Image Name

Company News

Media reports

Industry News

Japan’s DNP announced the commissioning of its eighth-generation FMM production line for OLED panels.

Release date:

2024-06-14 09:08

Source:

　　Japan’s DNP has begun mass production of fine metal masks (FMM) for eighth-generation organic light-emitting diode (OLED) displays. Last month, DNP announced the launch of a new FMM production line at its Kurosaki Plant in Kitakyushu, Fukuoka Prefecture, dedicated to manufacturing FMMs for eighth-generation OLED panels.

Comparison of DNP’s 8th-generation (left) and 6th-generation FMMs. Source: DNP

　　FMM is a critical component of the deposition process in OLED manufacturing. It is a thin metal sheet featuring tens of millions of micro‑holes, each 20 to 30 micrometers (μm) in size, which enable precise deposition of OLED materials onto the substrate. Since OLED displays emit light by depositing organic materials, the accuracy of material deposition is of paramount importance. The manufacturing technology for FMM is extremely challenging, and DNP virtually holds a monopoly in this field.

Principle of the deposition process using FMM Source: DNP

　　The company did not disclose specific customers, but Samsung Display, which is currently building an 8.6‑generation OLED panel production line, is a strong candidate. The 8.6‑generation OLED line represents Samsung Display’s first foray into high‑generation OLED panels; although BOE and Visionox have already announced investment plans, to date only Samsung Display has procured deposition equipment for this line.

　　In March, Samsung Display installed its first vapor-deposition equipment at its 8.6-generation OLED production line in Asan, South Chungcheong Province, and plans to complete the initial shipments from the other facilities within the year. Trial operations are expected to begin next year, and DNP has reportedly already started manufacturing FMMs for this purpose.

　　The company stated that, starting with the full-scale production launch at the Kurosaki plant, it plans to double its FMM capacity.

Previous page

Suffering a staggering 14.3 billion in losses! This major Japanese manufacturer is cutting 4,000 jobs worldwide, and a polarizer production line in Taiwan is set to shut down—here’s the company’s response...

Next page

In the first half of 2024, LGD, Everdisplay, and Tianma are expected to account for a combined 53% of smartwatch OLED shipments, with Chinese manufacturers contributing 64% of the total.

Related News