Tech giant Apple Inc. calls the bankruptcy of a major supplier of the sapphire glass it uses in its iPhones “surprising” and says it is considering the next steps for the huge Arizona factory it bought last year to make the glass.
Apple said in a statement Wednesday that it is working with state and local officials as it considers the future of the 1.3 million-square-foot factory in the Phoenix suburb of Mesa. Apple partnered with Merrimack, New Hampshire-based GT Advanced Technologies to install synthetic sapphire furnaces and operate the plant. Apple has advanced GT $429 million to outfit the plant.
GT filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy reorganization Monday. The company declined comment on the plant.
Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer’s spokesman says she’s confident in Apple’s commitment to the plant.
