Silicon Investor (SI) -- The First Internet Community

STOCKTALK

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor. We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community. If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.

Non-Tech : Kirk's Market Thoughts -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Kirk © who wrote (1437)	6/21/2014 7:32:48 PM
From: Jerome	1 Recommendation Recommended By Gottfried Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 26539

Hi Kirk, I'll try to give some content to the Sapphire market. Prior to Apple's bid to acquire Sapphire from GT Advanced Technology, the major use of Sapphire was (and still is) in the manufacturing of LED bulbs. Following is an article about LED's and Sapphire. blog.clearlysapphire.com Sapphire is important for the non red part of the light spectrum. (and LED Lights). The above article mentions a company called Rubicon (RBCN) as a supplier of Sapphire boulles to the LED industry. Cree (CREE) is one of the largest manufactures of LED bulbs.....and by default one of the largest users of Sapphire. Keep in mind that making Sapphire with sufficient yields per boulle and purity is a very high tech business. Cree went from $76 a share to $46 a share and probably took GTAT with it. The LED business with Cree is very good but not as fantastic as early predictions indicated. This somewhat like the relationship between Apple and Omnivison (OVTI). Apple stock cools and OVTI catches a death cold. Now Apple moving to Sapphire with GTAT is a game changer for the entire industry, Sapphire goes from adequate supply (for LED's) to massive shortage. Apple has big plans for Sapphire as the following article points out. seekingalpha.com One of the things I like about GTAT and Apple is all the technology and manufacturing is being kept here in the US. No knock offs from China or other far east countries. Some insights into GTAT and their expertise can be found here. gtat.com Apple could have bought GTAT...but there would be no advantage to Apple.....As it now stands Apple gets first dibs on all the Sapphire they need and GTAT can sell the surplus to whoever. (At a higher price than Apple is paying). youtube.com Good video from GTAT and the usage and production of Sapphire.