Economy: Samsung buys German display start-up and lays off all employees

Recently, Samsung made headlines when several media unanimously reported that the South Koreans were finally saying goodbye to the production of LCD panels. After all, cheap entry-level TVs sold under the Crystal UHD designation have competitor LCD panels installed. The background is that Chinese companies like Beo in particular offer low prices and the margins in the TV business are small. Now Samsung’s display department has the German one Start-up Cynora bought for $300 millionas reported by the US business magazine Bloomberg.

Cynora develops innovative material for OLED panels

Cynora has been based in Bruchsal since 2013, after it was founded by former employees of the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology. The company recently had around 120 employees. Samsung bought the company and laid off all employees. Cynora is developing a new type of organic emissive materials for OLED screens. The basis for this is TADF technology, i.e. thermally activated delayed fluorescence. So there should be a highly efficient material that emits blue. When this material can be used in large series is still open. When Cynora started research in 2019, the blue particles in OLED displays in particular were little researched and a weak point. LG Display and Samsung Venture Investment have been investors in Cynora since September 2017. Noisy the FAZ, Cynora has been for sale since January 2021.

The business magazine Digitimes recently reported that the prices for LCDs are currently falling drastically. If the market observers from Witsview have their way, prices will fall by up to 15 percent compared to the previous month. As a result of high inflation, the demand for cheap TVs with LCD panels has plummeted. As the year progresses, LCD TVs could be available for sale at low prices, provided inflation doesn’t erode the price advantage.

Also worth reading: LCD manufacturers are reducing production: the consequences at a glance

Collection for the display start-up from Bruchsal:

• Samsung has bought the German start-up Cynora for 300 million US dollars. Cynora is developing a new type of organic emissive materials for OLED screens.
• So there should be a highly efficient material that emits blue.
• After buying the company from Bruchsal, Samsung is said to have laid off all 120 employees. Cynora has reportedly been up for sale since January 2021.

Sources: Bloomberg, FAZ