public displays is expected to see a significant surge in growth over the next four years.

The global market for digital screens used as public displays is expected to see a significant surge in growth over the next four years, according to a new report from NPD DisplaySearch, a market research and consulting firm.

NPD’s latest quarterly report forecasts a compound average growth rate (CAGR) of 23 per cent from 2013 through 2017.The company explains this growth follows the market’s first double-digit growth decline of 18 per cent in 2012, when liquid crystal display (LCD) shipments were relatively flat and plasma display panel (PDP) shipments collapsed.

 NPD attributes the positive outlook for the next four years (see chart) to a variety of factors and trends, including an improving global economy, demand from emerging markets, price reductions for larger displays and potential upticks in demand linked to specific upcoming major events, such as the 2014 Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) World Cup in Brazil.

 NPD also credits the majority of this market growth to an increase in the production and sales of large-screen LCDs. According to the company’s collected statistics, in 2012, shipments of these displays larger than 1.5 m (60 in.) grew by 89 per cent, year-over-year, and they are expected to grow by another 35 per cent this year. With continued strong growth anticipated, the shipments should top one million units by 2017.

 “The supply side has been preparing for this growth for several years, investing in new fabrication plants to manufacture larger LCD panels,” explains Todd Fender, a senior analyst at the consultancy. “Additionally, some panel manufacturers are focusing more attention on economical cuts from their current glass substrates, resulting in newer, slightly larger sizes. Others are experimenting with a new technique called multi-modal glass (MMG), where two different-sized panel products are cut from the same substrate. This new production will lead to increased competition, price erosion and increased demand.”

 As for PDPs, NPD suggests 1.27-m (50-in.) panels may be the only size still available after 2015.

“The good news is users will be able to purchase larger LCDs at lower prices,” says Fender. “The bad news is they could no longer see some of the traditional sizes.”