According to Korean media ET News report, LG Display decided to produce OLED panels directly at its 10.5-generation factory (P10), which is about to be put into production in Paju. The original plan was to produce LCD panels at an early stage.
The P10 plant will focus on the production of super-sized OLED panels when mass production begins in 2020. This will help reduce the price of OLED TVs and further promote the popularity of OLED TVs.
The report pointed out that LGD is being forced to shift its focus to OLED panels for two reasons: China's flat-panel TV makers continue to increase LCD panel production, affecting LGD's LCD panel business; Chinese panel makers including BOE and Huaxing Optoelectronics have begun Evaluate OLED related technologies and possibly enter the field, which may pose a threat to LGD's own OLED business.
At the same time, LGD postponed the installation of the 10.5-generation front-end machinery and equipment to the second quarter of 2019 beginning in the third quarter of 2018.
The report also pointed out that the postponement of equipment migration is likely to be affected by technical and financial issues. LGD had a net loss of 98.3 billion won (approximately US$89 million) in the first quarter of 2018.