TouchChina 2013 Global Intelligent Touch Industry Summit Forum hosted by China Communications Industry Association, Nikkei Business Publications of Japan and Zhongrui Exhibition, was held at Shenzhen Convention & Exhibition Center from May 23rd to 24th. Experts analyzed that the global touch panel market will witness an unexpected shipment growth with the rising popularity of smartphones and tablet PCs.
The latest report by market research organizations including NPD Display Search indicated that the demand for OGS touchscreens (a technology of placing the ITO conductive film and sensor directly on protective glass, with one glass serving as both protective glass and touch sensor) is expected to reach 317 million units in 2013, up by 502% from the 53 million units sold in 2012, based on the demand for Ultrabooks, tablet PCs and smartphones. Touchscreens have entered an explosive growth phase.
Zheng Guoqing, Vice President of Jiangxi Holitech Limited Liability Company, said at the summit that the application of full-fit technology needs to be looked at extensively, which is being applied in tablet PCs and Ultrabooks in addition to its application in mobile phones. The demand is increasingly strong, especially after the release of Windows 8, and any product that needs a display, can be replaced with full fitting technology. In terms of fitting methodology, the screen for electronic equipment can be divided into full fitting and frame fitting. Screen structure can be roughly divided into three parts – protective glass, touchscreen and display screen, from the outside to the inside, and all three parts need fitting. Generally speaking they need two fittings, one between the protective glass and the touchscreen, and the other between the display screen and the touchscreen.
The traditional frame fitting is also called edge glue fitting, that is, fixing the four sides of the touchscreen and display screen with double-sided tape, which is the fitting method adopted by most display screens at present. Its advantages are that it is a simple process and has low cost, however, the display effect is greatly reduced when there is light refraction as there is a layer of between the display screen and the touchscreen, which is the biggest drawback of frame fitting.
In full fitting, the panel and touchscreen are glued together completely and seamlessly with water glue or optical glue. It reduces refraction between display panel and glass compared with frame fitting. The screen appears more transparent and can enhance the display effect.
Zheng Guoqing introduced that some mobile phones such as iPhone 4S, Mi 2, Nexus 7 and Ascend D1 all adopt the full fitting technology. In addition, the latest iMac launched by Apple also adopts full fitting technology.
Regarding the development of the global touch market, Bai Peilin believes that 2012 will be the first year for touchscreens, and the touchscreen industry has entered a rapid growth period since the second half of last year. It will enter an explosive growth phase in the next three years, then enter into a plateau three years later when market competition will be the competition of ideas and services, and there will be more fierce competition between European and Asian markets.
