PPDS & E Ink unveil next generation Philips ePaper displays

PPDS and E Ink have acknowledged two decades of cooperation and announced plans for a new generation of larger full colour Philips Tableaux ePaper displays.

The announcement was made during Touch Taiwan at the Taipei Nangang Exhibition Centre, which is considered Taiwan's largest annual technology exhibition. Over three days, the event typically welcomes more than 300 exhibitors and approximately 30,000 visitors.

PPDS joined E Ink at the event, showcasing their shared commitment to energy-conscious solutions and digital signage technology. The partnership between the two firms has spanned over 20 years, underlining the long-term nature of their collaboration.

In 2023, PPDS introduced the Philips Tableaux Series, a range of full colour ePaper signage displays, expanding digital signage possibilities for various types of businesses. These displays are now available in 13", 25" and 32" sizes. The company emphasised that Philips Tableaux is designed to use no power when displaying static images, supporting 24/7 vivid content while unplugged.

The displays are designed to encourage organisations to move away from traditional paper-based communication methods, such as printed point-of-sale signage and menu boards, to improve energy efficiency and sustainability.

Martijn van der Woude, VP of Global Marketing and Business Development at PPDS, told the media that larger versions of the Philips Tableaux, suitable for both indoor and outdoor use, are nearing completion and will be introduced in the coming months. He said, "We are delighted to join our friends and colleagues at E Ink here in Taiwan, celebrating 20 years of partnership together while teasing our next innovations."

"We were the first global display manufacturer to recognise the incredible benefits and opportunities – including sustainability – available through ePaper. Unsurprisingly, others are now joining us on the journey, and we are delighted to have pioneered this path for the industry. Continuing our incredible partnership with E Ink, we are in a prestigious position where we will always aim for the next step ahead to be at the forefront of innovation."

Hui Lee, President of E Ink's Netherlands office, commented on the continued collaboration: "At E Ink, we are proud to have continued our journey and our great relationship as a technology partner for Philips Professional Displays. Together with PPDS, our companies are based in both Europe and in Taiwan, allowing us to collaborate closely as we advance this incredible ePaper technology. With a growing range – in number and in size – of Philips Tableaux ePaper displays, together we are advancing our mission to deliver a more sustainable proposition for businesses around the world."

Van der Woude addressed extended interest in larger ePaper screens: "The most common question I'm asked about Philips Tableaux is when it will be available in a bigger size. But it's not that simple. We can only move as fast as the technology allows. Not all colour ePaper displays are made equally. Image quality and performance in both indoor and outdoor installations are often crucial to the experience and brand ambitions for our customers."

He highlighted how certain environments, such as Oracle Red Bull Racing, require high standards for colour accuracy: "This is particularly true for companies for whom colour accuracy needs to be precise. At Oracle Red Bull Racing, for example, the colour mix for the car liveries can change from race to race, depending on light conditions. Ensuring that consistent look and feel, always."

"The same is true for environments where ePaper displays may feature alongside other digital displays – inside and outside. That is one of the big reasons why Oracle Red Bull Racing selected Philips Professional Displays as their Team Partner...whether for their huge Philips LED walls or for paper replacement with Philips Tableaux, we make colour accuracy work for that brand experience."

Bart Wouters, International Product Manager at PPDS, noted that during ISE 2025, multiple vendors were showing larger colour ePaper displays. He commented that customer expectations are increasingly shaped by considerations of image quality and colour accuracy, especially for indoor installations.

"Unfortunately, some of the larger ePaper displays we are seeing would fall short of the expectations of our customers, especially those seeking displays for indoor use. At PPDS, we don't compromise on quality, bringing an ePaper signage range that answers on better colours, better performance, better display management – with Philips Wave remote device management via our Android System on Chip – and better power options, including Power over Ethernet. We are working closely with E Ink on this and we aim to continue our ePaper journey at the forefront, with more world-firsts yet to come," said Wouters.

Van der Woude reinforced the importance of collaboration and leadership in their approach: "The journey of ePaper is a testament to the power of collaboration and leadership. Together, our companies are not only revolutionising display technology – we are bringing businesses everywhere forward for a more sustainable future. We look forward to continuing this incredible partnership and delivering breakthroughs in ePaper technology to the market. The next great examples of this are just around the corner, so stay tuned!"