Chinese flat-panel maker BOE Technology will build an advanced liquid-crystal-display manufacturing facility in Beijing with total investment of RMB28.03 billion ($4.1 billion).This investment shows once again that China is looking to advance its technology in the manufacture of LCDs, which are used in everything from cellphones to computers and televisions.
China has been late in moving to more advanced technology and mostly has made panels suitable for computers. In comparison, more advanced eighth-generation plants can churn out LCD panels larger than 50 inches using bigger glass sheets. (Note there exists a 10th generation technology which will give you an 80 inch screen. We have measured our living room. It will not fit.)
Earlier this year, China unveiled a program that aims to spur sales of consumer electronics in rural areas. While demand for LCDs has been tepid in the US and Europe, thanks partly to this program demand from China has been steady this year.
The new BOE plant will use eighth-generation glass sheets to cut LCD panels for televisions measuring 26 inches to 55 inches diagonally. The plant’s monthly production capacity will be 1.15 million units.
The Wall Street Journal said Asian LCD makers are rushing to build new manufacturing factories as panel prices have stabilized since the beginning of this year.