Samsung to Build New 11G LCD Plant, Additional 8G Line
July 18, 2008
After calling off the plan for a 10G TFT-LCD (Thin Film Transistor Liquid Crystal Display) plant, Korean Samsung has formed plans to build a new 11G TFT-LCD plant in Tangjeong, Chungcheongnam-do, where the company's LCD complex is located, The Korea Times reported on July 18. The report added that the plant will produce glass substrates that can each be cut into eight 70-inch LCD TV panels. With an estimated initial investment of three trillion Won (US$2.97 billion; US$1=1,011 Won) to four trillion Won (US$3.96 billion), the plant is slated to begin construction in 2009 and enter operation in the third quarter of 2010, according to the same report. Details regarding the production capacity of the plant were not yet revealed, though.
Meanwhile, following the 1.8 trillion Won (US$1.78 billion) agreement signed by Samsung and Sony in April 2008 to set up S-LCD's 8-2 plant, Samsung announced that it plans to inject an additional investment of around 1.8 billion Won (US$1.78 million) to build an additional 8G TFT-LCD line on the same premises, according to another report by The Korea Times. Samsung, however, declined to make further comments on the second-phase project. The first phase of the 8-2 plant is slated for mass production in the second quarter of 2009, with a projected monthly capacity of 60,000 glass substrates, mainly for use in 50-inch LCD TVs, also according to The Korea Times.