Nagase and Inkron Collaborate on Novel Optical Materials for Emerging Displays
TOKYO and HELSINKI, February 2, 2016 /PRNewswire/ --
Nagase & Co., Ltd. and Nagase ChemteX Corporation (herein after jointly called Nagase),
a major global group providing marketing, sales and manufacturing of specialty and
electronics materials for semiconductor, display and other electronics applications; and
Inkron, a technology leader in printed siloxane based nano-ink and paste materials for the
display, semiconductor and printed electronics industries, today announced the start of
development and manufacturing collaboration for the area of OLED and on-cell touch sensor
materials.
In the advent that foldable and flexible displays are moving to mainstream consumer
products such as smartphones, tablets and wearable devices, the demand for new material
solutions is rapidly taking off. Major device makers are starting to shift away from LCD
with LED backlight illumination to OLED displays which are thinner, have more vivid colors
with high dynamic range function as well as improved luminance. OLED displays can also
express new forms such as being rolled-up like a newspaper. Emerging displays, including
fast growing markets such as automotive and signage, OLEDs market is predicted to reach a
value of nearly $40 billion by 2020, with a growth of about 18% CAGR during the 2015-2020
period.
The collaboration relates to Inkron's Optical Coating (IOC) products of
photo-patternable dielectric and light control materials, where features such as unique
optical properties as well as excellent processing suitability for OLED and on-cell touch
sensors can be implemented. These include low temperature and ultraviolet cure processing
as well as physical features such as well controllable optical properties and mechanical
flexibility. Moreover, the materials are compatible with major coating and manufacturing
methodologies in OLED and touch sensors schemes.
"As unique material needs are arising with a new wave of OLED and flexible displays,
we see Inkron's advanced IOC products addressing well the market demand. This technology
offers display solutions which are complementary with our current market offering and
technology, and is also well suited to the volume manufacturing capabilities at our
Nagase's factory," explains General Manager Mr Takahiro Okumura, Electronic Chemicals
Department of Nagase & Co., Ltd.
Final products produced under the agreement are being ramped up for volume production
during 2016 at Nagase's factory in Tatsuno, Japan and will be distributed to all major
display manufacturing territories in Asia. Inkron will continue to further develop the
materials in its R&D center in Finland as well as to provide key siloxane materials for
the selected IOC products.
CEO of Inkron Dr Juha Rantala highlights the importance of a strong global partner in
novel materials market introduction and says: "We are excited to work with Nagase who has
an excellent position to market and expand our technology within very conservative global
displays ecosystem. As a leading technology company focused on printed siloxane and
nano-metal based ink and paste development, our partnership with Nagase brings us an
advanced industrial chemical manufacturing expertise to scale up the production and
guarantee security of source for our tier-1 users.
About Nagase Â
Nagase & Co., Ltd. and its affiliates is engaged in activities around the world that
rely on the use of chemicals across a wide spectrum of products and services through our
Functional Materials, Advanced Materials & Processing, Electronics, Automotive & Energy,
and Life & Healthcare segments. These products and services include dyes/pigments, coating
materials/inks, surfactants, office automation (OA), electrical equipment, home
electronics, automobiles, LCDs, semiconductors, pharmaceutical/medical applications,
cosmetics and functional food ingredients.
Nagase ChemteX Corporation the wholly owned subsidiary of Nagase & Co., is in
production and sale of high-performance resins including denatured epoxy resins, chemical
solutions for photolithography, epichlorohydrin derivatives, acrylic polymers, conductive
polymers, liquid crystal materials, chelating agents, disinfectants and antimicrobial
agents, and enzymes/phospholipids.
About Inkron
Inkron is a technology leader and manufacturer of next generation materials for the
Displays, LED, Power IC, semiconductor and printed electronics industries. Inkron
proprietary advanced siloxane polymer chemistry capabilities, along with our cost
effective manufacturing process for nanomaterials, enable the development of a wide range
of customized material products with superior performance advantages in high-tech
applications. For more information on Inkron, please visit http://www.inkron.com.
For more information - please contact: Â
Inkron LimitedÂ
CEOÂ
Dr Juha RantalaÂ
E-mail: juha.rantala@inkron.comÂ
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Nagase & Co., Ltd.Â
Manager of Electronic Chemicals DeptÂ
Mr Hiroshi TanakaÂ
E-mail: hiroshi.tanaka@nagase.co.jpÂ