LG Display announced it will initiate mass production of plastic OLED (POLED) panels in the first half of 2017, reported Korea Times.

The OLED display uses plastic as a substrate, adding flexibility and making the displays both rollable and foldable, stated LG Display.

According to the Korean media report, LG Display has acquired a POLED manufacturing equipment for its E5 production line in Gumi, North Gyeongsang Province in Korea, which is in-line with its investment drive to be the first company to mass produce next-generation display panels.

LG Display invested in total 18 trillion won ($15.44 billion) in the Gumi facility since 1995.

"The latest move will allow the Gumi plant to become a key venue to manufacture small- and medium-sized POLED displays,"
said LG Display Chief Production Officer (CPO) Jeong Cheol-dong.

LG Display will start a pilot test for the new equipment in 2016 before it starts supplying POLED displays to clients by the first half of 2017, the company said.

The new equipment will be installed in the firm’s E5 production line where LG Display has invested 1.5 trillion won in July 2015 to meet growing demand for flexible displays for smartphones and automobile applications.

Substantial tax incentives have been offered by the Gumi City to LG for its bid to revitalize the regional economy.