Overview

For nearly 170 years, Corning has been solving tough problems and improving people’s lives with glass and materials science.

Our innovations have made the air cleaner, helped information travel faster, enabled new discoveries in science and medicine, and transformed the way we interact with our environment … and each other.

Here is our story.

1851

BUILDING BLOCKS

Recognizing the value of glass as a building material, merchant Amory Houghton Sr. opens a small glass company, laying the foundation for Corning Incorporated.

1877

CLEAR SIGNALS

Corning improves railroad safety by designing a revolutionary lens for signal lanterns. Corning follows that innovation with colored lenses that increase visibility and low-expansion glass that resists shattering.

1879

LIGHTING THE WAY

Corning helps make electric light a reality by developing a glass encasement for Thomas Edison’s carbon filament. Corning later invents an economical way to mass-produce the bulbs, making them affordable for the general population.

1915

COOKING UP INNOVATION

An unconventional experiment results in Corning’s development of PYREX? glass, creating a successful line of highly durable cookware and industry-leading laboratory products.

1934

MULTI-TASKER

Corning’s willingness to let scientists “tinker” in the labs pays off with the discovery of high-purity fused silica, the foundation of numerous innovations from telescope mirrors to 3D sensing components in mobile phones.

1934

SYNTHETIC WONDER

Corning synthesizes the first silicone resins and creates a new category of materials with broad applications, including adhesives, sealants, and lubricants.

1935

GALAXY GAZER

Corning produces the world’s largest piece of glass to date for the groundbreaking Hale Telescope. The 200-inch mirror helps astronomers determine that the universe is made of billions of galaxies.

1939

PICTURE THIS

Corning’s 9-inch circular cathode ray tube goes on display at the World’s Fair in New York City as part of RCA’s futuristic demonstration of television. Within the decade, Corning invents a process to mass-produce TV picture tubes, helping to make televisions affordable for millions.

1952

GOING TO EXTREMES

A combination of scientific rigor and serendipity leads to Corning’s development of glass ceramics. Marketed as CorningWare?, the revolutionary new material withstands extreme temperature changes and drops.

1961

SHOOTING FOR THE STARS

Corning helps propel the first Americans safely into space by supplying heat-resistant windows for Project Mercury. Corning goes on to create window glass for every manned American spacecraft and the International Space Station.

1964

INNOVATION OVERFLOW

With the development of the fusion overflow process, Corning scientists are able to manufacture exceptionally flat glass with unparalleled surface quality.

1970

COMMUNICATION AT THE SPEED OF LIGHT

Corning invents the first low-loss optical fiber and ushers in a communications revolution.

1972

POLLUTION SOLUTION

Corning helps automakers comply with the Clean Air Act’s tough new emissions regulations by inventing the cellular ceramic substrate that enables catalytic converters.

1982

INNOVATION ON DISPLAY

Corning’s new glass compositions and fusion process help fuel the development of the liquid crystal display market. Corning LCD glass is extraordinarily precise, thin, flat, and stable – great for applications like laptops and TVs.

2000

BIGGER AND BETTER

Corning develops an extremely low-density glass composition that takes LCDs to places previously unimagined. Combining exceptionally light weight with high resolution, the EAGLE glass product line helps drive the proliferation of LCD TVs.

2004

ACCESS ON TAP

Corning simplifies fiber-to-the-home installations with the introduction of OptiTap? connectors, laying the foundation for the Internet of Things.

2007

TOUGH, YET BEAUTIFUL

Beauty meets durability in Corning’s revolutionary new cover glass for mobile devices. Thin, damage-resistant Gorilla? Glass enables sleek designs that are better able to survive drops and bumps.

2007

BENDING THE RULES

Corning introduces ClearCurve?, an industry-changing fiber that can bend at 90-degree angles with minimal signal loss, enabling optical connections in challenging environments.

2007

CELL BOOSTER

Corning's HYPER technology products help drug developers and producers increase their productivity by allowing them to grow large quantities of adherent cells in a compact space.

2012

MIND-BENDING POSSIBILITIES

Corning develops a glass that’s ultrathin, lightweight, and flexible. Slimmer than a dollar bill, Willow? Glass enables new applications in electronics and architecture.

2013

MICROBE MANAGER

Corning creates the world’s first antimicrobial cover glass, opening new possibilities for glass surfaces in a variety of microbe-sensitive environments.

2013

ONE FOR ALL

Corning enables reliable connections in dense environments like hotels and convention centers with the Optical Network Evolution, a fiber-based network that delivers future-ready connectivity for wireline, wireless, and cellular applications in a single, simplified infrastructure.

2015

READY FOR ITS CLOSE-UP

Corning supplies high precision mirrors for NASA’s New Horizons mission that help capture the first-ever detailed images of Pluto.

2015

DRIVING INNOVATION

Corning transforms the driving experience with Gorilla Glass for Automotive, which enables lightweight, damage-resistant windows and beautiful interior displays featuring smartphone sophistication.

2016

BREATHE EASIER

Corning introduces a range of gasoline particulate filters to reduce emissions from gasoline-powered passenger vehicles. Corning? DuraTrap? GC filters help automakers meet tighter air-quality standards without sacrificing engine performance and fuel efficiency.

2016

TOUGH WEARS WELL

As smartwatches and fitness trackers ignite the tech market, Corning creates Gorilla? Glass SR+ to arm wearable technologies with exceptional scratch resistance.

2017

CARE PACKAGE

Corning develops revolutionary pharmaceutical glass packaging. Valor? Glass helps protect patients and improve pharmaceutical manufacturing by dramatically reducing particle contamination, breaks, and cracks.

today

At Corning, we are committed to life-changing innovation.

Our track record is long, but our vision is infinite.

We’ll keep solving tough problems. We’ll keep transforming industries. We’ll keep enhancing people’s lives.

We’ve been at it since 1851 … and we’re just getting started.

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1851

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History & Innovation

Improving our world through glass and materials science since 1851

Learn more

Life-Changing Innovation at Corning

1851

BUILDING BLOCKS

1877

CLEAR SIGNALS

1879

LIGHTING THE WAY

1915

COOKING UP INNOVATION

1934

MULTI-TASKER

1934

SYNTHETIC WONDER

1935

GALAXY GAZER

1939

PICTURE THIS

1952

GOING TO EXTREMES

1961

SHOOTING FOR THE STARS

1964

INNOVATION OVERFLOW

1970

COMMUNICATION AT THE SPEED OF LIGHT

1972

POLLUTION SOLUTION

1982

INNOVATION ON DISPLAY

2000

BIGGER AND BETTER

2004

ACCESS ON TAP

2007

TOUGH, YET BEAUTIFUL

2007

BENDING THE RULES

2007

CELL BOOSTER

2012

MIND-BENDING POSSIBILITIES

2013

MICROBE MANAGER

2013

ONE FOR ALL

2015

READY FOR ITS CLOSE-UP

2015

DRIVING INNOVATION

2016

BREATHE EASIER

2016

TOUGH WEARS WELL

2017

CARE PACKAGE

Share Experience

Improving our world through glass and materials science since 1851

Transforming the way the world connects

Innovating the next generation of thin, tough glass for mobile devices

Creating richer entertainment experiences through display glass innovation

Helping to drive the trend toward cleaner, safer, more connected vehicles

Delivering solutions that enable life-changing, life-saving medicine