The Need for a 'Beijing Diwen' Serial Port Screen Module Factory in Jiangsu and Zhejiang

There are dozens of companies in the serial port screen industry, including Diwen, Taojingchi, Guangzhou Dacai, Jinxizhi Control, Xinruida, Fulai New, Guanjian, and Youcai, as observed by Lao Chen in the market. A serial port screen, as the name suggests, is a display that communicates with the main control device through serial communication interfaces (such as RS232, RS485, TTL UART, etc.).

Compared to traditional TFT LCD screens or LCD modules,serial port screens have the greatest advantage ofintegrating a graphical user interface (GUI) and certain control logic. The main control device only needs to usesimple serial commands to achieve human-computer interaction functions, significantly reducing development complexity and cycle time.

The three core components of a serial port screen are the LCM screen, the chip, and the GUI tools. The screen industry is concentrated inSouth China, but as many screen manufacturers move to East China for application purposes, the core of screen assembly is cost. As long as the shipment volume can increase, the supply chain and production costs can be comparable between East and South China. Diwen has its own chip, while Xinruida’s core board is involved; the chip industry is based in Shanghai, where competition is fierce, and many chip manufacturers are in dire straits. GUI tools come in three forms: mapping, drawing, and combination, with the popularity of LVGL as a GUI tool. More and more companies are entering the screen display chip market, including Lesheng, Huaxin Micro, Jiangxin Chuang, and Guoxin, with price-cutting strategies also entering the display market. The industry has developed GUI tools, such as Zhongke Vision and easyGUI, allowing inexpensive MCUs to produce beautiful GUI effects.

End customers use serial port screens mainly due to their small volume. In the era of everything having a screen, the simplicity of serial port screen tools is key. Customers can complete the screen UI development within 1-2 weeks after receiving the serial port screen or serial port screen chip. For applications requiring higher quality, production must be controlled in-house to ensure quality and unique functionality. In such a competitive market, serial port screen companies are also struggling to make profits.

The title indicates that East China still lacks a ‘Beijing Diwen’ serial port screen module factory. The business chain of serial port screen companies leverages standard serial port screens to acquire customers and then customizes standard products for the industry. For example, charging pile display modules, encoder circular screen modules, screw machine display modules, etc. Once the industry enters a niche field, localized services are required, and East China is precisely where applications are concentrated.

Who is suitable to establish a ‘Beijing Diwen’ in East China? Two major factors are needed: ownership of resources in the screen industry + GUI technology developers. LCM has low profit margins but high output value; technology can give wings to screens. GUI can empower chip manufacturers, as Lao Chen knows that almost all MCU manufacturers are looking to develop screen driver chips, where screens and functions create value through technology. Among the ten module manufacturers Lao Chen knows, only one is willing to engage in serial port screens, but transitioning from a production mindset to a technology mindset can be challenging, mainly because the screen market is too competitive with low profits.

Friends interested in entering the niche serial port screen field can contact Lao Chen, who is willing to share all knowledge.

1、Diwen

Industry leader known for high cost-performance and wide application. Products cover industrial control, home appliances, medical fields, etc., with stable hardware performance, but the configuration software is complex to operate, suitable for cost-sensitive projects with technical development capabilities. Serves over 20,000 enterprises, covering high-demand scenarios such as smart home appliances and rail transit.