In recent years, OLED (organic light emitting diodes) have been gaining market share in the TV field. There are many advantages compared to LED displays – they consume less power as there is no need for backlighting. OLEDs are brighter and can be produced on plastic, so they can be flexible. The possibility of printing OLEDs for TVs and displays is being researched extensively.

OLEDs are already being used in smaller displays, such as in cell phones and smartwatches. Samsung uses AMOLED (active matrix OLED) in its Galaxy Note 9 phablet as well as its phones, and Apple has even started using OLEDs.

On the TV and display side, OLEDs are increasing market share. LG Display, for example, reported that sales of its large size OLED panels doubled during the first half of 2018.  LG Display noted that it sold more than 1.3 million units during the first half of 2018. The company anticipates that it will sell more than 2.9 million units in 2018; by contrast, it noted that sales were 200,000 unit in 2013 and 1.7 million in 2017.
           
“Many global TV brands have been selecting OLED technology, recognizing its differentiated value, and thus OLED TVs are leading the premium TV market,” said Yong-Kee Hwang, president and head of TV company at LG Display, said in reporting the gains. 

LG Display is not the only company making OLEDs, although it is the leader in large size models. Sony is also active in this space. Lighting is another area where OLED is drawing interest: OLEDWorks is working on lighting. OSRAM is developing OLED tail lights for cars, appearing in Audi and BMW, to name two. But TV is the large market that everyone is watching.

There are some interesting technologies available for TVs and displays. OLED competes with LED, LCD and quantum dots. It is also a sizable market: In its research report “Display Market by Technology (LED-backlit LCD, OLED, QD-LED, E-Paper), Display Type (Flat, Flexible, Transparent), Application (Smartphone & Tablet, TV & Digital Signage, PC Monitor & Laptop), Vertical, and Geography-Global Forecast to 2022,” MarketsandMarkets anticipates the TV and display market to reach $169.17 billion by 2022.
          
The ability to print OLEDs has been a key point. Cost savings and the ability to create large-scale panels is seen as a key advantage, and with the recent news coming from JOLED, printing OLEDs is closer than ever to becoming reality.
Founded in January 2015, JOLED was created by the combination of Sony and Panasonic’s OLED display divisions. Since then, the company created a mass production line for OLEDs and is picking up significant support from major investors.

Last week, JOLED announced that it raised JPY 47 billion ($423 million) from its partners to accelerate commercialization of its printed displays. This includes Denso Corporation, which announced that it has invested 30 billion yen ($270 million) in the company. Denso is a major supplier of automotive technology and components, with annual revenue of $48 billion. They see OLED as a potential solution for displays in cars.
         
Sumitomo Chemical picked up ¥5 billion ($45 million) in shares of JOLED. Sumitomo is a key supplier of OLED materials to JOLED. Toyota Tsusho Corporation and Screen Finetech Solutions Co., Ltd. are also investing in the company. In addition, JOLED also reported that it is collaborating with Screen Finetech as well as Panasonic Production Engineering Co., Ltd. On printing equipment, with the idea of licensing its manufacturing technologies.
           
With these investments, JOLED anticipates starting its commercialization efforts in 2020. The company sees printing as an easier method of production that the present vapor deposition approach, and if successful, it will meet the need for lower prices. This could prove to be a key start to the growth of the printed OLED market.