Analysts project the global e-ink market will reach approximately $8.6 billion in 2026 and could more than double by the mid-2030s, driven by a compound annual growth rate of 12–15%. The shift from monochrome to full-color displays is a major catalyst: roughly 40% of new product launches now feature color panels, a sharp rise from just a few years ago. While electronic shelf labels remain the highest-volume application, color e-paper notebooks, outdoor digital signage, and smart-building interfaces are expanding quickly.
Touch Taiwan just concluded, and this was the first time E INK did not have a booth; instead, they are going all in at Computex, which will have a global audience. Instead, several other brands were generating some buzz.
One of the major highlights at the exhibition is IRIS Optronics, which is taking a bold step against the long-established electrophoretic technology with its innovative cholesteric liquid crystal display (ChLCD). At their booth, the company is featuring the Infinity Display, a solar-powered digital sign that operates in extreme temperatures from -20°C to +70°C while showcasing over 16 million colors. This technology directly addresses two significant challenges for outdoor e-paper applications: reliable power and vibrant color accuracy.
The impressive performance of ChLCD comes from its unique structure, which includes three liquid crystal layers designed to reflect red, green, and blue light, complemented by a black-absorbing layer behind them. Like traditional electrophoretic e-paper, it is bistable, meaning it uses energy only when refreshing content and doesn’t require a backlight. However, ChLCD shines with its faster refresh rates—color updates take just one to two seconds—and its built-in energy harvesting capabilities. Since some ambient light is harnessed by an integrated solar module, the Infinity Display can sustain itself, making it an environmentally friendly option for outdoor environments.
The exhibition also showcased a variety of other prominent exhibitors. TPV Technology displayed large-format e-paper screens developed in collaboration with E-Ink. Soldered Electronics, a specialist based in Europe, provided comprehensive e-paper solutions, from waveform optimization to mass production. Hanjentek, a top supplier of smart e-paper signage for bus stops in Taiwan, highlighted its latest projects.
