GT Advanced announces a series of strategic initiatives

Merrimack, USA - GT Advanced Technologies announced several new initiatives aimed at expanding its portfolio of sapphire and silicon carbide (SiC) solutions for next generation consumer and industrial products.

The company has entered into a memorandum of understanding with European-based EV Group. The companies aim to work together in various collaborative arrangements including jointly developing high volume production processes and equipment necessary to bond the ultra-thin sapphire and SiC lamina, produced by GT's Hyperion technology, to engineered substrates such as glass, silicon, and plastics.

Additionally, GT announced it will begin working with a leading glass substrate producer to develop specially engineered substrate materials that can be bonded to ultra-thin sapphire lamina to create unique composite solutions that expand the reach of sapphire into a broader set of applications.

The company also announced that it has acquired patent-pending technology for producing low-cost, scratch-resistant aluminum oxide coatings for various substrates including glass and plastics. According to GT these coatings are expected to provide some of the durability and scratch-resistant properties of crystalline sapphire at a lower price point to address market opportunities where cost is paramount and not all of the properties of sapphire are required.

GT's business model will be focused on selling the bonding and coating equipment developed through these initiatives.

Source: IWR Online, 02 May 2014