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Apple Plans to Repurpose Mesa, Arizona Sapphire Plant to Preserve Jobs
Apple is not planning to abandon its now-defunct Mesa, Arizona sapphire facility, reports Bloomberg. The company has told city officials that it remains committed to bringing jobs and manufacturing to Mesa, Arizona, following the bankruptcy that caused hundreds of GT Advanced employees to be laid off.
Apple initially chose Mesa, Arizona as the site for its sapphire facility after city officials agreed to expedite permitting approvals, build out power infrastructure, and cut property taxes. Apple insisted on 100 percent renewable energy for the facility, which required the city to construct a new power substation.
GT Advanced sapphire facility image via Cult of Mac
Mesa also planned to leverage Apple's presence in the city with the creation of a new technology corridor in the area, with several other companies having already expressed interest in being located near Apple.
It is unclear how Apple will repurpose the facility, but the company has been working hard to bring more Mac production to the United States. Apple's Mac Pro, released in late 2013, was the first Apple product line to be assembled in the United States as a result of the company's efforts to bring manufacturing jobs back to the country.
"They've indicated their commitment to us: They want to repurpose that building and use it again," Mesa City Manager Christopher Brady said in a recent interview. Apple has said it's focused "on preserving jobs in Arizona" and promised to "work with state and local officials as we consider our next steps."Back in October, Apple confirmed in a statement that it would look for other ways to utilize its Mesa, Arizona facility, stating that it "remained committed to the city" and planned to help GT Advanced employees who had been impacted by the bankruptcy to find new jobs.
Apple initially chose Mesa, Arizona as the site for its sapphire facility after city officials agreed to expedite permitting approvals, build out power infrastructure, and cut property taxes. Apple insisted on 100 percent renewable energy for the facility, which required the city to construct a new power substation.
Mesa also planned to leverage Apple's presence in the city with the creation of a new technology corridor in the area, with several other companies having already expressed interest in being located near Apple.
"Apple could've invested in a facility literally anywhere in the world," said Mesa Mayor John Giles, who is planning to visit Apple's headquarters in Cupertino, California, to show the city's support. "There's a reason they came here, and none of those reasons have changed."Apple and GT Advanced reached an agreement to end their partnership back in October, and under the terms of the deal, GT Advanced will wind down operations at the sapphire plant in Arizona before officially closing up shop in December. At the current time, most of the company's employees have already been laid off, while remaining staff cleans and decommissions sapphire furnaces to be sold.
It is unclear how Apple will repurpose the facility, but the company has been working hard to bring more Mac production to the United States. Apple's Mac Pro, released in late 2013, was the first Apple product line to be assembled in the United States as a result of the company's efforts to bring manufacturing jobs back to the country.
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Top Rated Comments
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62 months ago
so.... essentially if you learn to read behind the propaganda...
Apple bankrupts a company and then takeovers it?
Or
A couple of slick operators defraud Apple and then skip with inflated stock profits leaving the company to die and Apple to clean up the mess.
It's all on how you choose to look at it.
62 months ago
so.... essentially if you learn to read behind the propaganda...
Apple bankrupts a company and then takeovers it?
Apple bankrupts a company and then takeovers it?
62 months ago
Assembling = manufacturing.
The Mac Pro is manufactured in the US.
No. There is a regulatory difference between "assembled" and "made".
The Mac Pro is assembled in the USA from mostly foreign made parts. Not enough parts are domestically made in the USA, so the MP literally says "Assembled in the USA" on it, instead of "Made in USA".
62 months ago
100 percent renewable energy for the facility, which required the city to construct a new power substation.
wow :D
62 months ago
The Mac Pro isn't the first Apple product line to made in the US, or even the first Mac. It seems everyone has forget the 70's and 80's.
Anyway, I see it being converted into possibly making MacBook Pros? Or more Mac Pros? Maybe the iMacs. I say the MacBook Pro since it would make sense to have both their professional lines manufactured in the US.
The Mac mini should be the best Mac to be built there.
62 months ago
The Mac Pro isn't the first Apple product line to made in the US, or even the first Mac. It seems everyone has forget the 70's and 80's.
Anyway, I see it being converted into possibly making MacBook Pros? Or more Mac Pros? Maybe the iMacs. I say the MacBook Pro since it would make sense to have both their professional lines manufactured in the US.
The Mac Pro isn't manufactured in the US.
It is manufactured elsewhere and then assembled in the US.
62 months ago
Made in USA
Nothing sounds better than that.
It worth the investment to print this.
Nothing sounds better than that.
It worth the investment to print this.
62 months ago
so.... essentially if you learn to read behind the propaganda...
Apple bankrupts a company and then takeovers it?
No? What YOU take from everything is what the media tells you.
Meanwhile, Apple is getting something out of a deal THEY FINANCED.
As an Arizona resident, GTAT did not own that property before hand. It was multiple purchases and expansions. Hell APS had to build their power stations for them..... Apple paid for it with the loan and approved the build out. Apple maintained that plant, with GTATs name on it. Just because the terms were tough, doesn't negate that GTAT are supposed to be the "professionals" in the industry and promised a product they couldn't produce. It's just business. A failed one at that. It happens all the time, and now it's because of Apple? It's Apple's fault for their neieve descision?
Realistically it's wonderful to see a company care about its investment here. They've had their chances to build here and chose Texas. I'm glad they have something now!
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