Tag Archives: AAPL

Rubicon Technology

With the demise of GT Advanced Technologies, one might ask where Apple will get its Transparent Aluminum? Perhaps more accurately, who is currently supplying Apple with sapphire, since there is some question as to whether GTAT ever got the Mesa Arizona plant up and running.

One answer might be …

Rubicon Technology

 

IMG_3435.PNG

To harvest the crystal, we use a very thin diamond-cutting wire.

Pay close attention to the 4:00 minute mark of the following video about Rubicon Technology’s sapphire production.

 

Perhaps Rubicon was and is the manufacturer of the sapphire Apple uses for the camera lens, fingerprint scanner cover, and watch crystal … with Apple planning to transition to GTAT once production was up to quality and capacity.

WATCH

Unless you have been living under a rock … a rock without internet, cell phone, TV, cable, satellite or radio access … you know that Apple announced the Apple WATCH today. What you may not have seen are the videos. WATCH is a thing of beauty which mere words cannot do justice.

Clicking the image below (or the link below it) will take you to the official Apple site. WATCH the videos

WATCH

http://www.apple.com/watch/films/

iWANT

Supplying Apple

Yesterday’s Google News search on Apple had a Barron’s article on Apple’s suppliers. Apparently you can read the whole article through the Google link, but a direct link asks you to subscribe. Go figure.

The basis of the article is that these stocks could get pummeled if Apple disappoints on September 9. That may or may not come to pass, bit if you want to invest in companies riding Apple’s coat tails consider these:

GTAT – GT Advanced Technologies
Manufacturer of Transparent Aluminum

SWKSSkyworks Solutions
Wireless handset chip supplier

INVNInvenSense
Motion processing, MEMS gyroscope, and motion processing technologies for consumer electronics

RFMDRF Micro Devices
Manufacturer of RF (Radio Frequency) integrated circuits

AVGOAvago Technologies
Provides an extensive range of analog, mixed-signal and optoelectronic components

OVTIOmniVision Technologies
Manufacturer of proprietary image sensing and state-of-the-art CMOS process technologies

STMSTMicroelectronics
Produces a diverse range of devices, ranging from single transistors to microprocessors

NXPINXP Semiconductors
Creating solutions that enable secure connections for a smarter world

MUMicron Technology
Best known for producing many forms of semiconductor devices including DRAM, SDRAM, flash memory, and SSDs.

The article also referenced the WordPress site RE/CODE as a source.

Thin, Very Thin Transparent Aluminum

Transparent Aluminum

I first told you about Transparent Aluminum* here.

I have talked about it several times since.

GT Advanced Technologies (GTAT) has the technology to make thin, very thin sheets of it.

 

Apple has a large plant in Arizona where GTAT is making Transparent Aluminum for them by the ton (literally).

Last February 2014
 

* in case you have forgotten transparent aluminum is sapphire, Al2O3