InnoCare Optoelectronics Corporation (InnoCare) is working to grow its automated X-ray inspection (AXI) business. This includes expanding outside of the healthcare industry and finding more applications for the components and modules it produces. InnoCare General Manager Eric Lee estimated that shipments of AXI will exceed ten units this year and double in 2024.
Liquid crystal display (LCD) panel prices continued to rise in August, benefiting four major Taiwanese panel manufacturers' revenue growth. However, since the momentum of subsequent LCD panel price quotation hikes has slowed down, and demand is also seen weakening, the prices of LCD panels may slide again in Q4, and the utilization rate of the panel production lines in Q4 may be lower than in Q3.
Chinese TV makers like TCL and Hisense showcased several new ultra-large Micro LED and Mini LED TV products at IFA Berlin 2023. It appears that they are setting Samsung Electronics and LG Electronics as their benchmarks and intensifying their efforts to catch up.
As Apple has decided that the next-generation iPad Pro's 11-inch and 13-inch products will both adopt the OLED display panel, supply chain partners have already started to expand their touch panel capacity quietly so that they will be able to meet the demand of the new iPad Pro's launch, scheduled in the mid or second half of 2024.
In the first half of 2023, the two major South Korean brands, Samsung Electronics and LG Electronics, continued their dominance of the global TV market. Samsung maintained its spot as the market leader for the 18th consecutive year, while LG's OLED TV achieved a market share of over 50% in the OLED market.
Leading optical film manufacturer Wah Hong Industrial has announced its intent to expand its factory space, a move signaling the company's aggressive push into next-generation technologies. The company has been approved to move into Ciaotou Science Park, even as it evaluates alternative locations for expansion. The company hopes to start construction in 2-3 years.
Taiwan-based active-matrix (AM) miniLED flexible display provider PanelSemi, a subsidiary of Innolux, has partnered with E Ink, RapidSignage, and TopRGB Opto to release AM miniLED display, e-paper digital signage and e-paper tag solutions for a bookstore in southern Taiwan.
Apple, Nvidia, and Pixar have recently formed alliance for OpenUSD (AOUSD), which aims to drive open standards for 3D tools and data. This strategic move has been interpreted as a potential indicator that the trajectory of 3D technology's development is poised to become mainstream in the coming years, laying a solid groundwork for the evolution of XR. Chairman Tom Liang of Jorjin Technologies has astutely observed that the cross between AR and VR could occur within a span of 3 to 5 years, potentially triggering a transformative revolution in human-machine interaction.
Color-changing e-paper was applied to a BMW concept car, which made the technology a hit. Later, kitchen brand Kohler applied it to a toilet, which was also refreshing, and now the latest color-changing e-paper has been applied to Xiaomi's newly released robotic dog, which is once again attracting attention.
Touch solution provider General Interface Solution (GIS) saw its July revenue fall 12.3% sequentially to NT$5.72 billion (US$179.8 million), due mainly to inventory correction for tablets at a major customer.
AUO is optimistic that seasonal demand for TV and IT products will return to normal in the second half of this year, with a clear trend toward larger TVs, according to the company.
Major panel makers in Taiwan and Korea are scheduled to hold their respective investor conferences in the coming days, providing an outlook for the displays market, where demand is improving.
Foxconn Electronics (Hon Hai Precision Industry) chairman Young Liu reportedly made another visit to Sharp in Japan last week, following his previous 3-day visit in early July, and stayed for the whole week to get a hold of Sharp's current status, according to sources from the upstream supply chain.
Samsung Electronics and LG Electronics are gearing up for the development of graphene-based components to improve the durability and energy efficiency of their products such as semiconductors and home appliances, according to a report by Korean medium Chosun Biz.
TV sales in China have been disappointing thus far this year, with industry sources expecting its market scale to continue dwindling further compared to previous years, affected by a slow rebound in consumption and saturated market conditions.
Panel maker AU Optronics (AUO) is entering volume production for its microLED products this year, eyeing a wide range of market segments, including wearable devices and automotive displays.
Electronic paper (e-paper) manufacturer EIH Holdings (EIH) is optimistic about the digital out-of-home (DOOH) market. It has introduced the Kaleido 3 Outdoor color printing electronic paper (e-paper) technology, the first product of its kind to be officially launched. The medium-size model is used on traffic signs. Large-size products used on advertisement billboards are coming next and are expected to launch in 2024.
E-paper solution provider E Ink Holdings (EIH) has fine-tuned its outlook for the rest of 2023, becoming more optimistic than its previous conservative stance.
Innolux has teamed up with a cinema operator, Century Asia, to develop an extra-large miniLED video wall in Taiwan, further solidifying its position in the commercial display market.
According to Omdia, previous estimates that large-area LCD shipments would increase by 0.6% in 2023 have now been revised to show negative growth of 3.2% due to slower demand and panel makers' control over utilization.
Walmart's replacement demand for electronic shelf labels (ESL) is expected to boost e-paper solution provider E Ink Holdings' (EIH) shipments at the end of this year, according to industry sources.
