Merck 2008 Annual Report Download - page 57

Download and view the complete annual report

Please find page 57 of the 2008 Merck annual report below. You can navigate through the pages in the report by either clicking on the pages listed below, or by using the keyword search tool below to find specific information within the annual report.

Page out of 153

  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
  • 6
  • 7
  • 8
  • 9
  • 10
  • 11
  • 12
  • 13
  • 14
  • 15
  • 16
  • 17
  • 18
  • 19
  • 20
  • 21
  • 22
  • 23
  • 24
  • 25
  • 26
  • 27
  • 28
  • 29
  • 30
  • 31
  • 32
  • 33
  • 34
  • 35
  • 36
  • 37
  • 38
  • 39
  • 40
  • 41
  • 42
  • 43
  • 44
  • 45
  • 46
  • 47
  • 48
  • 49
  • 50
  • 51
  • 52
  • 53
  • 54
  • 55
  • 56
  • 57
  • 58
  • 59
  • 60
  • 61
  • 62
  • 63
  • 64
  • 65
  • 66
  • 67
  • 68
  • 69
  • 70
  • 71
  • 72
  • 73
  • 74
  • 75
  • 76
  • 77
  • 78
  • 79
  • 80
  • 81
  • 82
  • 83
  • 84
  • 85
  • 86
  • 87
  • 88
  • 89
  • 90
  • 91
  • 92
  • 93
  • 94
  • 95
  • 96
  • 97
  • 98
  • 99
  • 100
  • 101
  • 102
  • 103
  • 104
  • 105
  • 106
  • 107
  • 108
  • 109
  • 110
  • 111
  • 112
  • 113
  • 114
  • 115
  • 116
  • 117
  • 118
  • 119
  • 120
  • 121
  • 122
  • 123
  • 124
  • 125
  • 126
  • 127
  • 128
  • 129
  • 130
  • 131
  • 132
  • 133
  • 134
  • 135
  • 136
  • 137
  • 138
  • 139
  • 140
  • 141
  • 142
  • 143
  • 144
  • 145
  • 146
  • 147
  • 148
  • 149
  • 150
  • 151
  • 152
  • 153

52 | Merck Annual Report 2008
Liquid Crystals
Liquid crystals from Merck are used all over the world – for example, in most LCD
(liquid crystal display) televisions, computer monitors, notebooks, digital cameras and
mobile phones, as well as in many other high-quality displays. Merck is the global
market leader in this field and, thanks to continuous investments in research and pro-
duction, also the technology leader. New lighting and display technologies such as
OLEDs (organic light-emitting diodes) are another focus of our work. In addition to the
core business with materials for displays, in view of climate change and high energy
prices we are also active in growth markets. These include the use of solar energy
and the development of innovative light sources for energy-saving LEDs.
Key product
– licristal® – Liquid crystals and mixtures for displays
Other product groups
– livilux® – Materials for OLEDs for displays and innovative lighting
– isishape® – Efficient and environmentally friendly materials for producing solar cells
and touch–sensitive screens
Key events in 2008
– Market and technology leadership in liquid crystals maintained
– Economic crisis and overcapacities in the market impacted our operating result
– Total revenues were diminished by negative currency effects, yet increased by 5.6%
on a currency-adjusted basis