LG aims for display technology leadership

MANILA, Philippines - LG Electronics, the South Korean technology giant, has an ambitious plan to become the world leader in digital display technology next year.

At a media tour of its research and development and design facilities in Pyeong-taek and Paju in South Korea, LG showed off an impressive series of display products from televisions and monitors to smartphones, e-paper and home appliance displays, among others, that would help the company reach its goal.

LG claims to have cornered a quarter of the overall market share for displays used primarily for TVs, mobile phones and notebook computers in 2008. Official 2009 sales figures are yet to be released but LG is confident its numbers are good after experiencing record revenues of $11.2 billion in the third quarter of 2009 despite the global recession.

Known previously as Goldstar, the 52-year-old company now takes pride in its pioneering display products that include top-of-the-line TVs such as the Infinia Borderless LCD TV, the premium LH95 wireless TV, and HD (high-definition) computer monitors for the business sector.

LG is also making headway in its efforts to develop newer technologies such as 3D display and touch screens, and the OLED (organic light emitting diode) display that is emerging as the next-generation technology for electronic displays and lighting.

In addition, LG also supplies display components as an OEM (original equipment manufacturer) to other large IT companies such as Apple for the iPad and Acer for some of its monitors, LG executives said.

The company also continues to produce CRT TVs that are much slimmer now and plasma TVs ranging from 16 inches to 42 inches.

LG plans to focus on the large-size (over 50-inch) flat panel display market where plasma TVs still occupy significant market share.

But the real priority is in the LCD TV business where future growth will be driven by LG’s expertise in LED backlight, wireless, broadband and TruMotion 240Hz technologies.

LG also plans to extend its mid- and small-sized TV line to accommodate customers with diverse preferences and needs.

After having conquered screens both big and small, what’s next for LG? The answer lies at the Paju factory where even bigger and smaller displays are being made. The company has manufactured before a leviathan 100-inch LCD and now also has considerably large multi-touch screens and mirror displays.

The factory tour also showed the press some lilliputian screens the size of business cards that could well play videos with excellent quality.

Given all the technology and design innovations LG has done particularly for TV displays, who could still say that too much TV is bad for you?