Video gamers know about Wii damages involving TV glass, and now there’s a business that thinks they have an option. The AP reports that Chemcor, an old invention from the labs of Corning, is now about to hit the market as super-strong Gorilla glass. Soon, Corning will use Gorilla glass in high-end TVs and touch-screen tablets.
Gorilla glass first roared two years ago
After decades of nothing, Corning began to use Gorilla glass in cell phones in 2008. Using the product for cell phone screens started a $ 170 million per year business, but that’s small compared to what Corning could make in the flat screen TV and touch screen system market. In specific, Gorilla glass could possibly be used for frameless flat screen TVs that would look like artwork on a wall, rather than a television. Gorilla glass’ resistance to scratching, denting or other breakage would both preserve a high-end television’s elegance and cut down on broken glass from dreaded Wii accidents.
Strength times three, thickness divided by half
According to the AP, Gorilla glass beats standard glass by a mile. It is three times as strong – like a gorilla – but it is less than half as thick. A Gorilla glass flat screen can be thinner than a dime, which greatly decreases shipping costs. Thus, Corning hopes to get its Asian manufacturers to get Gorilla glass into the TV market by early next year. Share prices of Corning are already up, which is a good sign. Corning’s TV glass sales amounted to $ 5.4 billion last year, and Gorilla glass will take than number through the roof in 2011, experts predict. Adding Gorilla glass to TVs is forecasted to add only $ 30 to $ 60 per unit.
And what about other products?
Corning is confident that Gorilla glass is suitable for myriad products. For example, refrigerator doors, vehicle sunroofs and stationary touch-screen interfaces are all opportunities. For the moment, Corning is on the precipice of making large cash with Gorilla glass in high-end televisions.
Further reading
Associated Press
cbsnews.com/stories/2010/08/01/ap/tech/main6734387.shtml
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