LG Display today announced that it has developed the world's first TFT roll-printing technology that can replace the photolithography process. LG will show the new technology at the SID 2008.

Photolithography is a process used in TFT-LCD fabrication to form patterns on the TFT and color filter substrate. It involves a complex set of processes that requires huge and costly equipment.
However, using the roll-printing technology instead of photolithography, the complex set of processes used to form the required patterns can be proceeded at once.

The roll-printing technology is expected to help reduce material and equipment costs, clean room investment costs and also shorten the production time of TFT-LCD.
Furthermore, roll-printing is an environment-friendly technology that significantly decreases the use of chemicals used in the photolithography process and is also applicable to the next-generation, flexible display technology.

LG Display already developed the color filter roll-printing technology in the end of 2005 and recently succeeded in applying the roll-printing technology to the TFT process for the first time in the world. This was due to LG Display’s technological development in enhancing accuracy and resolution, which was previously considered as a limitation of the roll-printing technology.

LG Display does not really detail what the new technology means for the consumer. The new manufacturing technology will give them an edge over the competition in terms of cost and efficiency. Let's hope that it will lead to lower prices in the end for us consumers.

LG Display plans to unveil its new TFT roll-printing technology at the SID (Society of Information Display, site) 2008, which will be held from May 20th through 22nd in Los Angeles, California.
Via the LG Display site.