Sapphire Industry: What to expect after Apple withdrew last September

The First International Sapphire Market and Technology Forum

September 3, Shenzhen, China

Lyon, France - "2014 was a promising year for the sapphire industry. Now entering 2015, the industry has many uncertainties," said Dr. Eric Verey, senior technology market analyst at Yole Developmentde. He added, "After a long period of low prices and stagnant revenue, prices began to recover in 2014, and many people in the industry are excited. But most importantly, everyone is confident in the prospects of a new killer app."

At the end of 2013, GTAT and Apple announced a joint investment of more than 1 billion US dollars to establish the world's largest sapphire crystal growth equipment production base. This news brings hope for the rapid and large-scale adoption of sapphire in smartphones, because Apple's move will force its competitors to follow suit. Various second-tier mobile phone OEMs have strengthened their sapphire-related development capabilities and are trying to beat Apple by releasing or launching smartphone models with sapphire displays before the much-anticipated Apple iPhone 6 comes out. This has prompted Chinese sapphire manufacturers to announce a major increase in sapphire production to meet the needs of this emerging market.

But with the news that the iPhone 6 will not use a sapphire display cover, GTAT's subsequent bankruptcy filing has brought a huge impact to the sapphire industry and triggered many speculations:

*Apple is still interested in sapphire and can the opportunity of display glass cover be realized in large-scale production?

*Is the technology ready?

*How will the more than 2,000 high-volume furnaces installed by GTAT and Apple be digested?

*Are there any other mobile phone OEMs considering sapphire?

* Can traditional applications such as LED or watch windows sustain more than 100 manufacturers?

*Are other application areas on the horizon? If not, how will the restructuring of the industry affect the industry?

*Will China eventually dominate the sapphire industry?

The one-day International Sapphire Market and Technology Forum (September 3, 2015 - Shenzhen, China), co-organized by Yole and its partner China International Optoelectronics Expo, will provide attendees with an exclusive opportunity to explore the answers to these questions, as well as more latest sapphire industry news.

Yole analysts have been studying the sapphire market for more than ten years. Their analysis is reflected in the annual technology and market analysis report: Sapphire Applications and Markets: From LED to Consumer Electronics and Sapphire Applications, Touch Screens, Displays, Semiconductors, Defense and Consumer.

“The events of the last six months are shaking up the sapphire industry”, commented Eric Verre from Yole. He added: "Currently, several questions remain: Is the end of the display cover application coming? What is Apple's strategy regarding sapphire? Can the market now absorb more than 2,000 high-capacity GTAT furnace sales..."

In this context, Yole's "More Than Moore" market research, technology and strategic consulting company proposed to hold an international sapphire market and technology forum in Shenzhen on September 3, 2015, to exchange knowledge with the industry and discuss the above questions. The forum was hosted by China International Optoelectronics Expo (CIOE) and held concurrently with the 17th China International Optoelectronics Expo.

The two parties have established a set of high value-added projects including conferences, such as: sapphire market, technology and supply chain, mature and emerging sapphire applications, crystal growth, manufacturing technology... This forum will end in the form of a roundtable meeting with industry leading companies and experts to discuss the future of sapphire technology and market.

“This International Sapphire Market and Technology Forum is the first of its kind in the industry. It is a must-attend meeting for all sapphire industry managers and sapphire users to expand their industry network and grasp all the latest development trends in the industry,” Eric Verey believes.

The Sapphire Forum organized by Yole & CIOE will bring together the world’s top experts. This will allow participants to gain valuable insights into the current state and future of the sapphire industry. In addition, the forum will provide unprecedented opportunities to meet with industry leaders.

About the 17th China International Optoelectronics Expo (CIOE)

CIOE is the largest optoelectronics in China, with more than 3,000 exhibitors and 85,000 expected visitors. One of the CIOE branch exhibitions, LED technology applications attract many leading companies in the sapphire and LED industry chain, from raw material and equipment providers, crystal growth, silicon wafer cutting and LED companies.

About Yole Développement

Founded in 1998, Yole Développement has grown into a group of companies providing marketing, technical and strategic consulting, media and corporate finance services. With a strong focus on emerging applications in silicon and/or microfabrication, the Yole Développement Group has expanded to more than 50 collaborators worldwide including MEMS, compound semiconductors, LEDs, image sensors, optoelectronics, microfluidics and medical, photovoltaics, advanced packaging, manufacturing, nanomaterials and power electronics.