TCL China Star Optoelectronics Technology has started construction on what it says is the world’s first 8.6-generation inkjet printing OLED production line, marking a new phase in the company’s display manufacturing strategy.
The facility, known as t8, broke ground Oct. 21 in Guangzhou, China. TCL CSOT says the line is designed for a monthly capacity of 22.5 thousand sheets based on a 2290mm x 2620mm substrate size. The project is focused on high-end displays for tablets, laptops and monitors and is expected to reach an investment total of more than USD 4 billion.
Jun Zhao, senior vice president of TCL Technology and CEO of TCL CSOT, said the project represents a major step for the company’s position in the high-generation AMOLED sector. “By bringing together the entire value chain, from foundational materials to final product assembly, we are building a fully integrated, end-to-end industrial cluster designed to compete on a global scale,” he said.
Prof. Sir Richard Henry Friend of the University of Cambridge, who is credited as the founder of solution-processed OLED, also shared support for the initiative, saying he looked forward to the technology’s next phase.
TCL CSOT describes IJP OLED as a manufacturing process that uses precision printing to deposit organic light-emitting materials onto substrates. The company says the method supports high resolution, color performance, energy efficiency and cost-effectiveness for products ranging from small devices to large panels.
The company began mass production from its G5.5 IJP OLED line in Wuhan in November 2024. That facility, known as t12, has been scaling production and process stability over the past year.
TCL CSOT points to growing global demand for OLED across foldable devices, automotive displays, wearables and larger formats as a factor driving investment in the t8 project. Market data from Omdia cited in the announcement forecasts AMOLED panel shipments rising from 1.01 billion units in 2024 to more than 1.33 billion by 2030.
The company says it holds more than 9,700 OLED-related patents worldwide, including more than 1,200 specific to IJP OLED. TCL CSOT describes the new production line as the result of more than a decade of R&D, talent development and patent activity.
TCL CSOT says the t8 line represents a milestone for both the company and the global display industry as it continues expanding its capabilities in next-generation OLED manufacturing.
