TCL - Page 6

Last month we posted that TCL plans to build a Gen-11 LCD and AMOLED fab in Shenzhen, in a $6.97 billion investment. The fab, owned by CSOT and built by TCL and Shenzhen Huaxing Power with help from the Shenzhen Economic and Trade Commission, will have a monthly capacity of 90,000 Gen-11 substrates (3370x2940 mm) and use IGZO backplanes.

In a news release today, TCL announced that will increase the investment in this fab by a further 21 billion yuan (around $3.15 billion). Samsung Display will be a partner in this fab, investing 2.1 billion yuan to hold a 9.76% stake.

It 2013 it was reported that TCL plans to invest over $4 billion to build a new 8.5-Gen LCD and OLED fab in Shenzhen, owned by CSOT. The so-called Huaxing Power Two OLED fab never materialized... at least until now.

TCL released information that it now seeks to $6.96 billion to build a new LCD and OLED Gen-11 production fab in Shenzhen. The new fab, built by TCL and Shenzhen Huaxing Power with help from the Shenzhen Economic and Trade Commission, will have a monthly capacity of 90,000 Gen-11 substrates (3370x2940 mm) and use IGZO backplanes.

Kateeva announced that it has closed its Series-E funding round - with $88 million in new financing. The new investors (all from China) include BOE Display, TCL Capital. Kateeva raised over $200 million in total, and previous investors include Samsung Ventures and Veeco.

Kateeva is developing and producing ink-jet systems for OLED production. Originally the systems were intended for OLED stack material deposition, but in 2014 the company also started to offer ink-jet based encapsulation systems - used to protect flexible OLED displays.

TCL's chairman, Tomson Li, gave an SID DisplayWeek speech, during which he predicted that the next-gen large-size displays will be printed OLEDs. Tomson said that global partners are welcome to join TCL and co-develop printed technologies, processes and materials.

During the DisplayWeek exhibition, TCL's CSOT subsidiary demonstrated three new AMOLED display prototypes, including a 5.5" PWM LTPS OLED and a 31" OLED TV panel. In May 2014 TCL announced plans to co-develop 5.5" LTPS AMOLEDs with Ignis innovation, I do not know if the new 5.5" demonstrators are based on this collaboration.

TCL Group announced that it is going to raise 5.7 billion RMB ($926 million) in a private placement (there will be 10 different investors) to build CSOT's T2 8.5-Gen fab. This fab will use Oxide-TFT substrates and will produce both LCDs and AMOLEDs. The company filed information which specifically mentioned that this fab is important due for the future OLED technology.

CSOT's 8.5-Gen Oxide-TFT fab was discussed back in July 2013, but we do not have any information regarding its capacity and how CSOT plans to split it between LCD and AMOLED production. A $926 million investment is not very large for such a fab, so this is probably just the first production line. Earlier estimates for the cost of this fab were 24.4 billion RMB (just over $4 billion).

Towards the end of 2013 it was reported that TCL plans to invest 24.4 billion yuan (just over $4 billion) to build a new 8.5-Gen TV fab in Shenzhen, owned by CSOT. This fab (called Huaxing Power Two) will have two lines, one for a-Si LCDs and one for Oxide-TFT (55" OLED TV and LCD TV, it seems) panels. The Oxide-TFT capacity will be 30,000 monthly substrates.

Now TCL announced that the company, together with CSOT and the Hubei Science & Technology Investment group will invest 16 billion yuan ($2.56 billion) and build a 6-Gen display fab that will also be used to produce AMOLED displays. It's a bit confusing, but it seems that CSOT aims to use both LTPS and Oxide-TFT for this production. The fab will be used to produce small/medium displays.

TCL is showing their first OLED TV prototype at CES 2014. All we know is that it is a flat 55" Full-HD panel, and it looks like this:

It's highly likely that TCL did not produce this panel (even though the company is advancing towards AMOLED production). I'd guess that LG Display provided those panels (hopefully TCL didn't just take part LG's OLED TVs without permission). LG Display is also providing OLED panels for China's Skyworth.

A couple of weeks ago we reported that TCL plans to invest 24.4 billion yuan (just over $4 billion) to build a new 8.5-Gen TV fab in Shenzhen, owned by CSOT. This fab (called Huaxing Power Two) will have two lines, one for a-Si LCDs and one for Oxide-TFT (OLED TV and LCD TV, it seems) panels. The Oxide-TFT capacity will be 30,000 monthly substrates.

Now there are reports that the TCL Group announced that the Huaxing Power Two proposal was passed during a recent shareholders meeting. Also it was reported that TCL plans to use the AMOLED line to produce 55" OLED TV panels. It is not clear but it seems that TCL still needs to raise the money for this new fab.

In July 2013, Chinese media reported that TCL's CSOT subsidiary is planning to establish a 8.5-Gen OLED TV fab. Today JRJ reports that TCL announced it it will invest 24.4 billion yuan (just over $4 billion) to build the new 8.5-Gen TV fab in Shenzhen. the fab will be owned by CSOT (Shenzhen Huaxing Photoelectric Technology).

This fab (called Huaxing Power Two) will have two lines, one for a-Si LCDs (70,000 monthly substrates) and one for Oxide-TFT (OLED TV and LCD TV?) panels (30,000 monthly substrates). According to the report, construction of this fab will commence towards the end of 2013. TCL is yet to raise the money for this fab.

According to reports from China, TCL executive Liangqi Chun said that the company may establish an 8.5-Gen OLED TV production line. Lianqi says that while OLEDs aren't mature yet (as costs are high and yields are low), there is a chance that in a few years OLED TVs will be commercialized and TCL will focus on that technology.

If this actually materializes, it's likely that the line will be owned by TCL's CSOT (China Star Optoelectronics Technology) which already has an active AMOLED program.