The Apple iPhone 5S uses sapphires on its camera lens and home button. Now the Cupertino firm has secured that future devices will continue to use the technology by signing a long-term sapphire supply.
AllThingsD reports, “On Monday, GT Advanced Technologies said it has inked a multi-year agreement with Apple to manufacture sapphire material in Mesa, Arizona. Under the terms of the agreement, GT will purchase and operate the sapphire production equipment that will ultimately be installed in the new Apple plant. In return, Apple is providing GT with prepayments of approximately $578 million, for which GT will reimburse Apple over five years, starting in 2015.”
Kristin Huguet, Apple spokeswoman, told AllThingsD, “We are proud to expand our domestic manufacturing initiative with a new facility in Arizona, creating more than 2,000 jobs in engineering, manufacturing and construction. This new plant will make components for Apple products and it will run on 100 percent renewable energy from day one.”
The site adds, “A big deal — in more ways than one. When the facility is up and running it will employ some 700 people, and it’s going to be cranking out a lot of sapphire. As part of the agreement, GT will fast-track development of a next-generation, large-capacity furnace intended to “deliver low-cost, high-volume manufacturing of sapphire material.” That suggests Apple could be looking at sapphire as an element in its next-generation touchscreens.”
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