Cambridge Display Technology (CDT), the developer of light emitting polymer (LEP) technology for flat panel displays and lighting, has started clean room and other construction activities in a planned $25 million technology development facility in the UK.
The new 1750 square meter facility will be the driving force behind CDT's commercialisation strategy for LEPs by increasing the scale and scope of intellectual property available to its licensees as well as providing the capability to test new materials and LEP device structures on a commercial scale. CDT is recruiting steadily for technologists and engineers and plans to have the facility operational in early 2002, eventually employing forty new staff. The first equipment is planned for installation in Quarter 3, 2001. The facility is based in Godmanchester, some 15 miles from CDT's headquarters and R&D centre in Cambridge. It includes contingency space to accommodate future expansion plans.
"Cambridge is the location of our current development facility and is renowned for being an intellectual powerhouse and home to a community of talented scientists. It makes sense for us to take advantage of this skill base and place our new pilot facility in close proximity," said CDT's CEO, David Fyfe.
According to research from DisplaySearch, Organic Light Emitting Diode (OLED) display revenue is expected to grow from $24 million in 2000 to $3.3 billion by 2005. The OLED display market consists of a wide range of electronics products that includes mobile phones, PDAs, digital cameras, camcorders and eventually personal computers and consumer products. "CDT's investment in this facility is a commitment to the long-term advancement and commercialisation of LEP technology", said Fyfe. "To hold our position at the forefront of technology development we need to lead by example on a commercial scale. The conditions are now right to make this move. We have built a solid technology base and interest in LEPs is rising rapidly in the display world."
The new manufacturing facility will also be used to test and demonstrate cutting-edge technologies to established display manufacturers looking to license from, or establish joint ventures, with CDT. In addition to materials and manufacturing technology development for high volume production of LEP displays, the facility is planned to eventually produce displays for specialised markets such as medical, industrial applications, military and other low volume markets.