HARRODSBURG, Ky. - Glass for every generation of iPhone, including the new iPhone 11 and iPhone 11 Pro, has been made here in Kentucky at the Harrodsburg's Corning Incorporated plant. Tuesday, Apple announced it is giving $250 million to Corning from its Advanced Manufacturing Fund and it's not the first time Corning has received such a big donation. This newest funding builds on the $200 million the company received in May 2017. The money is used for Corning's research and development of equipment, state-of-the-art glass processes, and materials necessary to the delivery of next-generation devices.
“Apple and Corning’s rich history dates back more than a decade, and our partnership revolutionized glass and transformed the technology industry with the first iPhone,” said Jeff Williams, Apple’s chief operating officer. “This award underscores Apple and Corning’s shared belief in the vital role that ingenuity plays in creating industry-leading products, and the pride that both companies take in applying American innovation and advanced manufacturing to solve some of the world’s toughest technology challenges.”
The iPhone 11 and iPhone 11 Pro feature the toughest glass ever in a smartphone as well as a back made from a single piece of glass that allows for wireless charging.
“We’re proud of what we’ve achieved through our collaboration with Apple, and excited by the new opportunities this additional investment creates,” said Wendell P. Weeks, Corning’s chairman, chief executive officer and president. “This Advanced Manufacturing Fund award will allow us to develop groundbreaking new glass innovations, while also expanding our manufacturing capabilities. Most importantly, our ongoing collaboration allows us to create vital new capabilities for end users and continue pushing the boundaries of what is possible well into the future.”
Apple's Advanced Manufacturing Fund was established to foster and build innovative production and high-skill jobs that drive technology-driven manufacturing in the United States. Apple has invested $1 billion in American companies from its Advanced Manufacturing Fund.
The Harrodsburg plant is Corning's global glass technology center and works closely with scientists at Corning in New York to develop glass for next-gen technology. Apple's business with Corning helped create 1,000 jobs. Apple says a team of almost 400 employees in Harrodsburg averages 14 years of experience and that experience has led to Corning being rated one of Kentucky's top workplaces. Corning has been a part of Harrodsburg for more than 65 years and the Kentucky plant is Corning's longest-running US-based manufacturing facility.