Apple Awards Corning First Advanced Manufacturing Fund Investment

[LordVic]

I wish Corning a better fate than GT advanced

Wouldn't worry.

Corning is the supplier of Gorilla Glass, which is the most used glass substrate in computing glass. from Smartphones to touch screens. Never mind their non-gorilla glass products for all sorts of different glass uses.


(not saying disaster ant' strike, just unlikely to corning)

 

[xalea]

It takes courage to invest in a $27 billion dollar company.

 

[LordVic]

It takes courage to invest in a $27 billion dollar company.

Yeah, this is the one aspect that makes me go "Abuah?"

I thought the money was supposed to be for encouraging innovation and new ideas. not to give money to other multi-billion dollar companies who are perfectly capable of funding their own R&D and manufacturing resources

the Cynic in me feels like this is a "pay off" for something. it sure as hell isnt going to "spurr new innovation" because Corning isn't in a position to need such injection for help.

If Apple really REALLY wanted to help with furthering new ideas and innovation, this money should be going to universities, who are the ones who do the majority of scientific research, which goes on to further our technological advances. or give it to smaller shopps that'll help build / design their computers (instead of you know, the garbage PC's they've released lately)

 

[BornAgainMac]

I never knew that Apple used Android.. I mean Gorilla Glass.

 

[citysnaps]

It takes courage to invest in a $27 billion dollar company.

Why would it take courage? It does make a lot of sense for Apple helping a partner to research and develop new technologies that could benefit Apple down the road. Corning is the right company with a solid record of innovation going back more than 100 years.

 

[lkrupp]

Yeah, this is the one aspect that makes me go "Abuah?"

I thought the money was supposed to be for encouraging innovation and new ideas. not to give money to other multi-billion dollar companies who are perfectly capable of funding their own R&D and manufacturing resources

the Cynic in me feels like this is a "pay off" for something. it sure as hell isnt going to "spurr new innovation" because Corning isn't in a position to need such injection for help.

If Apple really REALLY wanted to help with furthering new ideas and innovation, this money should be going to universities, who are the ones who do the majority of scientific research, which goes on to further our technological advances. or give it to smaller shopps that'll help build / design their computers (instead of you know, the garbage PC's they've released lately)

Oh look, the “Apple can’t do anything right” crowd spouts off once again.

 

[Oilbrnr]

Nice! Wonder how long this has been in the works.

 

[NT1440]

Why would it take courage? It does make a lot of sense for Apple helping a partner to research and develop new technologies that could benefit Apple down the road. Corning is the right company with a solid record of innovation going back more than 100 years.

Not only that, this investment will probably result in (more) exclusive glass production for Apple's upcoming projects tailored to their specific needs. My guess is Apple is going to get their own custom variant of Willow Glass.

 

[69Mustang]

Yeah, this is the one aspect that makes me go "Abuah?"

I thought the money was supposed to be for encouraging innovation and new ideas. not to give money to other multi-billion dollar companies who are perfectly capable of funding their own R&D and manufacturing resources

the Cynic in me feels like this is a "pay off" for something. it sure as hell isnt going to "spurr new innovation" because Corning isn't in a position to need such injection for help.

If Apple really REALLY wanted to help with furthering new ideas and innovation, this money should be going to universities, who are the ones who do the majority of scientific research, which goes on to further our technological advances. or give it to smaller shopps that'll help build / design their computers (instead of you know, the garbage PC's they've released lately)

I'm usually the biggest cynic in the room, but I can think of a pretty simple reason for Apple investing in Corning. That reason? There could be something specific that Apple wants Corning to explore.

Apple: Hey Corning. We'd like you guys to look at the possibility of manufacturing X.

Corning: We'd love to that for you bud. Cool idea, just not in the budget right now.

Apple: Don't worry about the budget. We got it covered.

That makes it a win-win for both companies. Apple potentially gets a component that furthers their plans and Corning potentially gets a new product and revenue stream. This is just me hypothesizing but it works from a simplicity and common sense standpoint.

 

[LordVic]

Not only that, this investment will probably result in (more) exclusive glass production for Apple's upcoming projects tailored to their specific needs. My guess is Apple is going to get their own custom variant of Willow Glass.

Hadn't seen Willow glass before, That looks cool!
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I'm usually the biggest cynic in the room, but I can think of a pretty simple reason for Apple investing in Corning. That reason? There could be something specific that Apple wants Corning to explore.

Apple: Hey Corning. We'd like you guys to look at the possibility of manufacturing X.

Corning: We'd love to that for you bud. Cool idea, just not in the budget right now.

Apple: Don't worry about the budget. We got it covered.

That makes it a win-win for both companies. Apple potentially gets a component that furthers their plans and Corning potentially gets a new product and revenue stream. This is just me hypothesizing but it works from a simplicity and common sense standpoint.

Yes, I agree. But that to me isn't what th fund was made for. I thought the fund was supposed to be used to encourage local manufacturing and development. When companies typical do these types of funds, it's to help, no strings attached encourage growth.

What this more sounds like is apple giving Corning a "gift" for some future preference.

That didn't need to come from a fund. This could have been done via contract or standard negotiations. But putting it behind this fund makes it look a lot nicer than the move really is.

I think the fund is a great idea. Encourage manufacturing "at home". But Corning glass made something like 2.5 Billion last year in profit, They're not really hurting for $200 million.

 

[azentropy]

Why would it take courage? It does make a lot of sense for Apple helping a partner to research and develop new technologies that could benefit Apple down the road. Corning is the right company with a solid record of innovation going back more than 100 years.

I think your sarcasm monitor is broken.

 

[JGRE]

Buy a decent case if you're prone to dropping stuff.

Accidents happen, I've dropped my 6S more times than I can remember and there's not so much as a scratch on it because I've got a decent case.

Don't you see how ridiculous this actually is? Apple spends a enormous amount on making the iPhone thin and look gourges. Then everybody puts a ugly plastic case around it in order to protects it. Wouldn't be much more efficient if Apple would make iPhone including the protection everybody is going to put on it anyways?

Btw, I never broke my screen (no bumper, screen protectors or case), but my kids did this like 5 times or more.....

 

[honglong1976]

Could there be nice tax benefits calling this an investment instead of simply buying stuff from Corning?

I am sure there will be. Apple awards fund to a supplier of glass for it's products! I thought it was some kind of tax avoidance thing as well. Either pay $1 billion in US tax or pay to help one of it's suppliers.

What next? Apple awards $1 billion fund to foxconn!

 

[citysnaps]

I think your sarcasm monitor is broken.

There's a difference between sarcasm and juvenile snark.

 

[69Mustang]

Yes, I agree. But that to me isn't what the fund was made for. I thought the fund was supposed to be used to encourage local manufacturing and development. When companies typical do these types of funds, it's to help, no strings attached encourage growth.

I'm confused. I understand everything we're discussing is pure supposition, but wouldn't Corning using the $200M to fund R&D and subsequent manufacturing, accomplish just what you think the fund's intended purpose is supposed to be: local manufacturing and development?

Stimulus funds from governments can come with no strings, but rarely if ever do companies make these types of investments without some thoughts of the benefits. I can't readily recall it happening.

I think the fund is a great idea. Encourage manufacturing "at home". But Corning glass made something like 2.5 Billion last year in profit, They're not really hurting for $200 million.

I don't think this has anything to do with Corning hurting. They can afford to do all of their planned R&D and manufacturing improvements. Again based on my hypothetical, if Apple wants something specific and different from Corning's current road map they'd be willing to fund that R&D and possible manufacturing ramp up. Think of it as Apple contracting Corning to do some R&D outside of their (Corning) normal processes.

People erroneously trying to make comparisons to GT Advance unintentionally gave me another thought. Lessons learned from that debacle could have also played a part in Apple's decision about creating the fund. Instead of buying a company that may or may not be running a hussle, make investments to see if something can come of it. Every investment will not be as large as Corning's and all of them may not pay off. Helluva lot better than being stuck holding the bag if things go south as it did with GT.

 

[Michaelgtrusa]

I'm happy to hear this. 1 Billion is not enough.

 

[TechGeek76]

It's not "just" Gorilla Glass, because Gorilla glass is a spectrum of glass products tuned to a given OEM's requirements (in this case the ion bath for surface tension is what makes it the Ion-x branding Apple uses). "Just" Gorilla glass leaves one with the impression that it's all one monolithic product when Gorilla Glass is technically the umbrella brand name that Corning uses.

It's Gorilla Glass.

https://www.corning.com/gorillaglass/worldwide/en/technology/how-it-s-made.html

"ION-EXCHANGE PROCESS
Ion exchange is a chemical strengthening process where large ions are “stuffed” into the glass surface, creating a state of compression. Gorilla Glass is specially designed to maximize this behavior. The glass is placed in a hot bath of molten salt at a temperature of approximately 400 degrees C. Smaller sodium ions leave the glass, and larger potassium ions from the salt bath replace them. These large ions take up more room and are pressed together when the glass cools, producing a layer of compressive stress on the surface of the glass. Gorilla Glass’ composition enables the potassium ions to diffuse far into the surface, creating high compressive stress deep into the glass. This layer of compression creates the surface that is more resistant to damage."

Similar to Retina, a term made up by Apple.

 

[mi7chy]

Apple need to stop beating around the bush and specify which part of the device (front, back, touch id, camera, etc.) is Corning glass or off-shore knock off ion-x glass like any other respectable phone and computer manufacturer.

https://www.corning.com/gorillaglass/worldwide/en/products-with-gorilla.html

The fact that Apple has display defects that no other product that uses Corning glass has doesn't instill confidence.

http://www.staingate.org

 

[NT1440]

It's Gorilla Glass.

https://www.corning.com/gorillaglass/worldwide/en/technology/how-it-s-made.html

"ION-EXCHANGE PROCESS
Ion exchange is a chemical strengthening process where large ions are “stuffed” into the glass surface, creating a state of compression. Gorilla Glass is specially designed to maximize this behavior. The glass is placed in a hot bath of molten salt at a temperature of approximately 400 degrees C. Smaller sodium ions leave the glass, and larger potassium ions from the salt bath replace them. These large ions take up more room and are pressed together when the glass cools, producing a layer of compressive stress on the surface of the glass. Gorilla Glass’ composition enables the potassium ions to diffuse far into the surface, creating high compressive stress deep into the glass. This layer of compression creates the surface that is more resistant to damage."

Similar to Retina, a term made up by Apple.

That's exactly what I've been saying.......

 

[TechGeek76]

Apple need to stop beating around the bush and specify which part of the device (front, back, touch id, camera, etc.) is Corning glass or off-shore knock off ion-x glass like any other respectable phone and computer manufacturer.

https://www.corning.com/gorillaglass/worldwide/en/products-with-gorilla.html

The fact that Apple has display defects that no other product that uses Corning glass has doesn't instill confidence.

http://www.staingate.org

Apples "ION-X" is like Retina, it's a term to fool people. It IS Corning Gorilla Glass.

https://www.corning.com/gorillaglass/worldwide/en/technology/how-it-s-made.html

ION-EXCHANGE PROCESS
Ion exchange is a chemical strengthening process where large ions are “stuffed” into the glass surface, creating a state of compression. Gorilla Glass is specially designed to maximize this behavior. The glass is placed in a hot bath of molten salt at a temperature of approximately 400 degrees C. Smaller sodium ions leave the glass, and larger potassium ions from the salt bath replace them. These large ions take up more room and are pressed together when the glass cools, producing a layer of compressive stress on the surface of the glass. Gorilla Glass’ composition enables the potassium ions to diffuse far into the surface, creating high compressive stress deep into the glass. This layer of compression creates the surface that is more resistant to damage.
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That's exactly what I've been saying.......

That's exactly what you were saying. This is nothing special to Apple. It's nothing more than another Retina.

 

[macduke]

Hopefully this helps them take things to the next level and deliver what could be essentially called unbreakable glass. My Apple Watch had a little mishap where it "tinked" off of the refrigerator door handle and cracked along the side. Fortunately the crack doesn't go over the screen, but split in a fairly straight line along the side. It has never scratched, but cracking is still a problem that needs to be addressed with these laboratory sapphires. And while I don't know a lot of people who have broken their iPhone display, I know a lot who have broken their iPad display. So the strength of these larger displays needs to be improve.

 

[NT1440]

That's exactly what you were saying. This is nothing special to Apple. It's nothing more than another Retina.

Ion-X is a branding name, yes. But again "gorilla glass" is the same branding technique even though its a spectrum of available products. You can buy the generic (mass produced off the shelf gorilla glass), or you can get additional specifications while still being called Gorilla Glass by Corning.

To elaborate further, an iPhone and a Galaxy both have Gorilla Glass but Samsung may have opted for certain characteristics while Apple has chosen different ones.

 

[gnasher729]

Why would it take courage? It does make a lot of sense for Apple helping a partner to research and develop new technologies that could benefit Apple down the road. Corning is the right company with a solid record of innovation going back more than 100 years.

Ages ago, Apple invested $100 million for Samsung to create LCD screens. That was at a time when not many people used LCD screens.

 

[FrenchRoasted]

I wish Corning a better fate than GT advanced

Corning already has its big boy pants on, not to worry.

 

[69Mustang]

Hopefully this helps them take things to the next level and deliver what could be essentially called unbreakable glass. My Apple Watch had a little mishap where it "tinked" off of the refrigerator door handle and cracked along the side. Fortunately the crack doesn't go over the screen, but split in a fairly straight line along the side. It has never scratched, but cracking is still a problem that needs to be addressed with these laboratory sapphires. And while I don't know a lot of people who have broken their iPhone display, I know a lot who have broken their iPad display. So the strength of these larger displays needs to be improve.

Sapphire? I was unaware of Corning making sapphire. Also sapphire, whether lab created or natural, has a high resistance to scratching not cracking. It's hardness contributes to the former and exacerbates the latter.