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Record TFT-LCD
Equipment Spending Expected in 2004, DisplaySearch
Says
Austin, Texas, September 23 -
DisplaySearch projects record capital spending on TFT LCD
capacity for 2004. According to the company's Quarterly
TFT LCD Supply/Demand and Capital Spending Report,
spending is expected to rise in response to strong notebook,
LCD monitor and LCD-TV demand. The most recent report
indicates that after 25 percent growth in TFT-LCD equipment
spending this year - rising to $6.5 billion - an additional
27 percent growth in spending is expected in 2004. Driving
the record spending is:
- Strong demand as seen by
the latest projections of 42 percent large-area TFT-LCD
unit growth in 2003 to 97.2 million panels and 32
percent large-area TFT LCD revenue growth to $23.1
billion.
- A healthy pricing
environment with approximately 7 percent ASP increases
projected for Q2 '03, Q3 '03 and Q4 '03.
- Growing profits for TFT-LCD
suppliers. In the case of the five dedicated TFT-LCD
suppliers, earnings swung from a net loss of $99 million
in Q1 '03 to a gain of over $240 million in Q2
'03.
- Supply constraints. TFT-LCD
supply is expected to be tight throughout 2003, with a 3
percent shortage projected for Q3 '03.
- Cost reductions from
larger substrates. Panel costs are expected to decline
more than 10 percent this year by migrating 17-inch
production from Gen 4 to Gen 5 substrates, with greater
cost reductions expected at larger panels.
With more than 25 companies
launching LCD-TVs, the market outlook for the LCD-TV market
is extremely bright. DisplaySearch's latest forecast
projects an 87 percent CAGR to 31 million units in 2007.
Furthermore, DisplaySearch expects the LCD monitor market to
continue to enjoy rapid replacement demand, and it expects
the notebook market to rise more than 25% in 2003. With
pricing high, supply tight, and a rosy demand outlook, panel
suppliers are accelerating investment plans with a number of
fab schedules moving from early 2005 to late 2004. In
addition, a couple of 2003 projects were delayed slightly
into 2004, resulting in a very robust outlook for next year.
On the other hand, with a surge in spending expected in
2004, a large decline in capital expenditures is expected in
2005.
On a regional basis, in 2003
Taiwan is expected to lead total equipment spending with a
49 percent share as multiple manufacturers add Gen 5
capacity. Taiwan is expected to take the lion's share of
investment in 2004 as well.
Overall, Gen 5 investment
will account for over 60 percent of total array-equipment
spending in 2003, and more than 50 percent in 2004. Gen 6
and larger substrates will dominate from 2005.
Information: www.displaysearch.com.
PDP
Technical Meeting To Be Held in Saga Following IDW 2003
Following the
International Display Workshops (IDW), which will be held in
Fukuoka, Japan on Dec. 3-5, there will be a Plasma Display
Panel Technical Meeting, the "Saga Forum," on
December 6 at Saga's Takeo Hot Spring. Takeo Hot Spring is
one hour from Fukuoka by JR Limited Express Train.
The area
around Saga is known for hot springs; the Yoshinogari ruins,
which are the remains of an 1800-year-old culture in Ancient
Japan; and fine China. The "Saga Forum" is
intended not only as a meeting for the sharing of technical
information, but also as an enjoyable social occasion for
celebrating the success of PDP technology and products.
Information:
Heiju Uchiike, Dept of Electrical and Electronics
Engineering, Saga University. Tel: +81-952-28-8640, Fax:
+81-952-28-8651, email: uchiike@cc.saga-u.ac.jp.
Dupont
Names David Bills To Lead Displays Business
Research
Triangle Park, North Carolina, September 10 - DuPont has
announced that David Bills has been named vice president and
general manager of DuPont Displays.
Bills is
currently vice president, DuPont Corporate Plans, where he
has played an important role in designing and implementing
the strategic framework of the DuPont transformation. He
also has been instrumental in a number of acquisitions,
including ChemFirst. Bills joined DuPont in 2001 from
McKinsey & Company, where he was a partner and co-led
the Worldwide Growth Strategy Practice that included both
manufacturing and high-technology clients.
"David
brings to DuPont Displays strong leadership skills and
strategic capabilities that will enable us to solidify our
position in OLED displays and enhance performance in a
highly competitive marketplace," said Diane Gulyas,
group vice president, DuPont Electronic & Communication
Technologies.
Bills
succeeds Chet Pribonic, who is resigning from DuPont to
pursue other interests.
Information: www.dupont.com/displays
