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Innovation at Owens Corning | Owens Corning
Owens Corning

We are proud of our legacy of innovation – and excited by the innovative work we’re doing today. Through our deep understanding of materials science to our collaboration with customers and partners, our researchers work to create solutions that make the world a better place.

Each year, we recognize Owens Corning employees whose work delivers results that support our mission to build a sustainable future. From idea to implementation and invention to commercialization, we celebrate the power of innovation to transform products and processes.

Marzocchi Intellectual Property Awards

The IP award is named after Al Marzocchi, the all-time Owens Corning record patent holder. His U.S. patents – over 200 of them – span four decades, from the 1950s to the 1980s.

Each year, we recognize employees for achievements in invention that result in milestone numbers of patents and trade secrets. As of 2021, we have X current and former employees who have reached the Diamond level (40 or more).

Slayter Innovation Awards

There were three key people associated with the invention of “commercial” glass fibers that launched our company — Games Slayter, Jack Thomas, and Dale Kleist. In short, Kleist accidentally discovered how to make the fibers, Thomas realized how the process could be commercialized, and Slayter recognized the opportunity for small-diameter, low-cost glass fibers — namely, thermal insulation. Games Slayter was subsequently dubbed the “Father of Fiberglas,” and went on to become the first Vice President of R&D in 1938. So… it seems natural to name our most prestigious award after this visionary. Slayter, Thomas, and Kleist were all inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame in 2006.

Every year, innovative projects are nominated for Slayter Awards in several categories, which may change from year to year to reflect evolving innovation priorities.

For 2021, awards were given in seven categories:

  • Productivity
    Innovative productivity that delivered savings (at a specified level) since January 1, 2020 or a given projected annual run rate by December 31, 2021.
  • Organic Growth
    Product launched, or new application developed for existing product, after January 1, 2021 that has clearly added differentiated value to our customers, as defined by them. Requirements include a minimum projected annual run rate in incremental products sold to our customers.
  • Advancing Fundamental Science
    Major contribution based on deep scientific or technical work that drives significant learning for the company. The basis of fundamental science utilized to solve a problem or deliver new value should be clearly described. To be selected, projects must have progressed from idea to evaluation (proof-of-concept at lab level or via modeling). The potential impact of the project should be significant and translated into metrics—cost, performance, waste, GHG emissions, energy, safety, efficiency.
  • Early Career
    This award category specifically seeks out “concepts”—proposed solutions from early career professionals to address customers’ needs or manufacturing challenges. Nominees must have less than 5 years’ work experience after their last academic graduation.
  • Speed to Commercialization
    Achievement of both speed and business impact, relative to the nature (incremental versus disruptive) of the project; this could also include a technology quickly and effectively deployed to manufacturing.
  • Sustainability
    Project that enables Owens Corning to accelerate meeting or surpassing its 2030 sustainability goals. 
  • Innovative IP
    A team/individual who leverages the principles of holistic IP strategies to maximize competitive advantage for OC, leading to a new-to-OC innovation or an unexpected application of OC technology.