China-based LCD maker HKC aims to become an AMOLED producer, and we now have more details on its strategic plans. In 2023, HKC started a collaboration with JDI to build an eLEAP AMOLED production line in China. These plans were canceled towards the end of 2023, but the company continued to develop its AMOLED technologies, and in early 2025 it acquired Royole’s AMOLED production line equipment.
Earlier this month HKC produced its first AMOLED display sample – a smartphone type panel, produced on an advanced Oxide-TFT (IGZO) backplane.
HKC apparently decided on an AMOLED strategy that relies on two main tracks. The first involves acquiring equipment from shut-down AMOLED lines, while the second looks at the longer-term with the adoption of next-generation maskless OLED production technologies, aimed to leap-frog over existing FMM methods.
HKC’s first step was to acquire the Royole 5.5-Gen production line, and restart production, aiming to achieve the capability for commercial mass production. As we said, it produced its first sample earlier this month, and the company is likely to be able to begin small-scale commercial next year as Royole already achieved mass production using the same line.