Many LED manufacturers have been pushing their development in Mini LED, hoping to target niche markets with high-margin products as the oversupply and price competition in the industry have continued. Taiwan-based LED chip producer Epistar is an active player in developing Mini LED technology and has restructured its organization to strengthen its Mini LED business.

    Epistar has announced to spin off its Mini LED module business and establish a new subsidiary in January 2019 as the company found that some clients request not only Mini LED chips but a total solution for Mini LED module. The new subsidiary will focus on R&D and the integration of the supply chain, as well as manufacturing sample products. ProLight Opto, a LED packaging manufacturer in which Epistar holds over 40 percent share, will take over the mass production process afterwards.

    Epistar has begun shipping its Mini LED products in small amounts since the third quarter of 2018 and the shipment has continued to grow. Its Mini LED backlight products have been mass produced to be applied in gaming monitors and large displays sized over 100-inches.

    It is expected that Mini LED will drive Epistar’s business in 2019 as related applications have been expected to grow next year. The company has forecasted that Mini LED will account for 5-10 percent of its blue LED production in 2019 and increase to 30 percent in 2020.