Samsung Signs the First Round of Contracts for OLED equipment related to Apple's 2024 iPads and MacBooks

In mid-January, Patently Apple reported that a new supply chain rumor from Korea's ETNews claimed that "Samsung and LG have received orders from Apple for OLED displays in the 10 to 16 inch range for iPads and MacBooks. Then in Mid-February, we reported that a supply chain report from Korea reported that Apple plans to load OLED panels into its new iPad Pro models in 2024. The iPad is Apple's flagship product, selling more than 70 million units annually and Korea's Samsung Display and LG Display and China's BOE are competing for a larger share of Apple's OLED display orders. According to Business Korea, "The first round of orders for the new displays were placed with Samsung and LG Display for 10.9-inch and 12.9-inch panels for the iPad.

Today we're learning that Samsung Display has started placing orders for equipment it wants to install on its first Gen 8 OLED production line. This was confirmed by its equipment suppliers Philoptics, FNS Tech, KCTech and HIMS.

According to The Elec, "Philoptics said it signed a deal worth 63 billion won (US$48 million); FNS Tech 36 billion won (US$27 million); KCTech 35.7 billion won (US$27 million); and HIMS 21.8 billion won (US$17 million). Their contracts with Samsung Display were signed last Friday on May 26 totaling US$119 million." The ordering covers phase one of Samsung's plan.

Philoptics manufactures laser cutting machines for cells; FNS Tech makes wet etching machines used in the thin-film transistor process; HIMS makes tensile machines and KCTech cleaners.

These companies had already supplied these equipment to Samsung Display in the past for Gen 6 OLED production.

Their particular machines don't need much adjustment to be applied to Gen 8 OLED production.

Phase two of the plan will include equipment orders for deposition and lithography machines that have yet to be confirmed as being placed. This kind of equipment takes the longest to manufacture and prepare. The key delay, according to The Elec, comes from Samsung Display not having fixed the terms with deposition machine supplier Canon Tokki.

With Apple having placed orders with Samsung and LG for larger OLED displays for their 2024 iPad and MacBooks, Samsung has to finalize their equipment deals fairly shortly to be able to fulfill their contract obligations with Apple.

Posted by Jack Purcher on May 31, 2023 at 08:20 AM in 5. Supply Chain News & Rumors | Permalink | Comments (0)