[The Korea Industry Post, 2016. 06. 17]

According to industry sources, about 100 engineers of BOE turned out to be collecting technical know-how of Korean OLED materials makers’ R&D facility.

The move seems to be Shenzhen-listed Chinese display panel manufacturer BOE’s great effort to gain knowledge of running and maintaining OLED equipments like chemical vapor deposition, or CVD equipment.

BOE judged that the Korean materials makers have the skills and the key to running OLED fabricating equipment, as they have been working with OLED leading Samsung display for long-time. 

People in the field anticipates that BOE will postpone its B7 OLED facility investment schedule for 2~3months, giving the time to master the related equipment.

The Chinese display panel maker will likely finish the matters with operating of OLED equipment as quickly as possible, and then resume establishing the B7 OLED production line.

Originally BOE planned to end the B7 facility construction at 2Q 2017 and start mass-production from end of next year.

But with the postponement, the production schedule will be delayed to after 2018.

BOE’s relaxed investment pace will likely be advantageous to its global display panel competitors like Samsung display and LG display. 

Person familiar with the matter said “Still, BOE will not delay the facility construction for long-term, as it already ordered for most of OLED fabricating equipment,” adding “the Chinese display maker get on the track in 2~3months after mastering skills related to OLED equipment operation.”

by Brian Ahn

ahngija@kipost.net

translated by Taegeun Kim

ktg1130@kipost.net

June 17, 2016