Toprun Material Solution is accelerating its growth strategy by leveraging its “n-Charge Generation Layer (n-CGL),” a core material currently mass-produced for Tandem OLEDs used in automotive and tablet displays. The company plans to capitalize on the industry shift as Tandem OLED technology gains traction in the smartphone and Extended Reality (XR) markets.
“The technical capability of single-stack OLEDs in smartphones has already reached its peak,” said Kim Tae-seung, CEO of Toprun Material Solution, during an interview with Electronic Times at the company's headquarters in Yangju. “We plan to enter the smartphone and XR display markets by leveraging the Tandem OLED material expertise we have accumulated in the automotive and IT sectors.”
Toprun Material Solution was formed last year after Toprun Total Solution acquired Jinwoong Industries (founded in 1989) and rebranded it. The company has supplied n-CGL for Tandem OLEDs to LG Display since 2019.
The n-CGL is a critical material that enables efficient charge transport between multiple organic light-emitting layers. Since Tandem OLEDs function by stacking several emitting layers to improve efficiency, the n-CGL is an indispensable component that must be inserted between these layers. Toprun MS has successfully localized the production of n-CGL, a market previously dominated by Japanese suppliers.
The company is now developing next-generation n-CGL materials specifically for smartphones and XR. While current smartphones predominantly use single-stack OLEDs, Toprun MS believes that single-stack devices have reached their performance ceiling. As a result, the company is developing materials for smartphone Tandem OLEDs to achieve the higher brightness and durability required for high-end models.
Additionally, Toprun MS is developing n-CGL for OLEDoS (OLED on Silicon), a leading candidate for XR displays. Tandem technology is being actively explored as a solution to current OLEDoS limitations, such as short lifespans and low luminance.
“As Tandem OLEDs spread into smartphones--which have the highest OLED adoption--and into XR, a critical emerging platform, our growth will accelerate significantly,” CEO Kim stated.
Based on the growth of the n-CGL business, the company aims to transform its current revenue structure. Currently generating 20.4 billion KRW, with 70% reliant on OEM production for global firms, the company targets 110 billion KRW in revenue by 2029, with in-house proprietary products accounting for 60% of sales.
Alongside business expansion, Toprun MS is pursuing customer diversification to become a global materials leader. “By managing the entire process--from synthesis to production--at our domestic facilities using our internal R&D capabilities, we will diversify our supply chain and drive rapid growth in both utilization rates and revenue,” Kim added.
