Crystal Applied Technology and Crystalwise Technology have become suppliers of sapphire wafers used to make covers for the iPhone 5s home key which features fingerprint recognition, according to Taiwan-based makers.
A 2-inch sapphire wafer can be used to produce 8-10 covers, the sources indicated. iPhone 5s shipments are estimated at five million units for the third quarter and 28-30 million units for the fourth quarter, translating into 500,000-625,000 2-inch sapphire wafers and 2.8-3.75 million wafers, respectively, the sources said. As a result, Crystal Applied and Crystalwise are expected to see their production capacities fully occupied until the end of 2013, the sources noted.
In addition to iPhone 5s, Apple is likely to adopt sapphire wafers for iPads as well, the sources predicted.
Crystal Applied currently has a monthly production capacity of 800,000-850,000 2-inch-equivalent sapphire wafers and Crystalwise has that of 600,000 units.
Crystal Applied recorded consolidated revenues of NT$194 million (US$6.47 million) for August, rising 26.79% on month and 100.65% on year, while Crystalwise saw those of NT$170 million, growing .6% and 78.69%.
