Sony And Panasonic End OLED Partnership

OLED manufacturing has proven problematic pretty much from the get-go. From the ultra-clean room environment it requires, to the need for a perfect seal on the diodes to prevent oxidation and failure. Nikkei explains some of the problems Sony and Panasonic likely had integrating their tech:

 


We’ve been told for many years now that OLED was to be the future of TV. The beautiful colors,  high contrast, and great power profile certainly seemed like the promised land for fidelity, and eventually, profitability. However, after a year of trying to merge their R&D on OLED technology, Sony and Panasonic are going their separate ways.

The two companies had planned to combine Panasonic’s production method, which involves printing organic material onto a substrate, with Sony’s OLED technology. They aimed to establish a technological base for mass production in 2013, potentially working together on manufacturing thereafter. But they were unable to make the panels durable enough, nor to cut production costs. The electronics firms decided not to renew their tie-up contract when it expires at the end of the year, and will instead pursue development independently.

The move caused NPD to downgrade expected sales by 20% for the year. While Samsung and LG are still making OLED TVs, the panels are supported by their smartphone business, and only 20,000 sets are expected to be sold. Compare that to the close to 2 million TVs estimated for 4K in 2013, and you can see why OLED might become less of a priority for the major manufacturers.
It’s not all doom and gloom however. Kateeva has developed a technology they claim can make laying down OLED diodes as easy as inkjet printing. If it works out, then it’s conceivable that OLED may become even cheaper than LCD to produce, and that will restore interest in a hurry.