German glass manufacturer Schott woos China’s smartphone makers

German glass manufacturer Schott is in talks with top Chinese smartphone makers to provide its new environmentally-friendly, ultra-thin glass product for use in consumer devices.

Schott on Wednesday unveiled its latest ultra-thin glass offering AS 87 Eco, claiming that it is the first ultra-thin glass product produced without the use of harmful acids such as hydrofluoric acid during its manufacturing process.

China is one of the fastest growing markets for Schott, seeing about 17 per cent growth in the last three years, according to Stefan Laetsch, Schott’s chief executive for Asia.

As China struggles with pollution issues, the government has taken a stronger stance against reducing pollution, and Schott has also seen increased acceptance and interest in its “green” glass products.

“We have a huge sensitivity [towards] environmentally-friendly production ... if we are able to bring to market a leading technology and be environmentally-friendly, this is highly accepted and appreciated by our customers,” said Laetsch.

Schott’s AS 87 Eco glass can be thinned down to 30 micrometres, at a width that is thinner than a human hair, the company said. Applications for the glass include covers for fingerprint sensors, camera chips or lenses, as well as a protective glass for smartphone displays.