Poongwon Precision has developed a fine metal mask (FMM) for organic light emitting diodes (OLED), which has monopolized 100% by Japan. After mass-production verification, they will beginto supply to display panel makers.
Poongwon Precision announced on the 6ththat they will supply the first volume next month after passing FMM technology verification for half size of 6th generation(6th generation half, 6GH) OLED from demanding companies. 6GH is a panel that uses half of the 6th generation OLED substrate, and can make displays for mobile devices such as smartphones. FMM for OLED has been exclusively supplied by Japan's Dai Nippon Printing (DNP) in Korea. The market size is estimated to be more than 500 billion KRW.
Poongwon Precision has jumped into the localization of FMM after Japan's material and parts export restrictions. From 2020, joint development with major display companies completed verification of mass production. Poongwon Precision's FMM is the only technology that is being mass-produced and supplied to display panel makers through wet etching. The company explains that the FMM material has little deformation, uniform properties, and high productivity.
Poongwon Precision also jointly developed INVAR thin film, a key material for FMM, with Hyundai BNG Steel. This means that they have a stable supply and demand system for materials and parts. It also secured intellectual property rights through prior usage of FMM technology and verification of multiple original patents. Mass production of FMM for 8thgeneration OLED is also being promoted. It is a stepping stone to aim for the growing display market for IT devices such as laptops and tablet PC. They plan to build a production line within the first half of last year after completing a 16 billion KRW facility investment. Currently, FMM process equipment is being introduced.
Myung hoonYoo, CEO of Poongwon Precision, said, “We expect to enter the market quickly with superior product and price competitiveness compared to competitors,” and continued, “Growth and profit are expected by supplying FMM products in the first half of this year.” Poongwon Precision developed the split-type FMM for the first time in 2003 and also localized metal masks for displays such as open metal masks and stick bar masks.
By Staff Reporter Dongjun Kwon (djkwon@etnews.com)
◇Fine Metal Mask (FMM) = OLED material component that allows organic materials to be deposited only in the display pixel area. It is a metal plate with tens of millions of microscopic holes in the size of 20 to 30 micrometers (㎛), which directly affects the OLED resolution and yield. The technical difficulty for drilling a fine hole and maintaining the thin film properties is very high.