The group is putting E2.5m into Korea’s I-Components

The group is putting E2.5m into Korea’s I-Components

BASF Venture Capital is backing the potential of plastics films in the electronics display market. It is investing E2.5m in Korea’s I-Components in conjunction with Seoul-based STIC Ventures.

I-Components makes high-quality plastics films for applications in both the automotive and electronics sectors and is developing transparent plastic films to replace glass as the carrier in LCDs. Such films have the advantage of being flexible, unbreakable and light, enabling displays to be made on a roll-to-roll basis.

I-Components already has expertise in melt extrusion and advanced coating and believes BASF polymer substrates, such as extruded Ultrason polyethersulphone, is ideal for the application.

I-Components chief executive Yang Kook Kim said: “Our innovative coating technologies enable additional film properties desired by the industry, such as barrier functions towards moisture and air.” According to Matthias Baum, investment manager at BVC, the goal is to launch optical plastic films in the next two years.