displays in the medium-sized OLED market in which the current mainstream chemical vapor deposition method is considered difficult to use.
Source: JOLED