-Suppli predicts massive growth for flexible display markets to 2013

The global market for flexible electronic displays will grow from $5m (E6.4m) in 2006 to reach $339m (Ј435m) by 2013, equivalent to a compound annual growth rate of 83.5%, according to market information group i-Suppli. Unit shipments will rise to 198 million by 2013, up from 364,000 in 2006, it predicts.

“Simple flexible displays on plastic, primarily electrophoretic types, are just beginning to be produced in quantities approaching high volume. Displays intended to flex or roll during use have been demonstrated, and may reach the market in several years,” says Kim Allen, director of technology and strategic research for iSuppli. Flexible displays include rugged displays built on plastic substrates and formable displays intended for installation onto rigid curved substrates, as well as displays intended to be flexed continuously during use.

i-Suppli sees this technology creating completely new display markets, highlighting advertising panels that wrap around corners, curved automotive instrumentation displays, or truly paper-like electronic paper as potential examples.