Following news this week that Apple had reached at a settlement with bankrupt sapphire manufacturer GT Advanced, today the company has responded to the situation in a comment to Recode. While GT previously said it would wind down sapphire production operations at its Mesa, Arizona plant and sell furnaces to repay the $439M owed to Apple, today Apple hinted it might have its own plans for the facility.
“Apple put a lot of effort into an ambitious new sapphire manufacturing process with GTAT which is not ready for production.”
Apple continues by noting that it is still committed to work with Mesa and that it will potentially repurpose the facility and “help the GT Advanced employees who will be impacted by this find new jobs.”
When GT’s lawyers earlier this week called the settlement an “amicable parting of ways,” there was no confirmation if Apple would continue to work with the company or utilize the Mesa, Arizona facility. Today, however, Apple said it would continue to evaluate GT Advanced for “progress on larger sapphire boule development.”
Apple’s full statement is below:
“Apple put a lot of effort into an ambitious new sapphire manufacturing process with GTAT which is not ready for production. We’re going to continue evaluating GTAT’s progress on larger sapphire boule development, as well as consider other options for the facility. We remain committed to the city and we’re going to work with Mesa and Maricopa County to help the GT Advanced employees who will be impacted by this find new jobs.”
