According to a new report from Korea, Samsung has decided to build a new flexible OLED 6-Gen (1500x1850 mm) production line (A4E, although this could be a tentative name), which will be located at Samsung's Asan production complex.
The new fab will have a monthly capacity of 30,000 substrates. The first phase (15,000 substrates) will enter production by the end of 2022, and the second phase a year later. Total investment is estimated at over 1 trillion KRW (around $854 million USD).
Samsung's main goal in this new fab is to restore reduced capacity in its current A3 and A4 lines. The A3 & A4 capacity was reduced when SDC adopted two new technologies (LTPO and Y-OCTA) for next-generation OLEDs. These technologies, while increasing the performance of the OLED displays, lower the production capacity.
Interestingly, when SDC installed the equipment for LTPO and OCTA production, it retained its previous deposition equipment - and some of this equipment will find its way to Samsung's A4E line which will lower the total investment in this fab. According to earlier reports, Samsung's investment in its new 6-Gen line was supposed to be three times as high ($2.7 billion).
Samsung is reportedly considering building a 8.5-Gen AMOLED fab dedicated for laptop and tablet displays. We do not believe this new 6-Gen fab is SDC's future IT fab, but will likely be focused on production of smartphone and wearable OLEDs.
