About this book:

"Owens-Illinois Inc: The Story of An American Company" chronicles the remarkable journey of O-I Glass, Inc., from its revolutionary origins in Toledo, Ohio, to its current status as the world's largest manufacturer of container glass. The book details the profound impact of Michael J. Owens's automatic bottle-making machine, a 1903 invention that transformed glass production, eliminated child labor in factories, and paved the way for mass-produced packaged goods. Supported by visionary figures like Edward Drummond Libbey, the company expanded rapidly, culminating in the strategic 1929 merger with Illinois Glass Company, which solidified its dominance just before the Great Depression. The book explores how O-I navigated this economic crisis, leveraging the essential nature of its products to emerge stronger and set the stage for decades of diversification.

The narrative delves into O-I's ambitious forays beyond traditional glass containers, including its pivotal role in the formation of Owens-Corning Fiberglas Corporation, marking its entry into advanced materials, and its significant expansion into plastic packaging, forest products, and even tableware with the acquisition of Libbey-Glass. However, the book also confronts the challenging period of asbestos liabilities from its Kaylo product line, detailing the extensive legal battles and the complex "Texas Two-Step" strategy that led to the establishment of an asbestos trust fund. It further examines the transformative 1980s leveraged buyout by KKR, which forced the company to shed non-core assets and refocus, eventually returning to public ownership as a more streamlined entity.

Finally, the book highlights O-I's 21st-century transformation, characterized by aggressive international expansion, a strategic re-emphasis on its core glass packaging business, and a profound shift towards sustainability. It showcases pioneering initiatives like the "Fit to Win" program for operational streamlining, the revolutionary MAGMA manufacturing technology for flexible and sustainable production, and extensive recycling and circular economy efforts, including the "Glass4Good" program. The book concludes by exploring O-I's current global impact, its crucial partnerships with leading brands, and its forward-looking vision to maintain leadership in the glass industry through continuous innovation, environmental responsibility, and financial resilience.

What You'll Find Inside:

• **Pioneering Automation:** Discover how Michael J. Owens's invention of the automatic bottle-making machine revolutionized glass production, drastically increasing efficiency, lowering costs, and significantly reducing child labor in the early 20th century.
• **Strategic Diversification and Re-focus:** Explore Owens-Illinois's ambitious expansion into varied sectors like fiberglass (Owens-Corning partnership), plastics, and forest products, followed by its strategic re-focusing on core glass packaging in the 21st century.
• **Navigating Financial Turbulence:** Understand how the company survived major economic crises like the Great Depression and underwent a transformative leveraged buyout in the 1980s, leading to significant restructuring and asset divestitures.
• **Sustainability and Circular Economy Leadership:** Learn about O-I's aggressive commitment to environmental responsibility, including ambitious goals for reducing carbon emissions, increasing recycled glass content (cullet), and pioneering community recycling programs like 'Glass4Good'.
• **Modern Manufacturing Innovation:** Delve into O-I's embrace of Lean Six Sigma methodologies for operational efficiency and the groundbreaking development of MAGMA (Modular Advanced Glass Manufacturing Asset) technology, designed for flexible, sustainable, and cost-effective glass production.

Who's It For:

This book is ideal for readers interested in American industrial history, particularly the evolution of manufacturing and packaging. It will appeal to business students, entrepreneurs, and industry professionals seeking insights into corporate strategy, diversification, financial restructuring, and the challenges of maintaining market leadership through innovation and sustainability in a legacy industry. Anyone curious about the origins and impact of everyday products like glass bottles will also find this a compelling read.