Abstract
Electronic paper (e-paper) has recently burst onto the scene as a radically new display technology that matches the characteristics of paper in terms of flexibility and readability, but adds the ability for constant updating from a network. The first applications for e-paper have been found in book readers and novelty products, such as flexible clocks. But e-paper is a serious product with sizeable addressable markets, especially in signage and smart shelving and in roll-up mobile displays. Major electronics and materials firms, as well as the usual slew of start-ups are already investing heavily in this technology.
Nonetheless, many uncertainties and challenges beset the e-paper market. There are competing technologies -- electrophoretic inks and cholesteric LCDs, for example. Many of the products being designed with e-paper are entirely novel and have no established markets. E-paper-based book readers may be the next consumer electronics hit or the whole concept could very well crash and burn. Similarly, there are no established supply chains for e-paper products which has left technology developers to try and create them while at the same time attempting to manufacture their own products.
This new report from NanoMarkets will provide a thorough market and technology analysis of the e-paper market. It will analyze the key materials and production technologies and assess in which market segments they are likely to take off or fail. Applications sectors for e-paper that will be discussed and forecast include smart-shelves, smart cards, smart packaging, book-readers, cell-phone displays, computer displays, information displays, clocks and other novelty products. The report will also project performance improvements expected over the next eight years and assess the marketing importance of such factors as flexibility, system architecture, resolutions, backplane switching speeds, and color capability.
The report will also provide critical profiles of the leading providers of e-paper and a detailed eight-year market forecast of e-paper markets, broken out by application and technology. This report builds on the highly-regarded research that NanoMarkets has previously published in the display and printed electronics sectors.
Table of Contents
Executive Summary
- E.1 Summary of Market Opportunities
- E.1.1 The Coming of Age of E-paper
- E.1.2 The E-Paper Value Chain
- E.1.3 Signage Opportunities for E-Paper
- E.1.4 Mobile Communications and Computing Opportunities for E-paper
- E.1.5 Disposable Electronics and Other Applications
- E.2 Firms and Technologies to Watch
- E.2.1 The Future of E Ink
- E.2.2 Competition at the Low-End
- E.2.3 Color Changes Everything
- E.3 Summary of Market Forecasts
Chapter One : Introduction
- 1.1 Background to this Report
- 1.1.1 Applications for E-Paper
- 1.1.2 Technology Directions for E-Paper
- 1.2 Objectives and Scope of this Report
- 1.3 Methodology of this Report
- 1.4 Plan of this Report
Chapter Two: E-Paper Technology Trends
- 2.1 Introduction: Computer Technology vs. Paper Technology
- 2.2 Performance Requirements and Achievements for E-paper
- 2.2.1 Performance Requirements for Paper-like Displays
- 2.2.2 Achievements to Date
- 2.3 Technology and Materials Platforms
- 2.3.1 Electrophoretic
- 2.3.2 Cholesteric Liquid Crystal Display
- 2.2.3 Electrowetting
- 2.3.4 Electrochromic
- 2.4 Color E-Paper
- 2.5 Backplanes for E-Paper
- 2.6 Flexibility and E-Paper
Chapter Three: E-Paper Market Analysis
- 3.1 Introduction
- 3.2 Signage Markets
- 3.2.1 Smart Shelves and Point-of-Purchase Applications
- 3.2.2 Information Displays
- 3.3 Mobile Displays
- 3.3.1 Book Readers
- 3.3.2 Displays For Cell Phones and Other Handhelds
- 3.3.3 Displays for Notebooks
- 3.4 Disposable Products
- 3.4.1 Smart Packaging
- 3.4.2 Smart Cards
- 3.5 Clocks and Watches
- 3.6 Future Uses for E-paper
Chapter Four: E-Paper Suppliers
- 4.1 Introduction
- 4.2 Acreo AB
- 4.2.1 Paella and the Electrochromic Paper Project
- 4.3 Aveso
- 4.3.1 Aveso' s Electrochromic Technology
- 4.3.2 Aveso' s Marketing Strategy: Electrochromics in Smart Cards
- 4.3.3 Aveso' s Production Strategy: Outsourcing and Established Infrastructure
- 4.4 Bridgestone
- 4.4.1 Bridgestone' s E-Paper Technology
- 4.5 E Ink
- 4.5.1 E Ink' s Product Marketing Strategy
- 4.5.2 LG Philips and E Ink
- 4.5.3 Epson and E Ink
- 4.5.4 Relationship with TOPPAN Printing
- 4.6 Fujitsu
- 4.7 Fuji Xerox
- 4.8 Kent Display
- 4.8.1 Kent' s Product and Marketing Strategy
- 4.8.2 Kent Display and Magink
- 4.9 Kodak
- 4.10 Liquavista
- 4.10.1 Liquavista' s Product Strategies
- 4.11 Nemoptic
- 4.11.1 Nemoptics' Product Directions
- 4.11.2 Nemoptics' Production Strategy
- 4.12 Ntera
- 4.12.1 Ntera' s Product Directions
- 4.13 Siemens
- 4.14 SiPix
- 4.14.1 SiPix' s Marketing Strategies
- 4.15 ZBD Displays
- 4.15.1 Products and Marketing at ZBD
Chapter Five: Eight-Year Forecasts of E-Paper Market
- 5.1 Forecasting Methodology
- 5.1.1 How Much Confidence Should You Have in These Forecasts?
- 5.1.2 Comparison With Previous NanoMarkets Forecasts
- 5.2 Signage
- 5.2.1 Information Displays
- 5.2.2 Smart Shelves, Electronic Pricing Labels and POP Displays
- 5.3 Computing and Communications
- 5.3.1 Book Readers
- 5.3.2 Cell Phone Main and Sub-Displays
- 5.3.3 Other Handheld Devices
- 5.3.4 Laptop and Desktop Computers
- 5.4 Disposable Electronics
- 5.4.1 Smart Cards
- 5.4.2 Smart Packaging
- 5.5 Other Applications
- 5.6 Summary of Projections
- 5.7 Forecast of E-Paper Markets by Technology
- 5.8 Forecast of E-Paper Materials Markets
List of Exhibits
- Exhibit E-1: Summary of Market Projections for E-Paper Market
- Exhibit 2-1: Paper Technology vs. Computer Technology
- Exhibit 2-2: Overview of E-Paper Technology
- Exhibit 3-1: Applications of E-Paper
- Exhibit 3-2: Advantages of E-paper for Smart Shelves
- Exhibit 3-3: Advantages of E-paper for Information Displays
- Exhibit 3-4: Currently Available Book Readers
- Exhibit 3-5: Comparison of Display Technologies for Cell Phones
- Exhibit 4-1: Selected E-Ink Partners and Relationships
- Exhibit 5-1: Eight-Year Forecasts of E-Paper in the Indoor Information Display Market
- Exhibit 5-2: Eight-Year Forecasts of E-Paper in the Smart Shelves and POP Display Market
- Exhibit 5-3: Eight-Year Forecasts of E-Paper in the Book Reader Market
- Exhibit 5-4: Eight-Year Forecasts of E-Paper in Cell Phones
- Exhibit 5-5: Eight-Year Forecasts of E-Paper in Other Handhelds
- Exhibit 5-6: Eight-Year Forecasts of E-Paper in Computers and Peripherals
- Exhibit 5-7: Eight-Year Forecasts of E-Paper in Smartcards
- Exhibit 5-8: Eight-Year Forecasts of E-Paper in Smart Packaging
- Exhibit 5-9: Summary of E-Paper Markets ($ Millions)
- Exhibit 5-10: Summary of E-Paper Applications by Market Share (Percent)
- Exhibit 5-1: Forecast of E-Paper Applications by Technology ($ Millions)
- Exhibit 5-12: E-Paper Materials Market (Millions)
