Ready for unique designs without sacrificing strength or adding thickness
Corning has announced their latest innovation, which they're calling 3D-shaped Gorilla Glass. It's not for 3D video on our smart devices (thank goodness) but it describes the manufacturing process that will make Gorilla Glass into unique shapes without adding thickness or losing any of the scratch-resistant properties. Or not so scratch resistant, as the case may be.
This is part of a "one roof" solution where Corning can manufacture the product and go through all the processes without shipping parts or supplies to another location. According to James R. Steiner, senior vice president and general manager, Corning Specialty Materials:
We can now take Gorilla Glass all the way from flat sheet to a finished 3D-shaped product in Asia, expediting turnaround times and minimizing logistical complexity. That’s a win for Corning and our customers.
We've seen curved designs from Samsung and LG already, and you can bet that everyone else is at least looking into bringing out curved display phones in the near future. And of course, the future of wearables isn't straight and narrow, so the new formed shapes could come in handy there as well.
Corning will be at CES, and we'll wander in and have a look at what they're showing off this year. Stay tuned for more on this one.
Corning and GTOC Announce Manufacturing Readiness for 3D-Shaped Gorilla® Glass
Vertically integrated operations in Taiwan
CORNING, N.Y., January 03, 2014 – Corning Incorporated (NYSE: GLW) today announced the manufacturing readiness of a novel 3D glass-forming technology to shape Corning® Gorilla® Glass. Corning is targeting commercialization of finished 3D-shaped Gorilla Glass parts in 2014 and is working with G-Tech Optoelectronics Corp. (GTOC) to establish a vertically integrated operation in Taiwan.
Product design continues to drive the consumer electronics industry. More than half of the top 10 smartphone manufacturers already market devices that incorporate cover glass with subtle curves, and the demand for even more-dramatic form factors is increasing. Corning’s 3D-forming technology meets this demand and expands the design possibilities for industrial designers.
The relationship with GTOC allows Corning to provide a “one-roof” solution. “We can now take Gorilla Glass all the way from flat sheet to a finished 3D-shaped product in Asia, expediting turnaround times and minimizing logistical complexity,” said James R. Steiner, senior vice president and general manager, Corning Specialty Materials. “That’s a win for Corning and our customers.”
Corning’s 3D-forming technology can achieve precise tolerances and high throughput on a platform that is more economical than alternative two-mold forming methods. This technology uses Gorilla Glass of uniform thickness, assisting designers to introduce thinner and lighter devices and leverage the emergence of conformable displays for mobile and wearable applications.
Forward-Looking and Cautionary Statements
This press release contains “forward-looking statements” (within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995), which are based on current expectations and assumptions about Corning’s financial results and business operations, that involve substantial risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially. These risks and uncertainties include: the effect of global political, economic and business conditions; conditions in the financial and credit markets; currency fluctuations; tax rates; product demand and industry capacity; competition; reliance on a concentrated customer base; manufacturing efficiencies; cost reductions; availability of critical components and materials; new product commercialization; pricing fluctuations and changes in the mix of sales between premium and non-premium products; new plant start-up or restructuring costs; possible disruption in commercial activities due to terrorist activity, armed conflict, political or financial instability, natural disasters, adverse weather conditions, or major health concerns; adequacy of insurance; equity company activities; acquisition and divestiture activities; the level of excess or obsolete inventory; the rate of technology change; the ability to enforce patents; product and components performance issues; retention of key personnel; stock price fluctuations; and adverse litigation or regulatory developments. These and other risk factors are detailed in Corning’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the day that they are made, and Corning undertakes no obligation to update them in light of new information or future events.
About GTOC
GTOC is the largest glass-processing service provider in Taiwan and has devoted its expertise with recognition in the optoelectronics industry for over a decade, focusing on developing core glass-processing technologies and cover-glass manufacturing.
About Corning Incorporated
Corning Incorporated (www.corning.com) is the world leader in specialty glass and ceramics. Drawing on more than 160 years of materials science and process engineering knowledge, Corning creates and makes keystone components that enable high-technology systems for consumer electronics, mobile emissions control, telecommunications and life sciences. Our products include glass substrates for LCD televisions, computer monitors and laptops; ceramic substrates and filters for mobile emission control systems; optical fiber, cable, hardware & equipment for telecommunications networks; optical biosensors for drug discovery; and other advanced optics and specialty glass solutions for a number of industries including semiconductor, aerospace, defense, astronomy, and metrology.
