Huawei Mate X flexible phone Photo by Visual China Group
Upstream and downstream links on the phone manufacturing industry of Dongguan stand to benefit
The past week witnesses the wild rise of 5G flexible phone. Samsung and Huawei have launched their 5G flexible phone successively, which is like the lightning spreading widely and fast. Dongguan has felt the change immediately as it is an important production base for global mobile phone industry. Many enterprises in Dongguan have already took actions to accelerate their deployment.
Since the Spring Festival, the 5G sector in the stock market has been pulling up. The 5G concept stock of Dongguan Eontec Co., Ltd. has experienced trading for several times. Some enterprises have started R&D in relevant products several years ago, for instance, Lens Technology, the manufacturer of mobile phone lens and Everwin Precision, the manufacturer of mobile phone rotating shaft.
In addition, driven by the vogue of 5G flexible phone, a batch of downstream enterprises such as Dongguan Socen Electronics Co. Ltd. and Yuanmei Electronic Technology Co. Ltd. are adjusting their business structure and launching such projects as rotating shaft and lamination for flexible phone.
Relevant vendors on the supply chain in Dongguan have reaped fruitful harvest in the vogue trigged by flexible screen and 5G. Some interviewees believe that in the long term, what is more critical after market is the marketization of technology.
Market revitalization
Associated Dongguan enterprises accelerate deployment
February 21 saw the official launch of Samsung Galaxy Fold flexible phone and on February 24, Huawei launched its first 5G flexible phone Huawei Mate X. The Mobile World Congress held in Barcelona, Spain on February 25 also witnessed the launch of 5G smartphones by such companies as Xiaomi and OnePlus.
Several days following that, the 5G concept stock of companies such as Dongguan Eontec Co., Ltd has experienced trading. According to publically-available materials, Eontec is a Tier 2 supplier of Huawei. The 5G base station products the company produces mainly include filters and heat dissipation housing structure. In addition, the company also produces mobile phone components such as liquidmetal Face ID holder and compact camera module.
Lens Technology built factory in Tangxia Town of Dongguan two years ago. The company mainly produces products such as lens for flexible phone. Facing the historic opportunity of 5G commercialization, the company has deployed R&D of relevant products as early as several years ago. A person in charge of the company told the journalist that the company’s convertible bond investment project “3D curved glass manufacturing project” is accelerating in full speed and has achieved breakthroughs and improvement in the manufacturing process, technology and exclusive equipment.
Downstream enterprises manufacturing mobile phone lamination, cover lens and rotating shaft are taking actions accordingly. “The material for flexible screen can only be plastics not glass, which requires that mobile phone lamination should be a better complement.” Zheng Jianghai, General Manager of Dongguan Yuanmei Electronic Technology Co. Ltd. told the journalist of Dongguan Daily that the cover lens for flexible phone needs to be both flexible and cut-proof. So CPI lamination is used as the material for cover lens. The commonly-used 0.2-0.3cm glass in the market cannot meet the demand of flexible screen. Under such circumstance, the company has strengthened its R&D in super-thin lens and soft lens products. The company currently yields a capacity of 20,000/pieces a day, which generates new profits for the company.
Dongguan Socen Electronics Co. Ltd. specializes in manufacturing mobile phone rotating shaft. Li Ji, General Manager of the company, expressed that the advent of 5G era spurs the company to constantly improve and innovate its products. The rotating shaft is designed thinner and can stay in whatever angle.
Everwin Precision is also dedicated to manufacturing rotating shaft. A person in charge of the company also expressed in the interview that the advent of 5G era will create new growth momentum for the consumer electronic industry. The company is also equipped with mass production capacity of such products as appearance components (metal and non-metal) for 5G mobile terminals and connectors. With the advent of flexible phone, the company is developing rotating shaft components for outwardly and inwardly folding designs for its clients and preparing for mass production.
Behind the crave
Technology improvement forms the key for the development of industry chain
With the design of rotating shaft, flexible phone can be expanded and folded to change size, which manages to address the conflict between mass screen and portability. Combining the functions of laptop, tablet and mobile phone, a flexible can meet people’s demand of entertainment, working and communication.
That also gives optimism to the experts in the industry such as Li Ji and Zheng Jianghai towards the future development of flexible phone. “Flexible screen technology may have disruptive impact on intelligent equipment of various industries in the future. A new era of flexibility is on the horizon,” Li Ji told the journalist.
It is learned that currently there are two kinds of process for flexible phone. One is the inwardly folding design represented by Samsung Galaxy Fold and the other is the outwardly folding design represented by Huawei Mate X. Either of the design is facing challenge of flexibility of the screen. Li Ji expresses that, “the screen at present needs to be optimized to ensure the durability of the flexible screen. It should be considered that it is likely that some components may wear after repeated bending.” This is also the concern of many users. At present, such risk has not been completely addressed technically, but it is still likely to be addressed ultimately.
Li Ji said that mobile phone rotating shaft as an important component is facing a technical bottleneck. The rotating shaft of the company needs further innovation and optimization both in appearance and technology. It strives to reach a higher standard in manufacturing and assembly processes as well as performance test so as to ensure product stability and reliability.
Lens Technology, the manufacturer of mobile phone lens and Everwin Precision, the manufacturer of mobile phone rotating shaft have conducted R&D in relevant products as early as several years ago.
Driven the trend of 5G flexible phone, a batch of downstream enterprises such as Dongguan Socen Electronics Co. Ltd. and Yuanmei Electronic Technology Co. Ltd. are speeding up adjustment of business structure and launch of projects for mobile phone rotating shaft and lamination.
Relevant vendors on the supply chain in Dongguan benefit a great deal amid the vogue of flexible screen and 5G.
Source: timedg.com
