A license agreement between Moser Baer and Universal Display builds on the companies’ prior partnership and targets manufacture of white OLED panels that will enable luminaire development.

Moser Baer Technologies Inc. (a US subsidiary of Moser Baer India Ltd) and Universal Display Corp. have agreed to a further partnership in the OLED solid-state-lighting (SSL) segment in which Moser Baer will license Universal’s OLED technology and purchase UniversalPHOLED (phosphorescent OLED) materials for white OLED panel manufacturing. The companies have agreed to work together for five years in the development of Moser Baer’s US-based OLED panel manufacturing project.

The two companies first partnered last January in procuring a $4,000,000 grant from the US Department of Energy (DOE) to build the first white OLED manufacturing plant in the US. This latest agreement will help bring the plans for that plant to fruition.

”We plan to use Universal Displays superior PHOLED emitter materials and technology in combination with our substrate technology competencies and develop integrated, high-volume manufacturing concepts for OLED lighting products of the future," said Dr. G. Rajeswaran, CEO of Moser Baer Technologies and Group CTO of Moser Baer India Ltd. “We are pleased to be working with Universal Display through this agreement which covers Universal Displays phosphorescent OLED technology license to Moser Baer Technologies, access to Universal Displays leading edge PHOLED materials and a multi-year technology support program for Moser Baer Technologies to commercialize OLED lighting products.”

The Moser Baer pilot manufacturing plant is a key step in the establishment of an OLED manufacturing base in the US. Moreover, it advances the DOE long-term commitment to develop energy-efficient white OLED light sources for general-illumination applications.

”This Memorandum of Agreement will accelerate the development and manufacturing of phosphorescent OLED lighting panels by Moser Baer, a world leader in the development of low cost, high volume manufacturing facilities," said Steven V. Abramson, President and Chief Executive Officer of Universal Display. “Universal Displays PHOLED technology and materials provide excellent performance characteristics that translate into energy savings, environmental benefits and cost effectiveness. Those benefits are key to enabling the manufacture of highly-efficient white OLED lighting products by companies such as Moser Baer Technologies.”

OLED is one of several emerging lighting technologies that could significantly reduce energy consumption and carbon emission. According to Moser Baer and Universal, OLED lighting could account for $20 billion in global energy savings by 2016 and the reduction of 9 million metric tons of carbon emissions in the US alone. Of course the challenge is cost-effective manufacturing of the OLED panels.

Moser Baer’s Rajeswaran said, “We are confident that with our extensive capabilities in low cost/high throughput manufacturing, we will be able to industrialize this technology at competitive cost points.” Yogesh Mathur, Director, Moser Baer Technologies and Group CFO, Moser Baer India Ltd, added, “Our existing capabilities and asset base for high-speed substrate manufacturing are our strengths being leveraged as we take our initial steps in the solid-state-lighting space, with significant potential in the US, Indian, and other global markets.”

About the Author 

Maury Wright is the Senior Technical Editor of LEDs Magazine.