Solvay S.A. (Brussels, Belgium; www.solvay.com) has completed the acquisition of U.S.-based Plextronics Inc. to bolster its Organic Light Emitting Diodes (OLED) electronic display technology and launch a new development platform with a strong Asian foothold. With Plextronics, Solvay is expanding its know-how in emerging applications such as OLED TV screens, OLED lighting and in lithium-ion batteries. OLED technology uses stacked layers of organic compounds that emit light when submitted to an electric current. It boosts luminance efficiency and ultimately enables bendable displays as it reduces their thickness and weight.
As part of its expansion into the rapidly-growing OLED market, Solvay is setting up a new electronics laboratory at its research center at Ewha Woman’s University in Seoul City, South Korea. The lab will bring its advanced solutions closer to market and speed up joint development activities with customers as well as with existing and potential partners.