Kateeva has purchased Seoul-based OLED Plus to expand its capacity to deliver mass produced printed OLEDs using its Yieldjet technology right into the heart of the critical Korean market. The company reports that commercial sales of what is being hailed as the first high volume, production-worthy OLED manufacturing technology are imminent.
Yieldjet was successfully demonstrated as a system for non-vacuum inkjet production of OLEDs in late 2013. It has the potential to drastically reduce the cost of plastic electronics components. Throughout its evolution the US developers worked at the local manufacturing facilities of several Korean companies. Now that the viability of Kateeva's technology has been demonstrated, there was a clear priority to access one the world's leading regions for OLED production as quickly as possible.
Plus points
OLED Plus, the new acquisition, will now be renamed Kateeva Korea and become a wholly owned subsidiary of Kateeva. As an existing player in local the OLED production equipment field, it will give an immediate presence and established contacts to allow Yieldjet to penetrate this vital market. The new parent company has had a relationship with OLED Plus since 2011, when it started using it to increase its access and profile with Korea producers.
OLED Plus, the new acquisition, will now be renamed Kateeva Korea and become a wholly owned subsidiary of Kateeva. As an existing player in local the OLED production equipment field, it will give an immediate presence and established contacts to allow Yieldjet to penetrate this vital market. The new parent company has had a relationship with OLED Plus since 2011, when it started using it to increase its access and profile with Korea producers.
Alain Harrus, CEO of Kateeva, says: 'Companies like Kateeva are stepping up with production equipment innovations that are transforming the manufacturing economics. Korea is home to consumer electronics leaders known for consistently pushing technology boundaries to create dazzling products. Today, their most ambitious products are made possible by OLED technology. Now, with commercial shipments imminent, we have established a firm foothold in the region and forged strong relationships with key players.'
Technical advantages to yield sales
The precision inkjet deposition provided by Yieldjet is suited to both the more established rigid OLED screen and the burgeoning flexible display markets. The company is in the process of scaling up the process to allow printing of Gen 8 (2,300mm x 2,500mm) sheets. The system has a number of innovations to minimise the intrusion of foreign particles into the printed material, these radically reduces the number of faults caused by the particles in the finished OLED sheet. Yieldjet also works in a nitrogen atmosphere, eliminating many of the problems and long maintenance cycles associated with alternative vacuum-based methods, thus cutting costs.
The precision inkjet deposition provided by Yieldjet is suited to both the more established rigid OLED screen and the burgeoning flexible display markets. The company is in the process of scaling up the process to allow printing of Gen 8 (2,300mm x 2,500mm) sheets. The system has a number of innovations to minimise the intrusion of foreign particles into the printed material, these radically reduces the number of faults caused by the particles in the finished OLED sheet. Yieldjet also works in a nitrogen atmosphere, eliminating many of the problems and long maintenance cycles associated with alternative vacuum-based methods, thus cutting costs.
A strategic move into Korea is now even more vital as Yieldjet could be an ideal technology to help produce the next generation of cheaper OLED televisions. The new TVs would be developed over the next two to three years from the first such displays demonstrated in by LG and Samsung 2013. The marketability of these was handicapped by high failure rates in production materials that were reflected in hefty price tags.
Kyung Bin Bae, general manager at OLED Plus who will retain the same role under the new ownership, says: 'Kateeva and OLED Plus make an excellent match. Customers are excited about inkjet printing for OLED mass production. The Yieldjet technology is impressive, long considered the ideal technique for OLED, there is keen interest in Kateeva's solution which is the industry's first production-worthy approach. We are happy to join the team that is bringing this game-changing production technology to Korea.'
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