Corning Announces Production Readiness for 3D Gorilla Glass, Seeks to Target Wearables

Corning Announces Production Readiness for 3D Gorilla Glass, Seeks to Target Wearables

Published on 01-04-2014 09:56 PM

The glass manufacturing giant, Corning, recently announced production readiness for a new 3D-forming method that can be applied to the company’s widely-used Gorilla Glass, suggesting that the firm is prepping an entry into the curved display market. Although the practicality of curved displays remains debatable, the technology is seemingly progressing, with OEMs like LG and Samsung introducing niche products boasting bowed form factors. Corning is now about to entry the fray with its own 3D Gorilla Glass Solution, perhaps paving the way for uniquely-shaped handsets and wearable computing devices.

Corning is working on a vertically integrated operation with Taiwan-based G-Tech Optoelectronics Corp, which would allow fast and economical production of the specialized glass. Corning Special Materials’ Senior Vice President and General Manager, James R. Steiner, had the following to say regarding the matter:

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.

As a long-time Apple partner manufacturer, Corning’s tough Gorilla Glass products have helped electronics makers create thin and light devices with all-glass fronts, such as the iPhone and iPad. With the new 3D-foming technology, Corning is looking to take its strong substrates to completely new applications. One specific area Corning has been eyeing is wearable or so-called “smart watches,” which need to be thin, light and resilient. A 3D-glass superstructure that can curve around a user’s wrist could be an example application.

Although no specific date has been set for the first commercial release to use Corning’s new technology, the company is targeting a 2014 launch. We’ll have to see if Apple or any other tech giant’s take advantage of the new technology.

Source: Corning

_{This article was originally published in forum thread: Corning Announces Production Readiness for 3D Gorilla Glass, Seeks to Target Wearables started by Akshay Masand View original post}