Pyrex
A heat-resistant glassware brand used for laboratory equipment, baking, cooking, food storage, and kitchen preparation.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
Pyrex is a glassware trademark whose history began at Corning Glass Works in the United States. The brand emerged from Corning’s development of low-expansion glass in the early twentieth century. In 1908, Corning researchers developed a material initially called Nonex for applications such as railroad signal lanterns and battery jars. Its resistance to thermal shock, chemicals, and electrical insulation made it attractive for industrial and laboratory uses. The material’s consumer potential became apparent when Corning scientist Jesse Littleton gave his wife, Bessie Littleton, a cut-down battery jar to test as a baking dish after a ceramic dish broke in an oven. The experiment led to the development of consumer cookware and the public introduction of Pyrex in 1915. The original consumer proposition centered on clear borosilicate glass that could withstand substantial temperature changes. Early products included pie plates and other ovenware, and the brand was promoted as an American alternative to German heat-resistant glass products during the First World War. Corning later broadened the range into measuring equipment, casserole dishes, storage containers, laboratory vessels, flameware, opalware, and decorated kitchenware. The brand became particularly associated with practical household cooking, durable transparent dishes, and the ability to move certain cookware between different temperature environments when used according to manufacturer instructions. Pyrex is not a single globally uniform material or operating company. From the middle of the twentieth century, some consumer products were made from tempered soda-lime glass rather than borosilicate glass. Soda-lime glass is easier and less expensive to process and can offer greater resistance to ordinary mechanical impact, while borosilicate glass generally offers greater resistance to rapid temperature changes. The change was gradual and differed by factory and market. As a result, capitalization, logo style, age, and country of manufacture do not by themselves establish the glass formulation of a particular item. Corning divested its consumer-products division in 1998. The business became World Kitchen, later Corelle Brands, while Corning retained the Pyrex trademark and continued producing PYREX-branded scientific glassware. In the United States, consumer kitchenware has been associated with the lowercase pyrex mark and has generally used tempered soda-lime glass since the post-divestiture period. In Europe, Africa, and the Middle East, rights were retained by Newell Cookware Europe and subsequently acquired by Arc International. The European business later became International Cookware, which continues to produce borosilicate Pyrex products in France under a licensed uppercase mark. Today Pyrex spans both household and scientific applications, although the consumer kitchenware business and laboratory-glassware business are commercially separate. Its consumer ranges include bakeware, cookware, storage, measuring products, and preparation bowls. Its scientific products include laboratory vessels and other heat- and chemical-resistant glass equipment. The brand also has a substantial heritage and collecting culture, particularly around postwar colored and patterned bowls and bakeware. Its positioning combines functional performance, recognizability, long product life, and a strong association with home cooking.
History
The scientific foundation of Pyrex lies in borosilicate glass, a low-expansion material developed in the late nineteenth century and subsequently adapted by Corning Glass Works. Corning researchers Eugene Sullivan, William Churchill, and George Hollister developed a low-expansion formulation in 1908 while seeking stronger glass for industrial applications. The material was first known as Nonex and was intended for products including railway signal equipment and battery jars. Jesse Littleton’s household experiment demonstrated that the material could serve as ovenware. A section of a Nonex battery jar was used as a baking dish, and its successful performance encouraged Corning to remove lead from the formulation and develop a consumer product. Pyrex was introduced publicly in 1915, initially with products such as pie plates. The name was selected as a trademark associated with the earlier Nonex name and the first pie products. During the First World War, the brand was also positioned as a domestic alternative to imported German heat-resistant glass. Corning expanded Pyrex beyond simple clear ovenware. By the 1920s it had become a household and laboratory product line, with manufacture and licensing spreading to other countries. In Britain, James A. Jobling received a licence and began production at Sunderland in 1922. British production continued for decades, first under Jobling and later under Corning. In France, production also began in the 1920s and later moved from Bagneaux-sur-Loing to Châteauroux, where borosilicate Pyrex production continued. Australia saw local production from Crown Crystal Glass beginning in 1926, alongside imported products. During the 1930s, Corning acquired Macbeth-Evans Glass Company, whose Charleroi, Pennsylvania plant became important for Pyrex opalware bowls and bakeware. From the 1940s onward, Corning increasingly used tempered soda-lime glass for some consumer products. The shift was not uniform across all factories or years. Borosilicate remained important in scientific glassware and in many European consumer products, whereas much United States consumer cookware eventually used soda-lime glass. The two formulations differ in thermal-shock resistance, processing characteristics, cost, and mechanical behavior. Design became an increasingly important part of the consumer line. Corning established an internal design department in 1958, and later designers contributed to ovenware, flameware, bowls, colors, and patterns. Postwar decorated products, including colored bowl sets and patterned bakeware, helped create a durable popular and collecting culture around vintage Pyrex. In 1998, Corning separated its consumer-products division. The division became World Kitchen in 2000 and Corelle Brands in 2018. In 2019, Corelle Brands merged with Instant Brands. The combined business entered Chapter 11 proceedings in 2023 and later emerged through separate sales of its appliance and housewares operations. Centre Lane Partners acquired the relevant businesses, and Corelle was transferred to Anchor Hocking in 2024. Anchor Hocking subsequently announced the closure of the Charleroi plant, which permanently shut in April 2025 after more than a century of operation. The European licensing history followed a separate path. Newell Cookware Europe retained European, African, and Middle Eastern rights after Corning’s 1998 divestiture. Arc International acquired the European business in 2006 and closed the Sunderland soda-lime facility in 2007, consolidating production in France. Arc sold its cookware division in 2014; the business became International Cookware, and Kartesia acquired it in 2020. International Cookware acquired Duralex in 2021. Corning continues to use the PYREX trademark for scientific glassware, while consumer products are manufactured by different licensed operators according to region.
- 2025
Charleroi factory closes permanently
[1]The historic Pennsylvania Pyrex facility shuts and production moves to Lancaster, Ohio.
- 2023
Combined Corelle and Instant business files for bankruptcy protection
[1]The combined company files Chapter 11 amid debt and financing pressures.
- 2021
International Cookware acquires Duralex
[1]The European Pyrex operator acquires the French glassware brand Duralex.
- 2019
Corelle Brands merges with Instant Brands
[1]The housewares company combines with the maker of Instant Pot products.
- 2007
Sunderland production closes
[1]Arc closes the Sunderland factory and moves European Pyrex production to France.
- 2006
Arc International acquires European Pyrex rights
[1]Arc International acquires Newell’s European cookware business and related Pyrex rights.
- 1998
Corning divests consumer products
[1]Corning separates its consumer kitchenware division, while retaining scientific glassware activities and the trademark.
- 1958
Corning establishes an internal design department
[1]The design function helps shape later Pyrex ovenware, flameware, colors, and patterns.
- 1936
Macbeth-Evans is acquired
[1]Corning acquires Macbeth-Evans; its Charleroi plant becomes a significant Pyrex manufacturing site.
- 1922
Production begins in Sunderland and France
[1]Licensed Pyrex production starts at Sunderland in England, while French production is established at Bagneaux-sur-Loing.
Products and positioning
Practical, durable, heat-resistant glassware for household cooking, food storage, and scientific use, with market-specific materials and licensing arrangements.
Consumer kitchenware · 1915
Pyrex bakeware
Oven dishes, pie plates, casserole dishes, and related baking products are the foundation of the consumer Pyrex range. Depending on market and period, products have been made from borosilicate or tempered soda-lime glass. They are designed for baking and oven use subject to the instructions and temperature limitations for the specific product.
Food storage
Pyrex storage
Pyrex storage containers are intended for keeping, serving, and reheating food. The range has included glass containers with lids and formats designed for refrigerators, freezers, microwaves, and ovens, although compatibility depends on the individual product and its instructions.
Kitchen preparation
Pyrex measuring products
Measuring cups, jugs, and related vessels use the transparency and dimensional stability of glass to support recipe preparation. Measuring products are among the brand’s most recognizable household items and are sold in several regional designs and capacities.
Kitchen preparation · 1936
Pyrex bowls and opalware
Mixing bowls and colored or patterned opalware became important parts of the postwar consumer business. Vintage designs, including decorated bowl sets, remain especially visible in the collecting market because of their colors, patterns, and association with mid-century domestic kitchens.
Laboratory equipment · 1915
PYREX scientific glassware
Corning continues to manufacture PYREX scientific glassware for laboratory and technical applications. These products use heat- and chemical-resistant glass and are commercially distinct from the licensed consumer kitchenware sold by regional operators.
Controversies
2008
Complaints and controversy over bakeware breakage
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission reported receiving complaints from users whose Pyrex glassware had shattered over the preceding decade. The agency did not conclude that Pyrex bakeware presented a general safety concern. Later reporting and testing focused on the different thermal-shock behavior of borosilicate and tempered soda-lime glass, and on the importance of following product-use instructions.
Brand decisions
2024
Relocate United States productionStrategyBackground
Following the transfer of Corelle to Anchor Hocking, Anchor Hocking reviewed its manufacturing footprint.
Action taken
The company announced the closure of the Charleroi, Pennsylvania plant and relocation of Pyrex production to Lancaster, Ohio.
Aftermath
The closure drew criticism from Pennsylvania senators and litigation seeking to stop it; the factory permanently closed in April 2025.
2021
International Cookware acquires DuralexM&ABackground
International Cookware operated the licensed Pyrex business in Europe and adjacent markets.
Action taken
It acquired the French glassware brand Duralex for €3.5 million.
Aftermath
The transaction expanded the group’s portfolio of European glassware brands.
Acquisition price. €3.5 million (2021)
2007
Consolidate European production in FranceStrategyBackground
Arc International operated Pyrex production in Europe after acquiring the regional cookware business.
Action taken
The Sunderland facility was closed and European production was moved to France.
Aftermath
The long-running British production site ceased making Pyrex, while France became the principal European manufacturing base.
1998
Separate consumer kitchenware from CorningStrategyBackground
Corning reorganized its consumer-products activities while maintaining its scientific glassware business and trademark ownership.
Action taken
The consumer-products division was spun off and later operated under World Kitchen and Corelle Brands.
Aftermath
Consumer Pyrex manufacturing and licensing became distinct from Corning’s scientific PYREX business, with different operators in different regions.
Recent events
- 2025
Charleroi Pyrex factory permanently closes[1]
Other
After periods of uncertainty and temporary closures, the Charleroi facility permanently ceased operations and production was shifted to Lancaster, Ohio.
- 2024
Anchor Hocking announces closure of the Charleroi Pyrex factory[1]
M&A · Other
After the Corelle housewares business was transferred to Anchor Hocking, the company announced plans to close the long-running Charleroi, Pennsylvania plant and move production to Lancaster, Ohio. Pennsylvania senators Bob Casey Jr. and John Fetterman criticized the decision and sought explanations concerning merger oversight.
- 2023
Corelle Brands and Instant Brands enter Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings[1]
Bankruptcy
The combined company sought bankruptcy protection after high interest rates, reduced access to credit, and debt pressures weakened its financial position. The businesses were subsequently separated and sold.
- 2011
Consumer safety debate over soda-lime and borosilicate bakeware[1]
Regulation · Other
Reports and testing examined breakage complaints involving Pyrex bakeware and the differing thermal-shock characteristics of soda-lime and borosilicate glass. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission did not identify a general safety concern, while Consumer Reports found borosilicate glass less susceptible to thermal shock under its test conditions.
Pennsylvania lawsuit seeking to stop Charleroi factory closure is dismissed[1]
Lawsuit
A federal judge dismissed a lawsuit brought by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania that sought to halt the planned closure.
Sources2 sources
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