Corning Inc yesterday said it has formed a strategic partnership with local glass maker G-Tech Optoelectronics Corp (正達國際), aiming to commercialize its 3D-shaped glass for mobile and wearable devices this year.
Corning, the world’s biggest LCD glass supplier, said the 3D-forming technology meets the demands of the market as more than half of the world’s top 10 smartphone manufacturers already sell devices that incorporate cover glass with subtle curves, adding that the demand for even more dramatic form factors is increasing.
Corning said the partnership would allow it to establish a vertically integrated operation in Taiwan, according to a company statement released yesterday.
The US LCD glass maker said the relationship with G-Tech would allow it 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,” Corning Specialty Materials senior vice president and general manager James Steiner said.
Corning’s 3D-forming 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, according to the company’s statement.
In a statement submitted to the Taiwan Stock Exchange, G-Tech said the partnership would help the company’s capability to manufacture 3D-shaped glass and increase revenue by making glass for other companies on a contract basis.
G-Tech’s monthly capacity for 3D glass production was 50,000 sheets at the end of last year. It planned to quadruple capacity to 200,000 sheets this year.
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