[News] Micron Among Potential Buyers for Display Maker JDI’s Mobara Fab; Sale Price Reportedly Around KRW 500B
Micron is among a diverse group of potential buyers eyeing JDI’s shuttered Mobara fab for new uses beyond display production. According to ZDNet, sources say Micron, several data center operators, and a semiconductor substrate maker are interested in acquiring the facility, which ceased operations in March. One key attraction is the potential time savings. Building a new facility and securing government approvals can take years before production begins, while acquiring the existing Mobara fab could significantly shorten that timeline.
The facility previously produced sixth-generation LCD and OLED panels, meaning its cleanroom specifications are not suitable for semiconductor front-end manufacturing. However, ZDNet notes that it could be repurposed as a data center or for back-end semiconductor packaging processes, including glass substrates, making it attractive to potential buyers. The sale price is reportedly being discussed at around KRW 500 billion, though it could change depending on negotiations.
For Micron specifically, a March report from Jose Ilbo said the company was considering turning the Mobara facility into a semiconductor assembly and testing base, potentially strengthening its back-end capabilities. This would align with Micron’s broader expansion in Japan. Nikkei notes that the company mass-produces memory at its Hiroshima plant, where it is investing JPY 1.5 trillion in a new building slated to begin producing cutting-edge products around 2028. As output expands, Micron is looking for a domestic site to handle back-end processes such as packaging and assembly.
OLEDWorks Reportedly Eyes JDI’s Ishikawa Fab
Meanwhile, ZDNet notes that JDI partner OLEDWorks is reportedly eyeing the company’s 4.5-generation Ishikawa fab rather than Mobara. The facility has a line capable of backplane (BP) processing. Beyond the potential sale of its facilities, JDI has also been disposing of assets tied to its former operations at Mobara. ZDNet reports that China’s HKC purchased most of the equipment related to eLEAP, an OLED technology JDI developed at the fab. eLEAP uses photolithography to pattern red, green, and blue (RGB) OLED subpixels without a fine metal mask (FMM), though its viability for mass production has yet to be proven. Its underlying principle is similar to LG Display’s FLiPP technology unveiled at IMID in August, ZDNet notes.
While the equipment has found a buyer, JDI’s eLEAP patents may be less attractive as acquisition targets. According to ZDNet, JDI has reportedly already licensed the patents to companies including Applied Materials (AMAT), which makes deposition equipment used for eLEAP. As these usage rights have already been granted, acquiring the patents would not give a third party exclusive rights to the technology. With several Korean and overseas panel makers also developing eLEAP-related technologies, the lack of exclusivity further limits the incentive to acquire JDI’s patents.
Read more
- [News] Micron Reportedly to Add 60K HBM Wafers/M, Reaching 100K by Year-End to Narrow Gap With Rivals
- [News] Micron’s Sanand Assembly & Test Plant Gets Boost With 12-Hour Shifts, First in Gujarat
(Photo credit: Micron)
