Apple to bring all iPhone and Apple watch glass production to Kentucky with $2.5 billion investment
– 2 min read
Apple announced Tuesday a massive $2.5 billion commitment that will make Kentucky the exclusive global manufacturer of cover glass for every iPhone and Apple Watch sold worldwide.
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The tech giant's partnership expansion with Corning means the company's Harrodsburg manufacturing facility will produce 100% of the protective glass for Apple's flagship devices — marking the first time all cover glass production will be based in the United States.
The investment will transform Corning's existing Harrodsburg plant- about 30 miles outside of Lexington- into what the companies describe as "the world's largest and most advanced smartphone glass production line."
Corning plans to increase its Kentucky manufacturing and engineering workforce by 50% to support the dedicated Apple production.
The facility, which first developed glass for the original iPhone 18 years ago, will now be entirely dedicated to Apple manufacturing.
Additionally, a new Apple-Corning Innovation Center will open at the Harrodsburg site to focus on developing advanced materials and next-generation manufacturing technologies for future Apple products.
Strengthening Kentucky's Manufacturing Sector
The announcement represents a significant win for Kentucky's manufacturing sector, which has been working to attract high-tech production facilities. The state's central location and skilled workforce have made it an attractive destination for advanced manufacturing operations.
With this investment, Kentucky consumers and workers can take pride knowing that every iPhone and Apple Watch user globally will be using a product that contains precision glass crafted in the Bluegrass State.
The timeline for the full implementation of the expanded production and the exact number of new jobs to be created were not specified in Tuesday's announcement.
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