Apple’s COO Sabih Khan Visits AAC Technologies
On October 14, Sabih Khan, Apple’s Chief Operating Officer (COO), visited AAC Technologies’ vapor chamber (VC) module manufacturing factory in Changzhou, Jiangsu Province. During his visit, he observed the first fully automated production line for ultra-thin VCs.
01. Commending AAC Technologies for excellence in innovation and implementation
In a media interview, Sabih Khan noted that throughout his 30-year tenure at Apple, he has been most impressed by the commitment of Chinese suppliers to solving problems through any means necessary, as well as the creativity and ingenuity they demonstrate in intelligent manufacturing.
He gave an example, highlighting that VC is a key component of the iPhone 17 Pro. It delivers peak performance that optimally supports gaming scenarios. It has been observed that the production of VC demands exceptionally high sealing standards during the water injection and degassing processes. Achieving this requires highly precise operations and allows for minimal fault tolerance. The automated production line developed jointly by AAC Technologies and Apple has successfully fulfilled these stringent requirements.
02. 17 years of partnership for shared growth and innovative progress
AAC Technologies has partnered with Apple for 17 years, initially supplying microphones for MacBook. Today, AAC Technologies provides Apple with a comprehensive range of components, including acoustics, actuators, and metal structural parts, across multiple product lines such as iPhone, MacBook, and Apple Watch. Additionally, the company is also participating in the production of VC modules for the iPhone 17 Pro series. By 2025, AAC Technologies’ cumulative shipments of Apple products are projected to reach 8 billion units, with annual shipments rising from the initial 2 million to 610 million units.
Pan Zhengmin, Executive Director and CEO of AAC Technologies, stated that AAC Technologies has participated in the development of every iPhone generation since the iPhone 4. AAC Technologies collaborates with Apple across all major product lines. As part of this partnership, nine R&D and manufacturing bases have been established in China, with a total investment of up to USD 1.5 billion. The company plans to further increase its investments in the future.
03. Achieving multiple technological innovations and establishing the first fully automated ultra-thin VC production line
Throughout this collaboration, both parties have continuously driven technological innovation. Through their joint efforts, AAC Technologies has established the first fully automated ultra-thin VC production line and successfully applied it to the iPhone 17 Pro series.
At the Changzhou factory, the production of VC modules is almost fully automated. The associated production lines are specifically tailored for Apple products and feature numerous innovative processes. This VC module manufacturing factory is dedicated solely to producing VC modules, managing the entire process from production and testing to shipment. The production line is now fully automated from raw material input to finished product output. The transfer of intermediate products or materials is also entirely handled by robotic equipment.
During manufacturing, taking the critical water injection and degassing line as an example, the production line utilizes ultra-fine needles to inject ultrapure water into the VC cavities via the water injection pipes. In the degassing stage, the VC cavities undergo degassing and vacuum treatment through processes such as vacuum pumping and heating, ensuring optimal thermal conductivity. All processes are carried out automatically by machines. Industrial cameras are employed throughout to ensure precise positioning, thus delivering consistent and stable results.
Furthermore, the VC thermal performance measurement system and the packaging production line are fully automated. Automatic online inspection and retesting harness the hardware capabilities of Mac Mini and large machine learning models, significantly reducing total testing time and cutting adaptive testing durations by over 50%.
04. Joining initiatives regarding clean energy to jointly advance environmental protection
Apple announced on the same day that over 90% of its manufacturing operations in China now utilize renewable energy, a significant milestone achieved through the joint efforts of over 100 suppliers. This milestone has been achieved through a decade of close collaboration between Apple and its suppliers. Both parties steadily work toward the goal of using renewable energy for the production of all Apple products by 2030.
AAC Technologies has participated in Apple’s supplier initiatives for clean energy, zero waste, and clean water, while making significant efforts to adopt a wide range of recycled materials, thereby advancing environmental protection. For example, the ultra-thin VCs for the iPhone 17 Pro series, manufactured at AAC Technologies’ Changzhou factory, now utilize 100% recycled copper throughout the main stages of production.
05. Strengthening talent development to lay a solid foundation for intelligent manufacturing
During the inspection, Sabih Khan focused on talent development, including the new skills training opportunities provided for employees.
AAC Technologies and Apple have jointly launched a dedicated automation training program. Over the past year, both parties have collaboratively developed 18 premium courses, delivering training to 759 participants. This initiative has significantly enhanced employees’ automation skills and established a solid foundation for intelligent manufacturing. For example, the employee Zhang Xin has greatly enhanced his skills and obtained internal lecturer certification through participation in these training courses, combined with daily practical experience. His achievements have inspired more employees to develop their skills, helping them adapt to future roles.