Owens-Illinois Merges Two Units

Owens-Illinois Merges

Two of Its Glass Units

Owens-Illinois Glass Co. announced its American Structural Products Co. subsidiary on June 1 will acquire the business and assets of the Kimble Glass Division and will also change its name to Kimble Glass Co.

The Kimble division produces glass tubing and rod, scientific laboratory glassware and container specialties at plants in Vineland, N.J., Chicago Heights, Ill., Warsaw, Ind., and Toledo, Ohio. American Structural makes glass television and radar bulbs, glass insulators for communication and power lines and glass block for the building industry at plants in Columbus, Ohio and Muncie, Ind.

Carl R. Megowan, president of the parent firm, said the consolidation will increase the efficiency of operation in two elements of the business that have worked for years under the same management and in closely related markets. He added there will be no reduction of personnel in either of the two units which together have more than 5,000 employes.

Kimble Glass, which was formed in Chicago in 1901, was acquired by Owens-Illinois in 1946. American Structural was organized as a subsidiary of Owens-Illinois in 1947.