A NEW STATE-OF-THE-ART organic light emitting diode (OLED) manufacturing facility has been opened in Shannon by Universal Display Corporation (UDC) and PPG.
Production capacity is to be doubled at the site and enhance the worldwide manufacturing footprint for UDC’s phosphorescent OLED emissive materials.
UDC’s initial investment of €10 million, and subsequent multimillion-euro expenditures and multiyear, multiphase expansions of the site are expected to have a significant positive economic impact on the region.
Currently there are 50 people working at the production site in Shannon, this is expected to increase up to 100 with further investments. The high-tech roles at the Shannon facility include engineering and operational disciplines, supply chain roles, synthetic chemists, and analytical technicians.
PPG has been UDC’s exclusive manufacturer of phosphorescent OLED emitter materials since 2000. The new facility in Shannon expands upon PPG’s established OLED production facilities located in Monroeville, Pa., and Barberton, Ohio.
To enhance the energy efficiency, colour gamut and lifetime of OLED displays, UDC’s phosphorescent OLED emitters are used in virtually every OLED display in the world such as consumer electronic products ranging from smartwatches and smartphones to laptops, tablets, automotive and TVs, including foldable and rollable consumer electronic products.
President and CEO of UDC, Steven V. Abramson believed the “new site represents a major infrastructure investment for the future of the OLED industry. The region’s great workforce talent, driven by strong education systems here in Ireland, and its commitment to innovation helped our decision process in selecting Shannon as the facility’s location”.
Opening the facility “reflects the availability of skilled talent in Ireland’s Mid-West region and our commitment to supporting the growth of the local economy,” Tim Knavish, PPG president and chief executive officer stated.
Minister for Education, Norma Foley (FF) who was in Shannon at an event to mark the official opening said, “The opening of this state-of-the-art new facility in Shannon is a significant development for the Mid-West region and is an endorsement of the Government’s continued focus on science, technology, engineering, and maths (STEM) academic programmes and the calibre of workforce we have here in Ireland. By working in partnership, PPG and UDC have grown exponentially, broadening global manufacturing operations in Ireland, building on successful foundations and developing this impressive Shannon facility”.
Details of a Shannon partnership between UDC and PPG were first reported by The Clare Echo in March 2021. Confirmation was then issued that July of plans to create 100 jobs at the site which was formerly the Avara pharmaceuticals plant. Operations at the site commenced early in 2022.
