Apple will build a new sapphire glass manufacturing plant in Mesa, Arizona that will employ up to 700 in the first year. This, according to releases from the State of Arizona, and GT Advanced, a New Hampshire based materials manufacturing firm.
According to GT Advanced, that company will “own and operate furnaces and related equipment” at a new Apple facility in Mesa, with Apple providing GT with a prepayment of $578 million that GT will pay back over five years beginning in 2015.
In a separate press release, the State of Arizona says the plan will create at least 700 in the first year, in addition to 1,300 construction related jobs. Apple will also be investing in renewable energy projects to power the facility.
Apple confirmed the facility in a statement to Pocket-Lint:
We are proud to expand our domestic manufacturing initiative with a new facility in Arizona, creating more than 2,000 jobs in engineering, manufacturing and construction. This new plant will make components for Apple products and it will run on 100% renewable energy from day one, as a result of the work we are doing with SRP to create green energy sources to power the facility.
Apple uses sapphire glass to protect the cameras on its iPhone, and on the Home Button on the new Touch ID equipped iPhone 5s. While this is currently the only use Apple makes of sapphire glass, reports in the past have suggested its future devices may use sapphire glass, which provides superior durability and scratch-resistance than other forms of glass, in their displays.
