According to a new DisplayBank report, Wintek will join-forces with Shanghai Tianma on AMOLED touch panels. Both companies are planning to build AMOLED fabs, with Tianma's fab already under way in Fujian, China (it's a 5.5-Gen LTPS AMOLED fab that is scheduled to go online in 2012 and produce 30,000 substrates a month). Wintek plans to build a 5.5-Gen plant of its own in Taiwan. Wintek's OLEDs will use their Advanced Technology Touch (ATT) technology. Mass production at Wintek's plant will begin in 2013.
It's not clear what sort of collaboration these two companies are planning - but perhaps the idea is for Tianma to provide the AMOLED production technology and know-how and Wintek will provide the touch technology (ATT) and expertise.
The current report differs from earlier reports in several points. Wintek is seeking AMOLED for quite some time (we first heard of it back in September 2010), but it was reported that they will cooperate with TPK. Earlier reports also suggested that Wintek's investment will be $100-170 million in 2011, with plans to convert 3-Gen LCD lines to AMOLED lines.
Shanghai Tianma's AMOLED Plans were also unveiled in 2010 - but back then the company planned a pilot AMOLED production line (4.5-Gen) in a $72 million investment. The pilot line capacity is around 1,000 monthly substrates.
