Epistar to set up joint venture in China for mini, micro LED
Siu Han, Taipei; Adam Hwang, DIGITIMES
Friday 27 December 2019
LED chip maker Epistar will establish a joint-venture with China-based LED display maker Leyard Optoelectronic to manufacture mini LED and micro LED chips and modules, according to Epistar.
The joint venture will initially be capitalized at CNY300 million (US$42.9 million), with Yenrich Technology, Epistar’s wholly owned subsidiary, and Leyard each to hold a 50% stake, and see first-phase investment to amount CNY1.0 billion in order to begin production of mini LED chips and fine-pitch mini LED display modules in the second half of 2020. Production of micro LED chips will be scheduled at a later time.
Meanwhile, Taiwan-based PlayNitride is able to output over 1,000 4-inch micro LED epitaxial wafers a month at present and is installing equipment for making 6-inch micro LED epitaxial wafers at the moment. PlayNitride is already finalizing its first-quarter-2020 orders with clients and is expected to enter volume supply in the near future.
On ther other hand, China-based BOE Technology has also set up a joint venture, BOE Pixey with US-based Rohinni for mini LED and micro LED backlight units with production to kick off in the second half of 2020.
China-based LED chip maker San’an Optoelectronics has reportedly also developed micro LED chips of 0.02mm in diameter and will set up a mini LED and micro LED production base in central China.
