AFR technology is an inherently safer technology, enabling the reduced risk of explosion while driving higher-quality chemical processing. Additional benefits include energy savings, increased efficiency of chemical synthesis, lower production costs, and reduced environmental impact.

“As a leading global provider of flow reactor technologies for both lab and industrial settings, we are always innovating and advancing technology,” said Dr. Yi Jiang, president and general manager, Corning Advanced-Flow Reactor Technology Co., Ltd. “Our G5 reactor is the latest example. It offers substantial flow throughput per reactor while maintaining the seamless scale-up standards of our other industrial reactors.”

Zhejiang Weihua New Materials Co., Ltd. specializes in the research, development, and production of chemicals for global pesticide and pharmaceutical enterprises and is currently operating two continuous production lines using Corning’s G5 reactors. The lines have been running steadily since November 2019 with all key performance indicators achieving targets, which include:

Continuously stable production with diazotization and hydrolysis reactions Seamlessly scaled-up process from G1 reactor to G5 reactor Significantly higher yield, less waste, and improved profits Inherently safer operations, reduced liquid holding capacity of diazotization and hydrolysis reaction by 99.99% and 96.47% respectively Significantly reduced manufacturing footprint and on-site operation labor force that leads to lower capital expenditure and operating costs “It was amazing to witness the transition from our old workshop with nine large batch reactor vessels to our new integrated system composed of G5 reactors,” said Dr. Qiangbiao Pan, general manager, Zhejiang Weihua New Materials Co., Ltd. “The start-up process was smooth and quick, and the continuous flow process Shanghai Hybrid-Chem Technology Co., Ltd. developed was highly effective and unique. We appreciate the ‘win-win’ collaboration between Corning, Hybrid-Chem, and Weihua that made this project a success. It has provided us with valuable experience that we can apply to our future continuous production projects.”

Compared with traditional batch reactors, Corning’s reactors enable at least 100 times enhanced mixing; 1,000 times improved heat transfer performance; and seamless, efficient scale-up from the lab to full-scale production of chemicals for the pharmaceutical, specialty, and fine chemical industries.

Shanghai Hybrid-Chem Technology Co., Ltd. is an innovative start-up specializing in continuous flow process development for clients using Corning AFR Technology and other flow chemistry tools. They were also the first Corning Reactor Application Qualified Lab (AQL) in China, providing feasibility testing, process development, and industrial project services based on AFR products.

“Corning’s unique modular process development and large-scale production platform proved to be critical in the timely delivery and successful operation of this project,” said Dr. Bing Ma, founder and general manager, Shanghai Hybrid-Chem Technology Co., Ltd. “The ability to seamlessly scale-up our team’s process developed in Corning’s G1 reactor to industrial production in the G5 reactors installed at Weihua significantly mitigated delivery and investment risks for this project.”

Corning provides cost-effective solutions for continuous industrial production, meeting customer requirements for large production capacity, multi-function, flexibility, and profitability with its portfolio of industrial reactors. Over the past several years, Corning has implemented four other large-scale continuous manufacturing processes with annual throughputs ranging from 10,000 to 20,000 metric tons. These systems have all demonstrated seamless scale-up and maintained inherently safer, stable operation.

Corning continues to collaborate with customers across the pharmaceutical, chemical, and new materials manufacturing industries, and has installed more than 60 industrial production lines across Asia, Europe, and the United States.

Caution Concerning Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains “forward-looking statements” (within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995), which are based on current expectations and assumptions about Corning’s financial results and business operations, that involve substantial risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially. These risks and uncertainties include: the duration and severity of the recent COVID-19 (coronavirus) outbreak, and its ultimate impact across our businesses on demand, operations and our global supply chains; the effects of acquisitions, dispositions and other similar transactions by the Company, the effect of global business, financial, economic and political conditions; tariffs and import duties; currency fluctuations between the U.S. dollar and other currencies, primarily the Japanese yen, New Taiwan dollar, euro, Chinese yuan, and South Korean won; product demand and industry capacity; competitive products and pricing; availability and costs of critical components and materials; new product development and commercialization; order activity and demand from major customers; the amount and timing of our cash flows and earnings and other conditions, which may affect our ability to pay our quarterly dividend at the planned level or to repurchase shares at planned levels; possible disruption in commercial activities due to terrorist activity, cyber-attack, armed conflict, political or financial instability, natural disasters, or major health concerns; unanticipated disruption to equipment, facilities, IT systems or operations; effect of regulatory and legal developments; ability to pace capital spending to anticipated levels of customer demand; rate of technology change; ability to enforce patents and protect intellectual property and trade secrets; adverse litigation; product and components performance issues; retention of key personnel; customer ability, most notably in the Display Technologies segment, to maintain profitable operations and obtain financing to fund their ongoing operations and manufacturing expansions and pay their receivables when due; loss of significant customers; changes in tax laws and regulations including the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017; and the potential impact of legislation, government regulations, and other government action and investigations.

For a complete listing of risks and other factors, please reference the risk factors and forward-looking statements described in our annual reports on Form 10-K and quarterly reports on Form 10-Q. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the day that they are made, and Corning undertakes no obligation to update them in light of new information or future events.

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About Corning Incorporated

Corning (www.corning.com) is one of the world's leading innovators in materials science, with a 169-year track record of life-changing inventions. Corning applies its unparalleled expertise in glass science, ceramic science, and optical physics along with its deep manufacturing and engineering capabilities to develop category-defining products that transform industries and enhance people's lives. Corning succeeds through sustained investment in RD&E, a unique combination of material and process innovation, and deep, trust-based relationships with customers who are global leaders in their industries. Corning's capabilities are versatile and synergistic, which allows the company to evolve to meet changing market needs, while also helping our customers capture new opportunities in dynamic industries. Today, Corning's markets include mobile consumer electronics, optical communications, automotive technologies, life sciences technologies, and display technologies.