Flat-screen display manufacturers particularly felt the economic impact of the sharp decline in television prices in 2011. Although our customers responded to the overall weaker economic situation by reducing inventories, total revenues of the Liquid Crystals business unit increased by 8.0% to € 1,094 million from € 1,013 million in 2010. The effects of declining prices and negative foreign exchange rate effects were offset by high sales volumes. This was attributable to the continuing strong demand for our broad portfolio of innovative liquid crystal mixtures used in flat-panel TVs, computer monitors, smartphone touchscreens, and tablet computers. Therefore, the Liquid Crystals business unit, which accounts for the majority of the division’s total revenues, continued its solid growth in 2011. This stemmed from the ongoing demand, particularly for IPS (in-plane switching) technologies for smartphone touchscreens and PS-VA (polymer-stabilized vertical alignment) as well as VA (vertical alignment) technologies for TV displays.
In addition, the business with reactive mesogens developed very positively; sales soared to € 19 million from € 4 million in 2010. Reactive mesogens are polymerizable liquid crystals that can be used, for instance, as a material for optical films, including film-patterned retarder (FPR) products for 3D screens.
With the inauguration of an application laboratory for liquid crystals in Shanghai, we laid the cornerstone for further intensifying cooperation with our customers. We invested around € 1 million in this center.
OLED technology progressing rapidly
Besides liquid crystal technology, our researchers are working on materials for innovative displays. The special focus of development here is on OLED materials, which are already being used in mobile phones and MP3 players. Having commissioned the OLED Application Development Laboratory (ADL) in Poseung, South Korea, in October, we are further expanding our position in the OLED market of this country. Apart from applications in the display sector, OLED materials can also be used for lighting. They make it possible to create new types of lighting elements that offer diffuse, glare-free light and are extremely energy-efficient. They lend a special atmosphere not only to living spaces, but also any setting requiring unique lighting.
Broad range of innovative LED lighting materials and high-tech materials for photovoltaic technologies
In addition, our researchers are working on innovative lighting materials for LEDs, which are an alternative to conventional light bulbs and energy-saving lamps. Light-emitting diodes increase the color intensity of light and display, consume less energy and help reduce CO2 emissions.
In the photovoltaics sector, we are developing materials and printing technologies for solar cell production. With the isishape® range, we offer manufacturers printable structuring materials that improve solar cell efficiency and permit eco-friendly production processes. Parallel to this, we are working with leading partners around the world on new technologies, for example dye-sensitized solar cells that imitate nature’s photosynthesis process.
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