Korea's LG Display announced on March 9 that it has started mass production of 8G LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) panels at the company's Paju complex, north of Seoul, Yonhap News Agency reported. LG Display has invested 2.53 trillion Won (US$1.69 billion; US$1=1501.4 Won) in the new 8G line, which is projected with a monthly capacity of 20,000 sheets of 2.2m x 2.5m mother glass initially. The company aims to raise the production volume to 83,000 sheets per month by year-end 2009. LG Display's new 8G line will be dedicated to the manufacturing of 32-, 47- and 55-inch LCD TV panels.

At the same time, LG Display's archrival S-LCD, a joint venture between Samsung Electronics and Sony, is expected to launch another 8G LCD line in the second quarter of 2009. S-LCD began manufacturing 8G LCD panels in 2008 at its Tangjeong complex in South Chungcheong Province, Korea. It is estimated that S-LCD has injected an overall investment of US$1.8 billion in its new 8G line, also located at the Tangjeong complex.