Computer company using, promoting Corning Inc.'s 'gorilla glass'

CORNING -- Corning Inc. and Motion Computing Inc. of Austin jointly announced Tuesday the Texas computer maker would use Corning's Gorilla specialty glass in two of its laptop notebook computers.

The Texas firm, which specializes in durable and lightweight computers, is telling consumers about the specialty glass as part of its marketing.

Corning's glass improves screen durability without adding weight to the device, both companies said.

Gorilla Glass is a thin-sheet glass designed to function as a cover glass for portable display device screens. Its composition allows a deeper layer of chemical strengthening than is possible with other strengthened glasses. The end result, said Mark Matthews, vice president of Corning's Technical Materials division is a display glass cover that is scratch resistant and nearly unbreakable.

When Corning Inc.'s high-strength Gorilla glass was developed for auto windshield glass in the 1960s, it wound up on the shelf because of concerns an unbreakable windshield would cause more head injuries that it would prevent.

But about two years ago, Corning started hearing from its customers about their need for a stronger glass.

Gorilla glass was dusted off, reintroduced to the marketplace and is now expected to bring in close to $100 million in sales this year, Matthews said.

Motion's two notebook PCs that use Corning's specialty glass were designed for mobile use in the health care, construction, field service or manufacturing industries.

Trailcon Leasing, an Ontario-based trailer rental company, ordered several more computers after learning about the availability of Corning's Gorilla glass, Motion's IT manager, Stuart Innes, said.

Matthews said 12 major brand names -- including Dell, Samsung, LG and Motorola -- manufacture about 30 devices between them that utilize Gorilla glass. But Motion Computing, Matthews said, is the only company that mentions Corning's patented trademark Gorilla glass in the marketing of its PC notebooks.

He also said Corning is seeking out industrial uses for its high-strength display glass.

"The glass isn't part of the display but it protects the display," said Matthews. "So banking machines, vending machines, GPS units, you can use the glass on any devices with screens you touch."