TCL China Star Optoelectronics Technology (TCL CSOT) has started construction on the world’s first 8.6-generation inkjet printing OLED production line, a move the company said marks a major milestone in high-end display manufacturing. The new “t8” project broke ground in Guangzhou, China, on Oct. 21 and represents an investment estimated at more than USD 4 billion.

The facility is designed with a monthly capacity of 22,500 sheets based on 2290-by-2620-millimeter substrates. TCL CSOT said the line will focus on OLED displays for tablets, laptops and monitors, positioning the company to compete more effectively in premium IT markets.

“Our t8 production line marks a breakthrough for the global display industry, showcasing technological capabilities and market potential in the high-generation AMOLED sector,” said Jun Zhao, senior vice president of TCL Technology and CEO of TCL CSOT. “By bringing together the entire value chain, from foundational materials to final product assembly, we are building a fully integrated, end-to-end industrial cluster designed to compete on a global scale.”

Prof. Sir Richard Henry Friend, founder of solution-processed OLED technology and director of research at the University of Cambridge’s Department of Physics, offered support for the initiative. “It is wonderful to see the baton of printed OLED handed over to TCL,” he said. “This has been the very best possible journey for the technology, and I’m so excited to see it move forward into its next very successful phase.”

Inkjet printing OLED is a manufacturing process that deposits organic light-emitting materials with precision using printing techniques, providing color accuracy, high resolution and energy efficiency. TCL CSOT has been investing in the technology for more than a decade, including the launch of mass production at its G5.5 IJP OLED line (t12) in Wuhan in 2024.

The company said rising demand for foldable screens, automotive displays, wearables and larger-format panels continues to drive OLED adoption across premium segments. Market research firm Omdia projects AMOLED panel shipments to rise from 1.01 billion units in 2024 to more than 1.33 billion units by 2030, with strong growth expected in IT and automotive applications.

With more than a decade of R&D investment in inkjet printing OLED and more than 1,200 patents tied to the technology, TCL CSOT said the move from small-generation production to high-generation commercialization strengthens the OLED supply chain and improves scalability for IT-focused applications.