Despite its new alliance with Sharp, Sony and Samsung have now confirmed that they will invest 1.8 trillion won in a cutting-edge 8th generation LCD manufacturing line at their S-LCD joint venture plant in Tangjeong, South Korea. The Gen-8 line is designed to yield super-large LCD screen sizes, in excess of 50 inches. Production will begin in the autumn of 2009. 60,000 glass substrates are expected to be produced monthly.