Owens Corning History
Owens Corning was officially established Nov. 1, 1938. However, to see the real roots of our company, you have to go back a few years.
The industrial fury of the 19th and early 20th centuries gave birth to innumerable revolutionary ideas and inventions. One of the most forward-thinking visions involved creating fibers from glass - one of the world’s oldest and most abundant materials.
In 1935, realizing the potential growth of the glass fiber insulation market, Corning Glass, which had briefly experimented with glass fiber manufacturing in the 1920s, approached Owens-Illinois with a proposal to join forces in the production of glass fiber.
Recognizing the benefits of Corning’s knowledge of glass formulations, Owens-Illinois agreed to the proposal. The two companies decided to share the costs of glass fiber developments.
In 1938, experimental costs prompted Corning Glass and Owens-Illinois to spin off the joint venture as a separate company. And, on Nov. 1, 1938, Owens-Corning Fiberglas Corporation was announced. By the end of 1938, the company reported sales of $2.5 million, and 632 employees.
Since that time, Owens Corning has led every major technological advance in glass fiber technology. Nearly countless subsequent innovations have seen Owens Corning grow to a position of world leadership in glass fiberization . . . and dramatically change the way people live, work and play.
For a full, detailed history of Owens Corning, visit our Corporate site.