BOE CEO to visit Japan’s Canon Tokki 

The CEO of Chinese display giant BOE is visiting Japan for a meeting with those at display production equipment maker Canon Tokki, TheElec has learned.

The visit by BOE CEO Gao Wenbao is expected to be made around the middle of the month, sources said.

His visit is likely being made to secure earlier delivery of deposition machine made by Canon Tokki needed for the production of Gen 8 OLED panels.

Gen 8 OLED panels are aimed at use for IT products such as tablets and notebooks; the OLED panels are cut out from Gen 8 substrates that are larger than Gen 6.

Gen 8 uses fine metal masks to deposit red, green, and blue organic material pixels on the glass much like Gen 6. But the technology is yet incomplete for Gen 8.

Canon Tokki is the main developer for the deposition machine needed for this process.

LG Display has the earliest slot to receive the equipment right now, sources said, followed by Samsung Display and BOE.

Slots are reserved through verbal communication prior to the sending of a letter of intent or placement of order documents.

BOE won’t be able to change its slot but it can ask Canon Tokki to deliver the machine after the order is placed, and this it likely what it is seeking.

LG Display is expected to get the Gen 8 OLED deposition machine during the first quarter of next year, followed by Samsung Display between the second and third quarters. BOE is expected to get it during the fourth quarter.

The biggest voice between these display panel makers and Canon Tokki will be Apple, which will be the largest customer for the Gen 8 OLED.

Cupertino will likely prefer the more experienced company to get the machines first, such as LG Display.