The first sapphire market & technologies forum is announced

The announcement by GTAT and Apple in late 2013 of a more than $1bn combined investment to set up the largest sapphire crystal growth facility in the world had raised hopes that adoption of sapphire in smartphones would rapidly reach a massive scale. Various second tier cell phone OEM upped their efforts in sapphire-related developments and tried to beat Apple by announcing or introducing smartphone models with sapphire display covers ahead of the highly anticipated iPhone 6 announcement. This prompted various sapphire manufacturers in China to announce plans for significant capacity increases to serve this new market.

However, the news that the iPhone 6 would not use a sapphire display cover, shortly followed by GTAT bankruptcy sent shockwaves in the industry and raised many questions: Is Apple still interested in sapphire and will the display cover glass opportunity ever materialise in a large scale? Is the technology ready? What will happen to the more than 2000 high capacity furnaces installed by GTAT and Apple? Are other cell phone OEM still considering sapphire? Can traditional applications such as LED or watch windows sustain more than 100 manufacturers? Could other applications emerge soon? If not how will consolidation affect the industry? Will China eventually dominate the sapphire industry? These questions will be addressed at the International Forum on Sapphire Market & Technologies.

“The last 6 month events are shaking the sapphire industry. Today, several points remain under questions: is the display cover application dead on arrival? What is Apple’s strategy regarding sapphire? Can the market absorb the more than 2000 high capacity GTAT furnaces now for sale?” commented Eric Virey, Yole.

The programme for the International Forum on Sapphire Market & Technologies includes sessions on the sapphire market, technologies and supply chains, sapphire applications and crystal growth - manufacturing technologies. The forum will conclude with a round table in which experts will discuss the future of sapphire technologies and markets.

“This first International Forum on Sapphire Market & Technologies is a must for all sapphire industry managers as well as for sapphire users in order to network and learn about all the latest industry trends,” adds Virey.