Global light manufacturer, OSRAM, has inaugurated its organic light emitting diode (OLED) production facility at Regensburg in Germany. The achievement of this milestone signifies the progress towards mass manufacture of OLEDs. The company had launched the OLED pilot production line on 30 August.
The OLED 2015 is an initiative of the Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung (BMBF) or the Federal Ministry of Education and Research, to advance the progress of organic electronics. The BMBF has played a critical role in the OLED 2015 initiative. OSRAM’s chairman of the Managing Board, Wolfgang Dehen, stated that the Regensburg was sending out a significant message for the technologically advanced location.
OLEDs are the source of lighting for the future. Its technology is similar to LED technology, and is related to the usage of semiconductors for conversion of electricity into light. OLED-panels produce a luminous surface, while LEDs provide a punctiform light source based on miniature shining chips. For making OLEDs to create light, various types of organic type synthetic materials are evaporated onto different types of basic material. The basic material decides the color of the OLED when it is switched off. It could display a transparent, neutrally white or mirroring effect. The OLED’s luminous layer has a thickness equivalent to 1/100th the thickness of human hair, which is around 400 nm.
OSRAM had introduced serial OLED-products two years back. The company has invested around €50 million in OLED research and development, and it has invested around €20 million in the Regensburg production site. The company employs over 220 people at this site. OSRAM would be manufacturing transparent OLED-panels at this facility. The pilot production line would also enable OSRAM to increase the efficiency, durability and brightness of its OLEDs. OSRAMs portfolio of OLED products include luminaires, modules and panels.