Samsung Electro-Mechanics eyes LED market

Korean electronics parts maker Samsung Electro-Mechanics (SEM) plans to branch out into LED (light-emitting diodes) backlight unit (BU) and the LED market for illuminating homes and buildings from next year, the company said.

Until now, SEM's LED business has been confined to mobile phone applications. But the sister company to semiconductor giant Samsung Electronics Co. is set to beef up its LED workforce for the release of new products starting next year.

According to SEM, LED backlighting units are expected to replace cathode fluorescent lamp (CCFL) and reach 2.7 trillion won ($2.7 billion) in market size by 2009.

The company said it plans to produce a full-line up of LED backlighting products to be used in various electronics and display devices, but the initial focus will be for car navigation systems and 40-inch LCD TVs. SEM will unveil its LED backlighting units and LED lighting products for the first time at Korea Electronics Show 2005, which opens at KINTEX in Gyeonggi Province Oct. 11.

- Kim Min-hee

EE Times