amarillo chamber of commerce - HPN Books

OWENSCORNING-AMARILLOPLANTEvery time we use a ladder, hold a tennisracket, drive a car, or strap on a pair of skis,it is a safe bet the Amarillo plant of OwensCorning provided the fiberglass materialincorporated into that product. The companyso well known for fiberglass insulation is theleader in the manufacture of composites. TheAmarillo plant is the largest Owens Corningcomposites plant and manufactures fiberglassstrands that are used by their customers whointegrate them into their products. The moltenglass produced by the plant’s furnaces, areformed into hair-like filaments of glass thatare formed into the fiberglass strands. TheAmarillo plant’s fiberglass is used in productslike bathroom fixtures, recreational vehicles,windmills, and corrosion resistant pipes usedin many industries. The plant ships tons of wetused chop-strand fiberglass composite materialto shingle plants every year. The plant inAmarillo has a global reach; fiberglass compositematerials made by Amarillo workers areshipped to international destinations includingChina, India, Europe, and South America.The plant, established in Amarillo in 1978,started production in 1979 and has been partof the southern Amarillo skyline since thattime. There has been at least one furnace inoperation since 1979 and the plant now operatescontinuously at full capacity around theclock. The company has partnered with theAmarillo Economic Development Corporationto expand its Amarillo plant and keepAmarilloans employed. The plant presentlyemploys about 570 employees, includingassembly workers, chemists, engineers, andsupport personnel. Owens Corning employeesbring diverse backgrounds to Amarillofrom other areas of the United States andaround the world.Owens Corning, headquartered in Toledo,Ohio, was established as a result of a spin-offfrom two American glassworks, Owens-Illinois Glass Company and the Corning GlassWorks in 1938. Fiberglass, invented by acollaboration between those twocompanies, has come a long way andhas contributed to the enhancement oflives, safety, and preservation of theenvironment. Modern constructionmaterials, diverse consumer products,safe tools and implements, and energysavings are just some of the ways fiberglassand its composite materials haveenhanced lives around the world.The employees of the AmarilloOwens Corning Plant work to enhancethe lives of the residents of Amarillo.The company actively takes part inAmarillo’s United Way Campaign eachyear and encourages its employeesto take part also. Other communityinvolvement includes projects includingRace for the Cure, and charitiessuch as Big Brothers Big Sisters. OwensCorning is a member of the AmarilloChamber of Commerce and is involvedin other civic organizations.AMARILLO - Faces, Places & Open Spaces296