Samsung, Sony JV Moves Onward with Gen 8 Line
Staff Reporter -- EDN, July 14, 2006
Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. and Sony Corp. said today that they have followed through with intentions the companies announced in April, inking the final contract for the construction of an 8th generation amorphous TFT-LCD panel manufacturing line at their joint venture, S-LCD Corp.
Since April's letter of intenthttp://www.reed-electronics.com/electronicnews/article/CA6323467.html, the companies said they have ironed out details of the plan to establish an 8th generation amorphous TFT-LCD panel production line, in addition to the current 7th generation line, at S-LCD's headquarters in South Korea.
The companies plan to chip in equally for the line, with investments totaling approximately $1.9 billion, not including the cost of the building and the land. Actual production is targeted to start in fall 2007, with a production capacity of 50,000 panels per month.
The companies touted the 8th generation line as "the world's most advanced" today in a statement. Together with the 7th generation line, the companies said the new line will allow the expansion of production of large screen LCD panels for 50 inch class LCD TVs, for which, they said, demand is expected see a significant increase.
