On April 14, South Korean media reported that LG Display (LGD) is drawing up an investment plan to adopt the eLEAP process for some of its large-size OLED production lines. The investment scale is said to be relatively modest, and a final investment decision is expected around the end of this year. If the plan is finalized, LGD will likely use the eLEAP process to meet IT product demand from major North American clients.

Industry analysts believe that as rivals ramp up investment in Gen 8.6 OLED lines, LGD is growing increasingly urgent to respond, strengthening internal recognition of the need to invest in new technologies.

According to industry sources, LGD is exploring a plan to expand part of its production lines to manufacture large-size OLED panels via the eLEAP method. A final investment decision is expected by the end of 2025, with line expansion potentially starting as early as next year.

The planned eLEAP-based large-size OLED line is set to have a monthly capacity of approximately 7,500 substrates (7.5k), a relatively small scale.

However, since eLEAP technology has not yet been fully validated in mass production, the line will most likely be developed as a pilot or validation line.

LGD previously stated its investment budget for this year would be around 2 trillion Korean won. Excluding investments already implemented since last year, its actual new investment for 2025 is estimated at roughly 1.5 trillion won. The industry widely expects a portion of this fund to be allocated to eLEAP-related projects.

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Proposed by Japan Display Inc. (JDI), eLEAP is a technology that deposits red, green, and blue pixels using an Open Metal Mask (OMM) instead of a Fine Metal Mask (FMM).

Industry insiders revealed that LGD began evaluating the eLEAP process around three years ago. Last year, the company also assessed the feasibility of mass-producing high value-added IT OLED panels on large-size OLED lines using eLEAP technology.

Since eLEAP eliminates the use of FMM, it delivers a higher aperture ratio — the proportion of light-emitting area within a pixel. Theoretically, this can boost brightness by up to 2x and extend service life by more than 3x. If successfully commercialized, the technology would enable highly efficient production of high-quality panels.

If the eLEAP investment plan is approved, LGD plans to begin mass production preparation in 2027. The company has also drafted a roadmap to formally apply the process to high value-added products such as IT OLED on a large scale starting in 2030.

The market widely predicts Apple will be the primary customer for this production line. Following the launch of the OLED iPad in 2024, Apple is planning to gradually shift panels for major IT products including MacBook and iMac (displays) to OLED.

Industry observers therefore interpret that amid intensifying competition as rivals like Samsung Display accelerate Gen 8.6 OLED investment, LGD is considering new technology investment to keep pace. Compared with building an entirely new Gen 8.6 line, adopting eLEAP is seen as a solution that eases the investment burden.

One industry insider said: “The company may first build the line and then pursue mass production by gradually improving yield over the long term.”

He added: “The final investment decision rests with the board of directors in the second half of the year, but I understand there is already strong internal consensus on the necessity of the investment.”