Wednesday, May 25, 2005
Larger LCDs Posing Production Challenges
Posted by James Fee in "NEWS" @ 07:00 PM
"I.D. Kang, vice president of global business and service operations, said the proliferation of TV screen sizes — 37, 40, 42, 46, 50, and 52 inches — has made it difficult for equipment makers to determine capabilities needed in display production equipment. One industry analyst, C.J. Muse of Lehman Brothers, said during a presentation that while moving from generation 5 to 7 fabs is likely to achieve a 20-percent savings in production cost, achieving further incremental cost reductions would become more difficult as larger glass sizes lower yields and display designs became more complex. Muse added that LCD panel makers would have to drastically cut profit margins to drive down panel costs in order to make the goal of a sub-$1,000 32-inch LCD module a reality by the end of 2005."
It appears we are at the crossroads of LCD production. Consumers are continuing to drive demand, but equipment makers are struggling to keep up. I can't help but wonder if someone will figure all this out and take over the market, Samsung maybe? Then again aren't all these LCD production sites owned by more than one company?
It appears we are at the crossroads of LCD production. Consumers are continuing to drive demand, but equipment makers are struggling to keep up. I can't help but wonder if someone will figure all this out and take over the market, Samsung maybe? Then again aren't all these LCD production sites owned by more than one company?
