On December 26, Sony announced the end of S-LCD, their joint venture with Samsung, which entails Gen 7 and 8 TFT LCD fabs. The joint venture, which started in 2004 and was strengthened through agreements and investments in 2006, 2007 and 2008, was owned 50% (+1 share) by Samsung and 50% (-1 share) by Sony, and was the largest joint venture in TFT LCD industry. Continue Reading
Author Archives: David Hsieh
About David Hsieh
David is the Vice President, Greater China Market for DisplaySearch and is a noted expert in TFT LCD and LCD TV research and analysis throughout Asia.
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Will Panel Prices Increase in Q1’12?
After falling every month since June, panel prices have finally stabilized. Notebook PC panel prices have been flat since October, TV panel prices have been flat since November, and monitor panel prices have stopped falling this month.
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Half of All LCD TV Panels Likely to be “Cell” in 2012
As the downstream LCD TV OEM and branded TV manufacturers are becoming more integrated by establishing backlight and module assembly lines close to their TV set production sites, the integration of the LCD TV panel and LCD TV set assembly has been evolving rapidly in the past years. LCD TV set makers have adopted the so-called backlight-module-system (BMS) assembly model, which has the final assembly of the LCD module along with the set assembly. In the traditional model, set makers purchase LCD modules as finished components that are ready for assembly. In the BMS model, set makers purchase LCD “cells” (the LCD panel without backlight unit or driver IC with PCB) or “open cells,” which are panels with the driver IC and PCB, but without the backlight unit (so called because they look like a panel with open wings).
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China 5% Import Duty: a Compromise or a Driver?
As we have discussed, the Chinese government has been considering increasing LCD panel import duties to help its local panel manufacturers. Currently, import duties on LCD modules are 5%, and 3% for the cell and open cell (cell with driver ICs and PCB attached). Speculation that the Chinese government may double tariffs has been a source of concern for Korean and Taiwanese panel suppliers who are importing LCD TV cells and modules to China.
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FPD International 2011: 3D, High Resolution, In-Cell Touch, and Transparent LCDs
Anyone attending FPD International 2011 in Yokohama has probably found that the atmosphere is slightly different from past years. There are fewer demonstrations, not as many new products, and unfortunately, lower attendance. Some panel makers are absent, and others are only showing a few products in small booths. These circumstances reflect the current difficulties in the display industry.
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