Tag Archives: ITO film

3M announced metal mesh, silver nanowire and ITO film

December 17, 2013

It’s not a secret that 3M is developing metal mesh. What pleasantly surprised me is that 3M officially announced all 3 transparent conductor films: metal mesh film, silver nanowire film with Cambrios and ITO film.

I had the chance to talk to 3M’s marketing manager, Mr. Erik Lood, recently.  I asked him why you supply ITO film and ITO-replacement film at the same time. He indicated, “We want to offer our customers all the choices: good, better, best. Customers can choose.”

Touch Display Research forecast ITO-replacement market will grow from $206 million this year to $4 Billion by 2020.

How visible is 3M’s metal mesh lines? I’ll find out when I meet 3M in a few weeks.

More analysis can be found in our “Touch and Emerging Display report” December 2013 issue and Jan 2014 issue.

Thanks for reading,

Jennifer and team

TPK, Cambrios and NISSHA Expand Joint Venture

October 4, 2013

On October 3rd, Cambrios, TPK and NISSHA signed the expansion of joint venture– TPK Film Solution.

Back in August, in our “Touch and Emerging Display” monthly report, we’ve reported that TPK will produce silver nanowire type film touch panel by end of this year.

The interesting thing of yesterday’s news is that NISSHA also joined it. NISSHA has been producing ITO film touch panel before.

ITO (Indium Tin Oxide) is currently the mainstream transparent conductor. However, due to its high cost, long process and fragility, non-ITO type transparent conductors are gaining momentum.

Over 180 companies and research institutes are working on ITO replacement in 2013. Sixteen companies and research institutes are working on silver nanowire. Metal mesh, carbon nanotube, conductive polymer and graphene are also popular ITO-replacement transparent conductors.

Figure: Non-ITO transparent conductors vs. companies

ITO alternative figure

Source: Touch Display Research, ITO-replacement report, May 2013

What is the market size and forecast for ITO replacement transparent conductors?  What’s the price of transparent conductive film? Which transparent conductor is suitable for which application? Which direction should you invest in non-ITO transparent conductors? A detailed analysis can be found in our “ITO replacement–Non-ITO Transparent Conductor Technologies, Supply Chain and Market Forecast Report.”

Thanks for reading,

Jennifer and team