`Lighting up` the cleanroom
Cambridge Display Technology has started cleanroom and other construction activities for a $25m development/manufacturing facility in the UK
Cambridge Display Technology (CDT) a developer of light emitting polymer (LEP) technology for flat panel displays and lighting, has started cleanroom and other construction activities on building a $25 million technology development manufacturing facility in the UK.
The new 1750m² facility will be the driving force behind CDT's commercialisation strategy for light emitting polymers 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. It will provide the capability for high volume production of LEP displays suited to a wide range of display applications.
The company is recruiting steadily heavily for technologists and engineers and plans to have the manufacturing facility operational in early by the second quarter of 2002, eventually employing 40 new staff. The first equipment planned for installation will be installed in October 2001. The facility is based in Godmanchester, some 15 miles from CDT's headquarters and R&D centre in Cambridge. It also 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 skills base and locate our new pilot manufacturing 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 includes 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 manufacturing 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 will be deployed to eventually produce limited runs of specialised displays such as those used for specialised markets such as avionics, medical, industrial and other low volume applications, military and other low volume markets.