Apple sapphire screen capacity is twice as high as today's global
September 18 01:03:45, 2025
In Bloomberg's recent report on the resurgence of U.S. manufacturing, analysts from Yole Developpement, a leading market research firm, have highlighted Apple’s new facility in Mesa, Arizona, as a game-changer. They believe that this plant has the potential to double the production capacity of today’s global sapphire glass manufacturing plants. According to the analysts, the process of producing sapphire glass isn't overly complex—essentially, it involves activating a furnace to start a chemical reaction and then waiting for about a month for the sapphire crystal to grow naturally. Once grown, the crystal is cut into thin pieces, less than a millimeter thick, using diamond-tipped blades. These pieces are then used as display screens for mobile devices.
Another industry analyst based in Mesa described the entire sapphire glass production process as a high-tech operation that requires only a small number of skilled workers. This stands in stark contrast to the labor-intensive approach seen at Foxconn, where Apple relies heavily on large numbers of manual workers. The shift toward advanced machinery and fewer personnel reflects a broader trend in the U.S. manufacturing sector, which is increasingly focused on automation, precision, and efficiency. By investing in cutting-edge equipment and training a specialized workforce, American manufacturers are positioning themselves to compete more effectively on the global stage. This move not only supports domestic job creation but also strengthens supply chain resilience, especially in critical industries like electronics.