Displays giants forge new venture

17 Jun 2002

Toshiba and Matsushita of Japan have joined forces to drive liquid crystal displays forward.

Japan-based electronics makers Toshiba and Matsushita have created a joint venture to develop and manufacture liquid crystal displays (LCDs). Yet to be named, the new company will launch in April of next year, with Toshiba taking a majority share of 60%.

"The business integration will involve product development, manufacturing and sales," said a Matsushita spokesperson. "The new company aims to take a leading position in the global market for LCDs and next-generation displays, including displays based on organic light emitting diodes [OLEDs]."

Other future plans include driving system-on-glass technology forward for LCDs and standardizing display design and manufacture.

The new venture will take over all of the parent companies' manufacturing sites for thin film transistor and super-twisted nematic LCDs. Also merging with the company are: Toshiba's Fukaya operations and TFPD corporation in Japan, Matsushita's LCD Ishikawa and Uozu business sites in Japan; and a Singapore-based joint venture.

"Beyond LCDs, the new company will promote early commercialization of OLEDs drawing on its parents' intellectual property, engineering and manufacturing resources," added the spokesperson.