'UHD panels to account for 50% of TVs'

DARMSTADT, Germany ― Ultrahigh-definition television is expected to account for up to half of the global TV market share to help maintain worldwide panel demand, according to Walter Galinat, CEO and president of the performance materials division of the Merck Group.

"I believe that that ultrahigh-definition television will have a very strong impact. We see that the share of UHD panels in the global market is increasing rapidly. We would see the market share of maybe as much as 50 percent of all TVs two years from now," Galinat said in an interview with The Korea Herald.

The reason that UHD will remain a key technology is because it allows for customers to enjoy large screens with a remarkably fine resolution, he said.

Walter Galinat

Prices also have been coming down as technology improves ― this on the materials provider level such as Merck ― and manufacturers seek to reach out to a wider audience.

"This is also a challenge for us because for ultra HD screens, you need LCD materials that can switch very fast," Galinat said. "We are very confident we can offer material that is suited for these demands and we feel very well prepared for the near future."

Addressing concerns about a dwindling display market, the executive said it would be exaggerating to say the TV market was going downhill.

"Currently the growth rate is a little down. But there is also the ongoing replacement of laptops and desktop monitors with tablets and PCs, meaning that mobility and fast ability of the computer are the biggest factors to future success," he said.

Regarding Merck's business in Korea, Galinat said the group was aware of the fast-changing market conditions in the country.

"We invest heavily in our application labs because we know that customers in Korea react very fast. So we cannot be lazy, and we fight every day," he said.

He added that while Korean firms were facing steep challenges, that was natural for companies and countries that have reached a certain level.

By Kim Ji-hyun, Korea Herald correspondent(jemmie@heraldcorp.com)< ⓒKoreaHerald(www.koreaherald.com)무단전재 및 재배포 금지 >