Merck Invests 30 Million Euros in New OLED Production Plant in Darmstadt, Germany

Merck has laid the cornerstone for a new OLED materials production plant in Darmstadt, Germany. Production of high-purity OLED materials for use in state-of-the-art displays and lighting systems is scheduled to start in the approximately 2,000 square meter building in July 2016. With the investment, which amounts to approximately €30 million, Merck is strengthening its position in the OLED business. Merck aims to be a leading supplier of OLED materials by 2018 by making use of its experience in the liquid crystals business.

“The new OLED production plant is one of the largest single investments that Merck has made at the Darmstadt site in recent years,” said Bernd Reckmann, member of the Executive Board of Merck. “OLED technology has the potential to become the technology of the future for displays and lighting. We invested significant sums in this technology at an early stage. The new production plant is thus another important link in this chain.”

Merck is cooperating with Seiko Epson on printable displays for OLED screens. These materials stand out due to their innovative potential in smartphone, tablets and televisions. Flexible or rollable screens are also possible for private consumers in the form of ultra-thin, energy-saving displays for portable devices or large video walls that are produced with OLEDs using thin-film technology. The automotive industry as well as the fields of medicine and education are also opening up new possibilities for the materials.