- A video featuring an Apple trophy is circulating on the web
- It is an aluminum block that the firm offers to employees who have worked there for more than 10 years.
- The trophy also highlights the quality of the finish of Apple products, as well as the recycling of aluminum
Unlike iPhones, iPads, Macs or Apple Watches, this Apple “product” is not available in Apple Stores. Moreover, it is not even an electronic device, but rather a trophy. More precisely, it is a block of aluminum that the firm offers to its employees who have worked there for more than 10 years.
In a recent article, our colleagues from 9to5Mac relayed the YouTube video of a collector who unwrapped one of these trophies intended for Apple employees. This video allows us to discover the packaging of the trophy, as well as a card signed by Tim Cook, thanking the employer for the 10 years of collaboration. Another card evokes the materials, and highlights, in passing, the manufacturing quality of Apple products.
“Your 10 Year Award is made from the same 6000 series aluminum we use to make our products. Leftovers from the production process are collected and reformulated to create a 100% recycled custom alloy. The alloy is cast into long ingots, then each ingot is cut into blocks which are machined to final size. The surface is fine sandblasted and the edges are diamond cut. The block is then anodized to seal the finish and create a protective layer. Finally, a stainless steel Apple logo is placed in the center”reads on this second card, according to the video.
Apple: quality, recycled aluminum
The number 10 is also engraved on one of the sides, as well as the date on which these 10 years with Apple were reached. In addition to the fact that it is reserved for certain Apple employees, the rarity of this trophy is also explained by the fact that it is quite recent. According to 9to5Mac, the old trophy was crystal. And it seems that the firm has moved on to the aluminum trophy in 2020 or 2021. On Twitter, you can also find some posts from people who received this aluminum block after working 10 years at Apple.
10 years at @Apple!
Finally received my 10 year award with just a couple weeks to spare before my 11th anniversary 😆 pic.twitter.com/FXINzyjQip
— Nelson Thachuk (@TheQualityNinja) October 27, 2020
Note that in addition to highlighting the quality of finish of the iPhone, it also marks the commitment of the Cupertino company in terms of the environment. Apple uses recycled aluminum for its products. And on top of that, it already uses a method to produce carbon-free aluminum. As a reminder, the firm’s objective is to have zero emissions (including its suppliers) by 2030.