SDI to Invest 551.8 Billion Won for Organic Displays

Samsung SDI Co., the world's largest maker of organic displays, plans to invest 551.8 billion won ($529 million) to increase production of the screens, reported The Bloomberg.

The investments will be completed by June 2009, Suwon, South Korea-based Samsung SDI said in a regulatory filing today. The so-called active-matrix organic light emitting diode, or AMOLED, displays are brighter, thinner and use less power than liquid- crystal displays, according to SDI.

Global shipments of AMOLED displays will almost quadruple this year on demand from television and mobile-phone makers, according to research firm iSuppli Corp. SDI, which plans to double production of organic displays this year, said in January the business will account for 7 percent of its sales in 2008, from 1 percent last year.

Sony Corp., the world's second-largest maker of consumer electronics, has identified organic displays as one of the main products that will drive the company's growth. The Tokyo-based company said in February it will invest 22 billion yen ($208 million) on the technology starting in October.

Samsung SDI, which also makes plasma displays and rechargeable batteries, rose 0.1 percent to close at 83,600 won on the Korea Exchange. The stock has gained 26 percent this year.