King of the PDP hill expands production

Samsung SDI, the world’s No. 1 plasma display panel manufacturer, said yesterday it plans to spend 730 billion won ($751 million) on its fourth production line to meet rising demand for large flat panels. The new facility, which is scheduled to begin mass production in May next year, will be built within the company’s complex in Ulsan, 400 kilometers (249 miles) south of Seoul. Samsung SDI said the plant will churn out 3 million units (based on a 42-inch panel) every year and would focus further on premium panels larger than 50 inches. The portion of PDP TVs that are 50 inches or bigger sold in the United States shot up from 25 percent in December to 31 percent in January, according to the U.S.-based Consumer Electronics Association. The fourth-line investment came as its global competitors such as LG Electronics Inc. and Matsushita Electric Industrial Co. recently embarked on adding production lines. Samsung SDI, which entered the PDP market in 2001, ranked number one in 2004 and last year. Its worldwide market share last year was 30 percent, closely followed by LG at 26 percent and Matsushita at 25 percent. by Seo Ji-eun