Noritake/FUTABA withdraw from VFD market. Replacements? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / projects

author: PKTKS
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 03, 2021, 11:23:13 am
content: I deal with VFDs since the 70s..TBH i am kinda addicted to that thing...Recently I have read notices from both Noritake and FUTABA stating that the board decided to withdraw the VFD market completely to invest solely in "modern" OLED/TFT products.Anyone aware of some sort of list of replacement makers ?SAMSUNG AFAIK still producing VFDs.. ?any VFD enthusiast (like me) welcome to rant of comment blahsPaul

author: DavidAlfa
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 03, 2021, 11:29:36 am
content: Nearby junk yard? Hard to get these things, and very expensive...Oleds won't last a fraction of the vfds, people at noritake will know that, they're rubbing their hands...

author: PKTKS
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 03, 2021, 11:36:53 am
content: Well may be on junks and surplus.... for old DMMs displays and stuff.But certainly some TW and CH makers are still on the wagon...FUTABA was nice providing customers with a notehttp://www.futaba.co.jp/en/files/notice_20200805.pdfBut Noritake just vanished the whole portfolio..SAMSUNG could not find a position...yetPaul

author: Neomys Sapiens
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 03, 2021, 08:46:33 pm
content: Quote from: PKTKS on October 03, 2021, 11:36:53 amI'm not aware of any company in Switzerland that produces VFDs.

author: PKTKS
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 04, 2021, 08:50:02 am
content: Ok agreed - CH or CN ?CHINA in brazilian portuguese goes CHInternational forum should be CN not CH...I am searching some china makers but even them are cureently out of VFDs replacing portfolio with OLEDsPaul

author: PKTKS
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 04, 2021, 05:40:24 pm
content: It looks like (after some extensive more searching..)FUTABA indeed retired from VFD segment butNoritake still offers it's full portfolio herehttps://www.noritake-elec.com/products/vfd-display-module/dot-matrix-graphic-display/gu-d-serieswith orders available..Hope this one (IMHO the best) do not vanish in my life time..Paul

author: Neomys Sapiens
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 04, 2022, 02:40:15 pm
content: US manufacturer of VFDs, capable of small series:https://ieeinc.com/character-displays

author: PKTKS
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 04, 2022, 03:05:09 pm
content: Quote from: Neomys Sapiens on January 04, 2022, 02:40:15 pmInteresting.. I ve been watching latest trends in OLED AMOLEDgrowth and considering just the price... they are hard to compete..Nevertheless VFDs are just impossible to compare with any other display.These folks seem to haveonlythe character series ..tried to download PDF but some not clever policy requires registration..really bad for business..Last months I have been comparing FUTABA with Noritake offersand so far so good they are still widely available...(expected as their price are absurdly higher thanmoderndisplays)and SURENOO as it seems depends most on FUTABA supply...But considering their sturdy construction and far superior bright...price is not really the comparable item..Noritake has been investing in touchscreen VFDs and so far theyhave got me in full...prices are still the bad issue..they are still in the game ..thanks for bench instruments...Paul

author: PKTKS
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 04, 2022, 03:10:53 pm
content: ALAS...lately I ve been also watchinghttps://www.newhavendisplay.com/vfd-displays-c-586.htmlanother USA based VFD maker (only character displays) whichshould be able replace some of the retired FUTABA line...Prices +TAXs from US are still a bit above competitive Japan markets..Paul