Seoul, March 12, 2026 - At the Display Korea 2026 event in Seoul, Samsung Display's Vice President So Byeong-su (also referred to as Byung Soo So) gave a keynote speech highlighting the move away from Fine Metal Mask (FMM) technology as a major turning point in OLED manufacturing.
"The transition to FMM-less patterning marks a fundamental evolution in OLED production," So said during his presentation. He pointed out that traditional FMM-based RGB deposition runs into hard limits on resolution, aperture ratio, and compatibility with larger substrates. To get past these, the industry is pushing hard into various mask-free pixel patterning methods.
These approaches fall into a couple of main categories: photolithography-based ones like eLEAP (from JDI) and ViP (from Visionox), and solution-based processes like inkjet printing.
The big idea behind going mask-free is ditching the physical fine metal masks altogether. Instead, companies deposit organic materials over a large area first, then use semiconductor-style photolithography steps-exposure, development, etc.-to precisely "carve out" the RGB subpixels.
So emphasized that FMM-less tech could deliver a "triple breakthrough":
- Higher resolution: Photolithography's precision could push pixel density to thousands or even tens of thousands PPI, perfect for demanding VR/XR applications that need ultra-sharp displays.
- Better aperture ratio: Potentially double that of traditional FMM setups, leading to brighter screens and longer panel lifespans.
- Easier large-size production: No more worries about mask deformation on bigger substrates, opening the door for bigger OLED panels.
Wrapping up, So stressed: "FMM-less patterning will help drive the next generation of OLED displays toward brighter and sharper performance."
Looking at the bigger picture, the real question for the industry now is when this "fundamental change" will move from labs and prototypes into actual mass production lines-that's likely to be one of the hottest topics in displays over the next few years.
Global Players Jumping In, But Chinese Firms Are Leading the Charge on Commercialization
Samsung Display itself started seriously chasing FMM-free routes back in 2024, picking up patents from U.S. company Orthogonal and bringing in evaluation equipment from Applied Materials (which has its MAX OLED photolithography solution).
LG Display has reportedly been planning tests of photolithography-based FMM-less tech on its Paju E4 line, possibly by adapting existing WOLED equipment.
But right now, Chinese display makers are out in front on actually getting this stuff into production. Visionox's ViP technology has already achieved mass production on its 6th-gen lines, and the company is building the world's first 8.6-gen AMOLED fab using ViP tech in Hefei-core equipment move-in is slated for Q2 2026.
TCL CSOT (Huaxing) is also moving fast with its printed OLED (inkjet) approach, which has reached mass production on 5.5-gen lines, and it's constructing an 8.6-gen printed OLED plant in Guangzhou.
From the looks of current timelines, both Visionox and CSOT are ahead of the international giants in pushing toward full-scale production.
Of course, adopting FMM-free as a whole new route comes with plenty of technical and ramp-up challenges-especially at larger generations. That said, after decades of building up their display ecosystems, Chinese companies have solid experience in industrialization and the capability to tackle these hurdles.
Overall, this feels like a pivotal moment for China's new display industry: a real shot at technology breakthroughs and upgrading its position in the global supply chain.
