Owens-Illinois

Owens-Illinois Glass Co., of Toledo, Ohio

1935 Owens-Illinois acquired the Libbey Glass Company and entered the consumer tableware field. The Libbey division was responsible for making tumblers, glass pitchers, dishes, and bowls.

Soon afterwards Owens began conducting experiments with glass fibres, learning that one of its chief competitors, Corning Glass Works, was doing similar research.

1938 The two firms agreed to cooperate and formed Owens-Corning Fiberglass Corporation to manufacture fibreglass insulation and furnace filters. Development of marketable fibreglass products quickly followed. Corning and Owens, with their virtual monopoly on fibreglass technology, profited greatly.

1952 Following an antitrust ruling that barred Corning and Owens from controlling Owens-Corning, the joint venture was taken public in 1952, with shares distributed, one-third each, to Owens, Corning, and the public. Subsequently, both Owens-Illinois and Corning Glass sold their shares in Owens-Corning.

1998 Acquired Rockware Glass, the glass and packaging arm of BTR but sold it again the following year after action by the EU competition authorities.

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