Schott, the high technology company in Germany and Schott Kuramoto Processing Korea held a ceremony for the completion of the Oh Chang Factory and began the process of manufacturing on February 22, 2007. The factory is built to produce glass panes for huge Thin Film Translator Liquid Crystal Displays (TFT-LCDs) that are beyond the fifth generation. The products that are produced here go to Samsung Eletronics and LG Phillips. Schott and Kuramoto together currently share the profit, 75% for Schott and 25% for LG Phillips.
US$1.44 million was invested to build the Oh Chang Factory in thirteen months in Oh Chang Science Village. Fifth and seventh generation production lines are now in operation and will actively operate in August.
The quality of technology and production ability has increased twice as much since the establishment of the Oh Chang Factory and glass melting furnace in Jena, Germany. Now Schott produces more glass panes with 0.7 mm widths for large TFT-LCDs.
The glass panes are used in flat display products such as computer monitors, laptops, and televisions. However, glass pane market growth had been controlled by TFT-LCD TV.
Forth million TVs were sold in 2006, which increased the market of greater than seventh generation large glass panes. The TV market expects a 20-30% increase in glass pane production by 2010.