Samsung Display Completes Acquisition of eMagin, Expanding Presence in MicroOLED Market

Samsung Display, a subsidiary of Samsung Electronics, has successfully completed its acquisition of eMagin, a US-based company specializing in MicroOLED solutions for AR/VR, near-eye displays, and various applications. In a cash deal worth $218 million, Samsung Display has acquired all the common shares of eMagin, making it a wholly-owned subsidiary.

Founded in 1996, eMagin has been a trusted supplier of MicroOLED displays to the US military, as well as renowned customers in the military, consumer, medical, and industrial sectors. Since 2001, eMagin's MicroOLED displays have found applications in AR/VR devices, aircraft helmets, head-up display systems, thermal imagers, night vision goggles, future weapon systems, and more.

One of eMagin's notable achievements is the development of its proprietary direct patterning (dPd) technology. This innovative technology employs separate red, green, and blue OLED stacks at the sub-pixel level, enabling high brightness and exceptional color fidelity. Recognized for its potential, eMagin's dPd technology received $39 million in funding from the US government and successfully scaled up production lines from 200mm to 300mm wafer sizes.

Samsung Display's acquisition of eMagin is a strategic move aimed at fortifying its position in the rapidly growing MicroOLED market. With the increasing demand for AR/VR devices and wearable displays, Samsung Display seeks to leverage eMagin's expertise. Furthermore, reports suggest that Samsung Display is collaborating with industry giants Apple, Sony, and LGD to develop and manufacture cost-effective, high-capacity MicroOLED solutions.

MicroOLED displays, which utilize silicon wafers as substrates and integrate driving circuits on the same chip, offer several advantages over conventional LCD or OLED displays. These advantages include high resolution, low power consumption, wide viewing angles, and fast response times. MicroOLED displays are particularly suitable for near-eye displays that require high pixel density and brightness.

Currently, the global MicroOLED market is dominated by a handful of companies based in Europe, America, and Japan, including eMagin, MicroEmissive Displays (MED), Fraunhofer IPMS, MicroOLED, and Sony.