Wintek to Tap Segment for Higher-end AMOLED Displays

Taipei, Sept. 28, 2010 (CENS)--Not to lag behind its domestic counterparts, Wintek Corp., a Taiwanese display panel maker, has kicked off production of AMOLED (active-matrix organic light-emitting diode) displays used in smartphones, in a bid to tap the higher-end market, according to the firm.

The fast-growing market for smartphones has driven global display panel makers, like Samsung and LGD of Korea and AU Optronics (AUO) and Chimei Innolux of Taiwan, to turn to production of AMOLED displays from TFT LCD in various ways.

For example, AUO has fully acquired Toshiba Mobile Display's subsidiary located in Singapore in the first quarter of this year, and actively set up production lines to start volume production of AMOLED displays by the end of this year. Also, Chimei Innolux has switched some of its 3.5-generation production lines to the products.

To cash in on AMOLED displays, Wintek, with HTC and Samsung already on its client lists, has decided to reactivate production lines originally owned by its reinvested company, Windell Corp. Windell had been engaged in development of OLED (organic LED) for years but failed to overcome technological bottlenecks, and therefore was ultimately merged into Wintek a few years ago.

In the meantime, WIntek has also intended to seek partnership to set up volume production lines for AMOLED, according to informed sources.

On the other hand, Wintek has also benefited from success of Apple Inc.'s iPad, which is expected to trigger keener competition among global PC brands in the segment. The firm is very likely to post rosy sales and shipment for the third quarter of this year, as its production lines of touch panels have been fully booked by Apple, not to mention influx of contract orders from Nokia and Motorola.