China-based panel maker BOE is set to begin construction on a 10.5G fab in February 2016 and finish in 2018. The fab will focus mainly on production of 65-inch and above-size TV panels with resolutions ranging from 4K, 8K and eventually 10K.
The fab will cut 3,370 by 2,940 substrates for TV panels starting from 65-inch followed by increments of 5-inch to as large as 100-inch. In addition to TV panels, the panel maker is also eyeing opportunities in the traffic, arts and medical segments where larger-size, high-resolution displays are needed.
BOE has already begun 8K panel production with the aim of getting ahead of the market competition and expected demand around 2018-2020. About 2,700 8K TVs will ship in 2015 and by 2019 that number will increase to around 910,000, according to figures from IHS.
The panel maker also believes that larger-size TVs are the wave of the future. Currently, most market estimates show that 50-inch and above size TV sales are increasing in the overall proportion of global TV sales, which is expected to strengthen over the next five years.
The global TV market however is cooling down and is expected to see limited shipments in 2016, but the overall TVs and TV panel sizes shipped will increase, which should help most TV vendors and TV panel makers maintain steady profits throughout the year, according to most analysts.
Article translated by Alex Wolfgram
