Pittsburgh Corning Europe

Pittsburgh Corning Europe NV is a Belgian company that manufactures cellular glass insulation, marketed under the FOAMGLAS® brand. It is a subsidiary of the American Pittsburgh Corning Corporation, which was acquired by Owens Corning in 2017. The company operates a major production facility in Tessenderlo, Belgium, and its products are used in construction and industrial applications worldwide. FOAMGLAS® cellular glass insulation is a rigid material composed of millions of completely sealed glass cells. It combines non-combustibility (Euroclass A1), high compressive strength, water resistance, vapour tightness and stable thermal insulation performance over time. The insulation is used in demanding situations where preventing leakage or condensation is critical, including waterproof buildings, industrial installations, marine and HVAC applications, loadbearing heavy duty surfaces such as flat roofs, underground, and oil & gas tank bases. Pittsburgh Corning Europe was established in 1964 with the construction of a production unit in Tessenderlo, Belgium, which employs more than 450 workers. The plant produces cellular glass insulation in the form of boards and panels for thermal insulation in buildings (roofs, facades, floors) as well as shells and segments for industrial applications (pipe insulation and equipment, spheres, tanks, chimneys). Over the years, the manufacturing method has been continuously improved, replacing gas ovens with ultra-modern electric ovens and installing filters to reduce dust emissions. Currently, about 67% of raw materials consist of recycled glass, mainly from discarded car windows. In 2017, Owens Corning acquired Pittsburgh Corning, integrating FOAMGLAS® cellular glass insulation products into its global activities. Owens Corning is a public listed company since 1952 (NYSE: OC) and operates in 33 countries, employing 20,000 people. FOAMGLAS® insulation is produced in purpose-built factories around the world: Tessenderlo (Belgium), Klášterec (Czech Republic), Yantai (China) and Sedalia (USA). The company offers high-performance insulation solutions and best-in-class technical service, from design and critical detailing to installation.

The history of Pittsburgh Corning Europe is closely tied to the development of cellular glass insulation. In 1935, the patent for producing cellular glass insulation was granted to Saint-Gobain (France), and later purchased by American industrialists. In 1937, Pittsburgh Corning Corporation was founded in the United States, with factories in Port Allegany and Sedalia. Cellular glass was immediately used for national defence, producing buoys that supported protective nets at harbour entrances (protection against possible submarine attacks). In 1942, the first applications as thermal insulation material were realised. In 1957, the first export of cellular glass as insulation to Europe took place. In 1964, Pittsburgh Corning Europe NV started construction of the production unit in Tessenderlo, Belgium. The plant employs more than 450 workers and manufactures exclusively cellular glass insulation in the form of boards and panels used as thermal insulation in buildings (roofs, facades, floors) as well as shells and segments for industrial applications (pipe insulation and equipment, spheres, tanks, chimneys). From 1964 to the present, the manufacturing method of cellular glass insulation has been constantly improved, replacing gas ovens with ultra-modern electric ovens. Filters were installed to reduce dust separation, and the use of recycled glass in production reduced environmental impact. Currently, about 67% of raw materials consist of recycled glass, mainly from discarded car windows. In 1968, cellular glass insulation was one of the first insulation materials to obtain technical approval from Butgb (Belgian Union for Technical Approvals in Construction). In 2000, a production unit for cellular glass insulation was established in Schmiedefeld, Germany. Also in 2000, a cutting workshop was built in Klášterec nad Ohří, Czech Republic, for cutting and making special blocks of cellular glass insulation for industrial applications. In spring 2008, a new production unit with a completely new production process was built in Klášterec nad Ohří. In 2017, Owens Corning acquired Pittsburgh Corning, integrating FOAMGLAS® cellular glass insulation products into its global activities. Owens Corning is a public listed company since 1952 (NYSE: OC) and operates in 33 countries, employing 20,000 people. FOAMGLAS® cellular glass insulation is produced in purpose-built factories around the world: Tessenderlo (Belgium), Klášterec (Czech Republic), Yantai (China) and Sedalia (USA).

• 2017

  Owens Corning acquires Pittsburgh Corning, integrating FOAMGLAS® cellular glass insulation products.

• 2008

  New production unit with a completely new production process built in Klášterec nad Ohří, Czech Republic.

• 2000

  Production unit for cellular glass insulation established in Schmiedefeld, Germany; cutting workshop built in Klášterec nad Ohří, Czech Republic.

• 1968

  Cellular glass insulation obtains technical approval from Butgb (Belgian Union for Technical Approvals in Construction).

• 1964

  Pittsburgh Corning Europe NV starts construction of production unit in Tessenderlo, Belgium.

• 1957

  First export of cellular glass as insulation to Europe.

• 1942

  First applications of cellular glass as thermal insulation material.

• 1937

  Pittsburgh Corning Corporation founded in the United States, with factories in Port Allegany and Sedalia.

• 1935

  Patent for producing cellular glass insulation granted to Saint-Gobain, later purchased by American industrialists.

High-performance, non-combustible, water-resistant cellular glass insulation for demanding construction and industrial applications.

• FOAMGLAS® cellular glass insulation

  Rigid insulation material composed of millions of completely sealed glass cells, combining non-combustibility (Euroclass A1), high compressive strength, water resistance, vapour tightness and stable thermal insulation performance over time.

• FOAMGLAS® compact roof system

  Safe, long-term solutions for activity roofs.

• FOAMGLAS® reusable roof

  Durable solutions aligned with circular economy principles.

• FOAMGLAS® tank base insulation systems

  Insulation systems for hot storage tanks.

1. 1FOAMGLAS® thermal insulation made of cellular glassfoamglas.com
2. 2About Owens Corning FOAMGLAS® businessfoamglas.com
3. 3Our servicesfoamglas.com
4. 4Pittsburgh Corning Europewikidata.org
5. 5Pittsburgh Corning Europenl.wikipedia.org