● Construction of a transparent PI material production center to begin on 19, 2018 in a joint project with a subsidiary specializing in film processing for commercialization in October 2019.

● A big advantage in customer response and quality management since there is only one competitor who specializes in _ base_ film production and coating. 

SKC (CEO Lee Wanjae) is building an integrated production system for transparent PI film at its Jincheon factory in a joint project with SKC Hi-Tech & Marketing, one of its subsidiaries specializing in film processing. Hard on the surface yet flexible at the same time, transparent PI film is recognized as an alternative glass material that can be used in next-generation foldable and rollable displays.

Material production by SKC and flexible hard coating by its subsidiary to produce what customers want _ base_d on their expertise

SKC held a groundbreaking ceremony for the new production facilities for the mass production and processing of transparent PI in the afternoon of 19, 2018 at its Jincheon factory, with the participation of SKC CEO Lee Wanjae, Project Manager Won Gidon, President of Industrial Materals Lee Yongseon, and SKC Hi-Tech & Marketing CEO Kim Huisu. SKC decided to invest a total of KRW 85 billion in transparent PI film production with SKC Hi-Tech & Marketing in December 2017, and it has been preparing for product commercialization by placing orders for the necessary equipment since then.

SKC plans to set up new equipment in the first half of 2019 and start the commercialization of new products in October of the same year. Meanwhile, SKC Hi-Tech & Marketing prepares for mass production by setting up the transparent PI film processing facilities. SKC boasts of several years’ experience in optical film production, and SKC Hi-Tech & Marketing has the most advanced technology in hard coating in the country. Working hand in hand in their respective fields, SKC will make the _ base_ material for high-quality transparent PI film and SKC Hi-Tech & Marketing will coat the surface of the film with a hard coating.

Unlike its competitors, SKC is the only company that is building an integrated production system at the same site. Some of the advantages of having film production and coating facilities in one place include faster customer response and easier quality management as well as superior quality finish. 

Top-quality optical transparent PI film _ base_d on years of experience in the mass production of optical film and color PI film

SKC is a leading global manufacturer of optical film and color PI film, from which transparent IP film was developed. As the only company in the market that boasts of several years’ experience in both fields, SKC now plans to produce the world's best optical transparent PI film  _ base_d on its experience.

SKC has its own transparent PI film manufacturing process, which is yet another advantage over its competitors. The company designed the production process for transparent PI film to make it look identical to that of color PI film. SKC is very familiar with the process because of its experience in the mass production of a similar product. This will enable the company to minimize the number of trials and errors in the early stage of mass production and realize a high level of productivity in a relatively short period of time.

Development of unbreakable and transparent display panels

SKC is planning to develop other types of display panels for different purposes as well. For instance, the transparent PI film can replace the cover glass of smartphones, and it is also "unbreakable"; in fact, the screen does not break even when the smartphone is dropped. The transparent PI film can also be used as touch screen, OLED panel for flexible transparent display, and thin film solar panels.

According to an estimate by a market research firm, the transparent PI film market size is expected to reach KRW 1.2 trillion by 2023. As such, SKC organized a Task Force Team in order to tap into other markets where transparent PI film can be used.

“We are currently developing new products that meet the demands of our customers through cooperation with our customers in Korea and China. We are preparing for the commercialization of our new products according to the ti_ meta_ble, and this is the place where we will do our best to develop new items and stay in line with the market,” said SKC President of Industrial Materals Lee Yongseon. [End]