“Apple products such as the iPad, and iPhone continue to stress the LCD supply chain, given their cutting-edge performance specifications and strict quality controls. There is a saying in the LCD business that Apple might be the most knowledgeable company about LCD manufacturing and technologies that is not an LCD manufacturer,” David Hsieh reports for DisplaySearch. “However, Apple’s business is attractive to the LCD supply chain because it offers high volumes of a single model, which enables production stability. At the same time, Apple displays offer higher ASPs due to the specifications (such as slimness, light weight, high resolution, low power consumption, high color saturation and wide viewing angle). In order to secure allocations and technology access, Apple has been investing in the LCD supply chain in Asia, particularly down payments to LCD panel makers for strategic supply agreements.”

“The LCD supply chain (including panel makers, component suppliers, subcontract manufacturing companies) has started to gear up for Apple: in the second half of 2012, Apple will launch three new products (a first): iPhone 5, iPad Mini and New iPad refresh model,” Hsieh reports. “These mobile devices will require displays with high resolution, slim form factor, light weight and low power consumption. And certainly, these features are keeping the LCD supply chain very busy.”

Hsieh reports, “DisplaySearch’s estimates of near-term production for these Apple products are shown in the table. The LCD supply chain companies involved in the Apple new products include Corning, Japan Display, LG Display, Sharp, AUO, Chimei Innolux, Samsung, Radiant, Coretronic, TPK, Wintek as well as Foxconn.”

Production forecast for Apple products (Million units)

Read more in the full article here.

[Thanks to MacDailyNews Readers "Fred Mertz" and "Dan K." for the heads up.]