Corning - indirekt zu 25% an Hemlock beteiligt (Seite 11)

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Corning supplies Gorilla glass for Acer's dual-screen Iconia Tab


Press release; Yvonne Yu, DIGITIMES [Friday 7 January 2011]

Corning has announced that Corning Gorilla glass has been designed into Acer's Iconia Tab computer. The Iconia creates a tablet experience combining a 14-inch form factor with a dual-screen layout and intuitive all-point touch functionality.

The Iconia's design incorporates ultra-thin, durable Gorilla glass as a cover glass for its dual multi-touch displays, and includes a full range of intuitive and easy-to-use features designed to fully utilize the devices' multi-touch technology.

Corning Gorilla glass is an environmentally friendly alkali-aluminosilicate thin-sheet glass. Its damage resistance helps protect today's sophisticated electronic devices from the scratches, drops, and bumps of everyday use. Compatible with advanced touch screens, Gorilla glass is tough enough to handle the ongoing physical contact intrinsic to these devices, Corning said.

Gorilla glass is currently used by more than 20 major brands, designed into hundreds of product models, and featured on more than 200 million devices.

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NEW YORK, Dec 12 (Reuters) - Shares of video screens maker Corning Inc could reach $25 next year as investors recognize the company's pipeline of new products and new uses for liquid crystal displays, Barron's said in its Dec. 13 edition.

Investors have recently sold Corning shares because of concerns over a recent slowdown in sales of televisions. But ultra-thin monitors will soon show up in more rooms in middle-class homes, and consumers are likely to replace their TVs more often than they did in the past, the weekly said.

The company also has a promising product in Gorilla Glass, a strong-scratch-resistant sheet that accommodates touch-screen functions in products like Apple iPhones and iPads.

Corning shares closed Friday at $18.83.

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Corning Joins Fortune 500 in Rush to Solar
by: Greentech Media October 12, 2010 | about: GLW


by Eric Wesoff

The phenomenal growth rate and sheer potential size of the solar industry has begun to attract industry behemoths such as Samsung (SSNLF.PK), Siemens (SI), Toshiba (TOSBF.PK), Mitsubishi (MIELY.PK), LG (LGERF.PK), Honeywell (HON), Hyundai (HYMLF.PK), and GE.

Add Corning (NYSE:GLW) to that list.

It's a sign of a maturing industry, as well as a recognition that there's money to be made in the solar sector, that these global players are maneuvering for position.

Corning, the New York-based glass giant, has been in business for 160 years and has built its share of blockbuster inventions, including the machine to make the Edison light bulb and the machine that made the television picture tube.

Now Corning is bringing its expertise in glass and manufacturing scale to to enhance solar modules. The firm helped enable the scale-up of liquid crystal displays according to Dr. Gary Calabrese, Vice President and Director of Corning's Photovoltaics Group, adding, "We are trying to do the same thing for PV."

Calabrese claims that Corning's glass can provide up to two percentage points of efficiency improvement.

In many cases the glass used in typical solar modules uses standard window glass. Corning "does not and will never make window glass" according to Calabrese. Corning does, however, make higher-end specialty glasses using its fusion draw process. Unlike "float-glass," which fabricates glass formed on a molten bed of tin, the fusion-draw process creates glass drawn down off of a "double waterfall" of molten glass, and fuses together the two flows. The outer confines of the glass does not touch any surface -- just air.

Usage of the Corning glass has allowed Oerlikon (OERLF.PK), the amorphous silicon ((a-Si)) equipment vendor, to make a bit of progress in that beleaguered technology, unlike its former competitor, Applied Materials (AMAT). The two firms recently trumpeted an 11.9 percent tandem junction efficiency for a-Si -- post "light soaking" and without an anti-reflective (AR) coating. The efficiency gains in a-Si are because of improved "light-trapping," according to Calabrese -- light stays in the absorber films longer. Note that these figures are from hero experiments, not production products.

Corning is also working in the other thin film technologies -- cadmium telluride and CIGS -- although the efficiency gains are from another mechanism.

Calabrese would not reveal the cadmium telluride ((CdTe)) solar vendors that Corning is working with, but the list of credible CdTe players is small: First Solar (FSLR), Abound Solar and Primestar/GE. He said, "We are working with a number of CdTe suppliers."

Corning's glass innovations allow the glass to be treated at a higher temperature, and higher temperatures can improve deposition rates, throughput and quality of the film. Corning's glass is also thinner and lighter, a factor which can reduce installation time and shipping cost, as well as the embedded energy and energy costs involved in module processing.

The participation of firms like Corning signals solar's entry into the big leagues. These types of global firms can provide the scale and the cost and performance improvements to help get solar to grid parity.

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Corning supplies Gorilla glass for Samsung Galaxy Tab


Press release, October 5; Michael McManus, DIGITIMES [Tuesday 5 October 2010]

Corning has announced that Corning Gorilla glass has been designed into the Samsung Electronics Galaxy Tab, a newly released smart media device. The Samsung Galaxy Tab was announced on September 2 at the Internationale Funkausstellung Berlin (IFA), consumer electronics show held in Berlin, Germany.

The Galaxy Tab features a seven-inch portable screen, video calling, full-web browsing functions, and is powered by Android 2.2. The display and design of the Galaxy Tab is enabled in part by using Corning Gorilla glass as a cover glass.

Corning Gorilla glass is currently designed into more than 225 mobile devices. Studies show that the portable computer market is projected to reach annual unit sales of more than 354 million by 2014. Emerging form factors such as slates, mobile Internet devices and other smart media devices are projected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 40% over the same period and newer form factors will comprise up to 30% of the market's overall volume. Most importantly, studies estimate that more than 90% of newer form factors will utilize a touch interface.

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Habe mir inzwischen mal ein paar Stücke zugelegt, weil die Bewertung recht niedrig ist und sie mit gorilla-Glas auch was für den Mobilfunk und Displaymarkt haben.

Schaun 'mer mal.



Hemlock interessiert mich natürlich unverändert:

Airgas signs supply contract with Hemlock Semiconductor
17 September 2010 | By Syanne Olson | News > Materials


Hemlock Semiconductor, majority owned by Dow Corning, signed a long-term supply contract with Airgas. The contract will see Airgas build an air separation unit at the Clarksville, Tennessee Hemlock site and supply nitrogen to Hemlock’s polysilicon manufacturing facility. The estimated completion date is for sometime in 2012.

“We will operate the new plant within our Airgas Merchant Gases business unit, which has the proven expertise to run the production plant,” Mike Molinini, executive vice president and COO for Airgas stated. Airgas Merchant Gases runs Airgas’ network of air separation plants, oversees procurement and supplier relationships and distributes atmospheric gases.

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TORONTO, ONTARIO -- (Marketwire) -- 08/10/10 -- Timminco Limited ("Timminco") (TSX: TIM) announced today that it has agreed to form a joint venture with Dow Corning Corporation ("Dow Corning") at its silicon metal production facilities in Becancour, Quebec. Dow Corning will acquire a 49% equity interest in a new joint venture entity (the "Joint Venture") that will own the existing silicon metal operations of Timminco's wholly- owned subsidiary, Becancour Silicon Inc. ("BSI"). In exchange, BSI will receive net cash proceeds of US$39.7 million on closing, and up to potentially an additional US$10.0 million after closing subject to achieving certain performance objectives relating to production cost and capacity improvements. BSI will retain a 51% equity stake in the Joint Venture.

All of the production output of the Joint Venture, which will be based on an initial annual production capacity of 47,000 mt of silicon metal, will be split between BSI and Dow Corning proportional to their ownership interests. All of BSI's solar grade silicon purification operations and facilities at the Becancour site will remain with BSI.

"This joint venture with Dow Corning builds on a long and successful relationship between the two companies and strengthens Timminco's position for future growth opportunities," said Dr. Heinz C. Schimmelbusch, Timminco's Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer.

"This acquisition is well aligned with Dow Corning's global strategy of securing an efficient supply of this critical raw material used to manufacture all of our silicon-based products," said Robert Hansen, Dow Corning's executive vice president and general manager of Core Products.

The Joint Venture, which will be known as "Quebec Silicon", will acquire from BSI all of the silicon metal production assets, including property, plant, equipment, and certain net working capital items, and BSI's quartz mining lease in Lac Malbaie, Quebec. BSI will retain its silicon metal customer relationships, and honour all existing contracts with such customers, through BSI's proportional off-take of the Joint Venture's production.

All active employees associated with the silicon metal operations will be transferred to the Joint Venture, which will assume certain liabilities associated with such employees, including pension obligations. The transferring employees include a majority of BSI's existing management team, which will continue to manage and operate the silicon metal operations.

The creation of the Joint Venture and the closing of Dow Corning's acquisition of its 49% equity interest is expected to occur on or about September 30, 2010. The closing is subject to satisfaction of customary closing conditions, including regulatory approvals and consent of BSI's lenders. In the event the conditions are not fulfilled and the transactions do not proceed, BSI and Dow Corning have committed to alternative supply arrangements for 20,000 metric tons of silicon metal to be delivered in 2011.

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Corning invests heavily in thin film PV glass market

Corning Incorporated and its board of directors have approved a capital expenditure of approximately $180m to expand the company’s Harrodsburg, Kentucky manufacturing facility.

The expansion will provide additional capacity for Corning’s Gorilla glass business and entry into the thin-film photovoltaic glass market.

“Growing demand for Gorilla glass is quickly consuming our available capacity,” said James P. Clappin, president of Corning’s Precision Glass businesses.

“We are on track to reach sales in excess of $250 million this year and sales could approach the $1 billion mark in 2011.

"We are making Gorilla glass manufacturing and technology investments today to meet the growing market need of the future,” he said.

Gorilla glass is currently used or designed into more than 200 mobile devices and is planned for about 100 others.

Corning will also will build capacity in its Harrodsburg facility to begin producing specialty glass for thin film PV.

The company will use its “fusion manufacturing process” to produce the thin-film photovoltaic glass.

“Thin-film photovoltaic technology is a rapidly advancing solution within the fast-growing solar energy industry and plays to Corning’s strengths in flat glass, materials science, and light management,” said Dr. Gary Calabrese, vice-president, science and technology and director, Photovoltaic Glass Technologies.

“We have already generated significant customer interest in our innovative solutions,” he said.

Assistance for this expansion project has been offered by the state of Kentucky and Gov. Steven L. Beshear’s office through the Kentucky Economic Development Finance Authority in up to $4.5m in Kentucky Business Investment incentives, and up to $1m in tax rebates related to construction costs.

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Gorilla Glass soll Fernseh-Bildschirme unzerstörbar machen

Glas ist zwar ein hartes Material, doch leider ist es auch anfällig für Kratzer und bei starken Erschütterungen zerbricht es. Besonders ärgerlich ist das bei Handy-Displays oder größeren Monitoren. Doch die amerikanische Firma „Corning Inc.“ hat ein besonderes Glas entwickelt, das künftig die Bildschirme von LCD-Fernsehern unzerstörbar machen soll.
Gorilla Glass soll Fernseh-Bildschirme unzerstörbar machen
Die Erfindung namens „Gorilla Glass“ ist nicht neu. Im Jahr 1962 entwickelten Angestellte des amerikanischen Unternehmens „Corning Inc.“ eine spezielle Art dieses Feststoffes, der sich durch seine besondere Widerstandsfähigkeit auszeichnet. Doch leider fand der Industrieglas-Hersteller nach Berichten der „Associated Press“ („AP“) keinen geeigneten, kommerziellen Zweck für seine Schöpfung.

2008 jedoch wurde das Material für die Verwendung von Displays und Monitoren entdeckt und entwickelte sich rasch zu einem Jahresgeschäft in der Höhe von 170 Millionen-US-Dollar für die Firma. Mit der besonderen Schutzschicht sind laut „AP“ mittlerweile mehr als 40 Millionen Handys, etwa von „Motorola“, und andere mobile Geräte ausgestattet.

Insbesondere wegen der außergewöhnlichen Kratzfestigkeit und Stärke von „Gorilla“ ist „Corning Inc.“ fest davon überzeugt, dass Fernsehhersteller auf das stichfeste Glas setzen werden und das Material zum nächsten Verkaufsschlager wird. Aus diesem Grund will das Unternehmen seine Produktion nun auch auf größere Monitore ausweiten – was zu einem Milliarden-Gewinn für „Corning“ werden könnte.

“Es gibt vielfältige Gründe für die Erfolgsaussichten dieses Produkts”, zitiert „AP“ den „Deutsche Bank“-Berater Carter Shoop. “Aber ich denke auch, dass man alles in allem vorsichtshalber erwähnen sollte, dass die Menschen immer dickköpfiger werden. Doch es ist eine unglaubliche Gelegenheit. Wir müssen sehen, wie die Kunden reagieren.”

“Gorilla” ist zwei-, bis dreimal so stark wie chemisch verstärkte Versionen von gewöhnlichem Natronkalk-Glas und dabei laut Experten aber nur halb so dick. Seine Stärke bedeutet auch, dass das Superglas dünner als ein Cent-Stück sein kann. Damit ist es außerdem leichter als das übliche, für die Bildschirm-Produktion verwendete Material - und spart somit auch noch Versandkosten.

Endnutzer werden LCD-Fernseher mit dem „Gorilla Glass“ ab 2011 kaufen können. Der Marktanalytiker Paul Gagnon schätzt, dass der Aufpreis für solche Geräte zwischen 30 und 60 US-Dollar liegen wird.

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Dow Corning stellt UMG-SI Produktion ein...:

http://guntherportfolio.com/2010/04/dow-corning-stopped-umg-…

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Dow Corning lawyers ask federal judge to stop Easton, Penn., company from replicating process for purifying solar-grade silicon
By LaNia Coleman | The Bay City Times
March 28, 2010, 7:11PM

Dow Corning Corporation has asked a federal court to stop an Easton, Penn.-based company from duplicating a process for making solar-grade silicon.

Dow Corning alleges RSI Silicon Products LLC and RSI Silicon, Inc., misappropriated Dow Corning trade secrets.

David Debold — an attorney with Washington, D.C.-based Gibson, Dunn and Crutcher — filed the suit on Dow Corning’s behalf Friday in U.S. District Court in Bay City.

An unidentified Dow Corning vendor tipped off Dow Corning officials in August after an officer of RSI allegedly contacted the vendor to discuss “a research and development project relating to purification of solar-grade silicon,” court records show.

“Without knowledge of Dow Corning’s trade secret purification methodology and equipment, a solar-grade silicon manufacturer would have no reason to contact a vendor ... to aid in research and development work,” Debold wrote in the complaint that seeks injunctive relief and damages in excess of $75,000.

RSI is involved in developing solar-grade silicon but has no apparent reason to tap the vendor in question outside of replicating Dow Corning’s “trade secret purification methodology and equipment,” Debold claims.

Contacting the vendor “was unusual and illogical based on the purification methodology and equipment that (RSI) claims to use and which is disclosed in (RSI’s) patent ... ,” according to court files.

Since 2001, Dow Corning has invested considerable time and money into developing “secret and proprietary” technology to manufacture solar-grade silicon for using in solar cells and other devices, records show.

“If a competitor were to obtain these trade secrets improperly, it would provide that competitor with an unfair advantage and head start in efficiently mass producing solar-grade silicon at high purity levels,” court records show.

The Times could not reach a spokesman for RSI for comment.