BOE faces production issues with OLED glass substrates

Chinese manufacturer BOE is experiencing significant technical difficulties at its B16 plant in Chengdu. The company is reporting that large glass substrates used in the production of modern OLED displays are cracking directly on the production line.

This issue, which has persisted for approximately six months, affects the company's generation 8.6 OLED line. The cracks cause substantial operational disruptions; a single breakage can halt production for half a day or even a full day to allow for debris removal and technical inspections. Reports indicate that roughly two to three substrates out of every thousand are being damaged.

These production instabilities occur as BOE attempts to secure lucrative orders from Apple for future iPad and MacBook displays. The exact cause of the cracking remains unknown, with potential factors including glass quality, manufacturing processes, or incorrect technological settings.