With the explosion of LCD TV in the past few years and price pressures becoming larger factors, it stands to reason that some manufacturers may look for cheaper alternatives when it comes to the glass used in the making of LCDs. Does highly engineered, specialized glass still offer the best value for manufacturers? As liquid-crystal-display (LCD) technology progresses to its full potential in the television market - with 50% penetration expected in 2008 - manufacturers will continue to experience pressure to reduce costs of the bill-of-materials: the backlight assembly, liquid-crystal materials, optical films, and, of course, the glass substrates. With this in mind, it is appropriate to re-examine the basic value propositions for these strategic materials. The substrate industry has been quite successful at providing highly engineered, high-value glass for panel manufacturers. But does this package of specialized properties and value still hold up?
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