LG is all in on OLED panels, and they are putting their money where their mouth is. The company has created a new OLED division to focus on developing and selling OLED technology. They want sell over a million and a half OLED panels this year. “Since we already cemented the foundation in processes, technology, production and product line-up for OLED [in 2014], in 2015, our main aim will be popularization of the technology,” said LG Display CEO Han Sang-beom, at a press conference at CES 2015. “That is why we created a new OLED division will exclusively focus on developing, promoting and selling the technology.” He later said, “1.5 million panels may seem not much. But we are aiming for the high-end consumers, the two percent, which accounts to 4 million TVs. So ratio wise, having 1.5 million OLED TVs in that high-end market will draw attention to the technology.”
LG is trying to maintain an edge over rivals in Japan in China as the OLED market heats up. “It’s just a matter of time before OLED becomes more widespread, and there will be followers. In LCD, South Korean companies followed Japanese companies, now lead in the market. In OLED, we will lead from the start,” Han said. He mentioned Samsung and their Quantum Dot LCD technology, which was unveiled at CES as well. He said that QD is just one of many ways, such as using color filters and LED packaging, a way to increase color resolution range,” implying that they aren’t really doing anything special.
LG Display is also working on 8K panels, which they had on display at CES in the form of a massive, 98-nch 8K display. They are close to shipping 8K TVs to high-end clients that have the money to pay for the tech. Commercial models will be available this year, and a 55-inch 8K is being shown to some clients. LG Display is pushing OLED, while LG Electronics is talking up both OLED and LCD TVs. Han says that will create some “friendly competition” between the two that will actually increase the pace of innovation and delivery.