China’s TCL, one of the world’s largest TV manufacturers, has announced plans to build a Gen 11 LCD factory targeting 65” and larger LCD panels. The company will invest $7.8 billion.

World’s most advanced LCD factory
Some players in the industry are pivoting to OLED but TCL believes that world still hungers for large-size, affordable LCD TVs. That is why it is investing billions in a new 11G LCD factory that will be capable of producing the world’s largest LCD panels.

The growth rate of LCD TVs is slowing down but TCL says that “displays bigger than 55" account for only 10 percent of today’s TV market,” and adds that “the prospect of extra-large LCD panels is promising and large-size high-resolution TVs will soon be mainstream”.

TCL already sells a 110-inch LCD TV.


The new 11G plant will be the most advanced large-scale LCD plant in the world. Sharp operated a 10G LCD plant for many years that allowed it to produce 70, 80, 90 and even 100” TVs at relatively affordable prices. China’s BOE has started construction of a 10.5G LCD plant. TCL will invest $7.8 billion dollars to build the new plant through its subsidiary CSOT (China Star Optoelectronics Technology). CSOT began LCD production in 2009.

- “As TCL grows rapidly in the U.S., the expanded capabilities of CSOT are critical in helping us keep up with demand,” said Chris Larson, vice president, sales and marketing, TCL. “We already benefit from a vertically integrated supply chain that gives us cost advantages over our competitors, and this investment will allow us to take a leadership position in large size TVs.”

No completion date has been announced but once operational the new factory will produce “extra-large high-resolution 65-inch and larger” LCD panels. It will be located in Shenzhen, China.

- Source: TCL