TFT LCD Panel (Glass) Manufacturers Introduction
Starting from the 2nd quarter of 2021, the LCD panel prices have kept increasing. We expect that the high prices will keep for at least 6 months. There are a lot of manufacturers of making LCD modules but there are only a few LCD panel or LCD glass manufacturers in the world. The reasons are 1) In order to build a LCD panel fab, billions of dollars of the equipment investment is needed; 2) The technology threshold is high. There are a lot of patent traps on the way; 3) Once in production, the fab has to keep running otherwise it is easy to lose money because of the heavy investment and the high pay for the engineers; 4), The worst is that the manufacturers have keep on investment in order to keep the technology and price competitive. Let’s take a look of these LCD panel manufacturers.
AUO (AU Optrinics Corporation，友达光电):
In Taiwan. It was formed in 2001 by the merger of Acer Display Technology Inc and Unipac Optoelectronics Corporation. It has G3.5 to G8.5 production lines.
BOE (Beijing Oriental Electronics Group Co., Ltd，京东方):
In China. The biggest LCD panel manufacturer in the world now. BOE has G4 (Chengdu), G5 (Beijing), G5.5 (Ordos), G6 (Hefei, Chengdu, Mianyang, Dalian), G8 (Beijing, Hefei, Chongqing), Fuqing, Dalian, Chongqing) and 10.5 (Hefei) production lines.
CSOT (China Star Optoelectronics Technology，华星光电):
In China. It was joint ventured by TCL and Shenzhen Government. It mainly focusses on TV and cell phone screens. It has G6 (Shenzhen), G8.5 (Shenzhen, Suzhou,Wuhan) and G11 (Shenzhen) production lines.
CSOT (China Star Optoelectronics Technology,华星光电):
In China. It was joint ventured by TCL and Shenzhen Government. It mainly focusses on TV and cell phone screens. It has G6 (Shenzhen), G8.5 (Shenzhen, Suzhou,Wuhan) and G11 (Shenzhen) production lines.
CTC (Century Technology Shenzhen Co Ltd, 深超光电):
In China. CTC is the joint ventured by Foxconn and Shenzhen Government. CTC has a G5 production line.
Giantplus Technology (凌巨科技):
In China, In 2019, it was acquired by Toppan in Japan. Ortus Technology holds 53.1% Giantplus shares. Giantplus has a G3 and a G4 production lines.
Hannstar (HSD, HannStar Display Corporation, 瀚宇彩晶):
In Taiwan. Hannstar has a G5 IPS production line.
HKC (惠科股份):
In China. HKC mainly produces LCD panels for monitors. HKC has 4 G8.6 production lines in Chongqing, Chuzhou, Mianyang, Changsha.
Innolux Corp (INX, 群创光电):
In Taiwan. One of the daughter company of Foxconn/Hon Hai. In 2010, it bought the then famous LCD manufacturer, ChiMei, then changed its name to Innolux. It has G7.5 production lines.
IVO (InfoVision Optoelectronics (Kunshan) Co.,LTd. 龙腾光电):
IVO mainly produces laptop LCD panels. IVO has G5 production line.
JDI (Japan Display Inc, 日本显示):
In Japan. Joint ventured by Sony, Hitachi and Toshiba in 2011. It mainly produces smaller size panels. JDI has G6 production line.
Laibo (Shenzhen Laibao Hi-Tech Co.,Ltd, 莱宝高科):
Laibo has a G8.5 (Wuhan) and a G2.5 (Shenzhen) production lines.
LG.Philips Displays (LGD乐金电子):
In Korea and China. It is used to be the 2nd biggest TFT LCD manufacturers. LG also planned to stop the production but delayed the plan after the price increased. LG has G7.5 and G8.5 (Guangzhou) production lines.
Mantix Display Technology Co.,Ltd (华彩佳):
In China. Original Matix is the partner of CPT (Chunghwa Picture Tubes 中华映管). After CPT filed bankruptcy in 2019, Mantix took over CPT G6 production line.
Panasonic (松下):
In Japan. Panasonic has a G8.5 production line.
Panda (Nanjing CEC Panda LCD Technology Co.，Ltd. ,中电熊猫):
In China. It got the technology from Sharp. It mainly produces LCD panels for TV.
Samsung Display （SDC,三星显示):
In Korea. It used to be the biggest TFT LCD manufacturers before it was dethroned by BOE in 2019. Because of tough competition, Samsung planned to stop the production in 2021 but delayed because the price increase during the pandemic. Samsung has G7 and G8.5 production lines.
Shanghai Hehui Photoelectric Co., Ltd (上海和辉光电):
Hehui also produces AMOLED only and It has a G4.5 LTPS AMOLED production line.
Sharp （夏普):
In Japan and China. The pioneer and queen of LCD industry. Because of high cost and tough competitor, Sharp was acquired by Foxconn/Hon Hai in 2016. Sharp has G8, G8.5(Suzhou), G10, G10.5 (Guangzhou) production lines.
Tianma Microelelctronics（TM,天马微电子):
In China and Japan. In 2011, Tianma acquired 70% share from NEC to rename as “NLT Technologies”. Tianma has G4.5 (Shanghai, Chengdu, Wuhan), G5 (acquired from SVA: SVA Information Industry Co.,Ltd.). G5.5 (Xianmen, Shanghai for AMOLED), G6 (Xiamen, Wuhan for AMOLED).
Truly Opto-electronics (信利光电):
In China, Truly was mentioned to have a G4.5 for AMOLED and a G2.5 for TFT LCD production lines.
Visionox (维信诺):
Actually, Visionox doesn’t product LCD. It produces AMOLED and PMOLED only. It has a G5.5 AMOLED and a G6 flexible AMOLED production lines.
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LCD Motherglass Generation Classifications |
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| Generations | Motherglass Size | Notes |
| G1 | 320*400 | \ |
| G2 | 370*470 | \ |
| G3 | 550*650 | 15″/4pcs |
| G4 | 680*800 | 15″/6pcs |
| G4.5 | 730*920 | 15″/8pcs |
| G5 | 1100*1300 | 27″/6pcs |
| G5.5 | 1300*1500 | 27″/8pcs |
| G6 | 1500*1850 | 32″/8pcs, 37″/6pcs |
| G7 | 1950*2250 | 42″/8pcs, 46″/6pcs |
| G8 | 2160*2460 | 46″/9pcs, 52″/6pcs |
| G8.5 | 2200*2500 | 55″/6pcs |
| G10 | 2880*3100 | 65″/6pcs, 60″/8pcs |
| G10.5 | 2940*3370 | 65″/8pcs |
| G11 | 3000*3320 | 70″/8pcs |