The arrival of foldable and flexible displays is making its way into mass-market products like smartphones, tablets, and wearables, and the demand for new material solutions is taking off rapidly. Major device manufacturers are beginning to move away from LED-backlit LCDs toward OLED displays, which are thinner, have more vibrant colors with high dynamic range, and offer improved luminance. OLED displays can also be shaped in new ways, such as being rolled up like a newspaper. Emerging displays, including those in fast-growing markets like automotive and signage, are expected to reach a value of nearly $40 billion by 2020, with a CAGR of around 18% over the period 2015-2020.
The collaboration agreement pertains to Inkron's optical layer (IOC) products, which consist of light-control materials and photo-moldable dielectrics. These materials offer unique optical properties and excellent suitability for OLED processing and on-cell touch sensors. Features include low-temperature and ultraviolet curing, as well as physical characteristics such as controllable optical properties and mechanical flexibility. Furthermore, the materials are compatible with leading coating and production methods used in OLED and touch sensor systems.
"With the growing demand for unique materials driven by a new wave of flexible and OLED displays, we see Inkron's advanced IOC products addressing this market demand. This technology offers display solutions that complement our existing market offerings and technologies, and it's also well-suited to the volume manufacturing capabilities at our Nagase factory," explains Mr. Takahiro Okumura, Manager, Electronic Chemistry Department, Nagase & Co., Ltd.
The final products produced under the agreement will be ramped up for volume production during 2016 at the Nagase factory in Tatsuno, Japan, and distributed to major display manufacturing territories in Asia. Inkron will continue developing materials at its R&D center in Finland, as well as supplying key siloxane materials, for selected IOC products.
Inkron CEO Dr. Juha Rantala emphasizes the importance of a strong global partner in bringing new materials to market, commenting: “We are delighted to be working with Nagase, which has an excellent market position, and extending our technology to the very conservative global display ecosystem. As a leading company focused on the development of printed siloxane and nano-metal-based ink and paste, our partnership with Nagase provides us with advanced industrial chemical manufacturing expertise to scale up production and ensure source security for our tier-1 users.”.

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