To meet strong demand for LCD panels for TVs, Sharp plans to double current production capacity at its LCD panel plant located in GREEN FRONT SAKAI, Sakai City, Osaka Prefecture, Japan, to 72,000 substrates per month.

This LCD panel plant is the first in the world to employ 10th-generation glass substrates. Using Sharp?s proprietary UV2A photo-alignment technology, the plant produces high-contrast panels offering high energy efficiency in screen sizes of 40 inches and larger. Each sheet, measuring about 2,880 x 3,130 mm, is cut into smaller sizes for panels for TVs. A 10th generation "mother glass" is big enough to produce 18 40-inch panels.

The plant is currently in full operation, running at an input capacity of 36,000 substrates per month, Sharp said. To accommodate brisk order inquiries, Sharp will double this capacity to 72,000 substrates per month in July of this year.

Sharp will be creating LCD panels featuring its proprietary UV2A technology and four-primary-color technology at this plant. In addition, Sharp said that it would strive for further enhancements in cost competitiveness, and will continue to expand the market for large-screen displays, including LCD TVs and digital signage.

Sharp's new 10th-Generation LCD Panel plant strengthen the company's position as a panel manufacturer and may allow the company sell displays to rivals, including Sony.

The new plant brings Sharp ahead of rivals - at least in size. Samsung, the global leader in LCD TVs, makes 8th generation sheets and is considering investing in plants for bigger sheets.

However, Sharp still lags behind Samsung, Sony and Panasonic in the rankings of TV brands by global sales share, according to U.S. company Display Search.