April 2, 2012 — Kyocera Corporation will expand its liquid crystal display (LCD) offering with the acquisition of LCD manufacturer Optrex Corporation, forming Kyocera Display Corporation.

Optrex was founded in 1976, providing small- and medium-size LCDs for automotive and industrial sectors. Optrex’s active matrix thin-film transistor (TFT) and monochrome graphic and character LCDs will join Kyocera’s active-matrix TFT 3.5-12.1” LCD panels, with resolutions from QVGA to SVGA. Optrex’s back-end modularization for displays will complement Kyocera’s Gen 3 front-end LCD fab for polysilicon and amorphous silicon (a-si) display panels. Optrex also brings touchscreen bonding capabilities to Kyocera’s resistive and capacitive touchscreen panels.

The news comes at the same time display giants Samsung and Sharp are making moves to bolster their market share in the overall display market as well: Samsung spun out its LCD Business into Samsung Display Co., and Sharp added Hon Hai as a partner to form Sharp Display Product.

Kyocera Display Corporation will serve automotive and industrial customers primarily, joining semiconductor, automotive, communications, and other components from the Kyocera Group’s 200+ companies.

Optrex America (Plymouth, MI) is now Kyocera Display America, Inc. Optrex Europe (Babenhausen, Germany) is now Kyocera Display Europe GmbH.

Learn more at www.kyocera-display.com. Kyocera Corporation (NYSE:KYO, TOKYO:6971) is the parent and global headquarters of the Kyocera Group.

Visit the new Displays Manufacturing Channel on ElectroIQ.com!