Editing Pyrex (section)

== History ==
[[File:Pyrex dish.jpg|thumb|alt=A clear, rectangular glass dish sitting on top of its original 1980s–1990s box.|PYREX glass roaster from Corning Inc.]]
[[File:Pyrex newspaper ad 1922.png|thumb|upright|alt=A black and white advert for Pyrex entitled "You Really Can't Get Along Without This Pyrex Biscuit Dish".|Newspaper ad showing PYREX bakeware from 1922]]

[[Borosilicate glass]] was first made by German chemist and glass technologist [[Otto Schott]], founder of [[Schott AG]] in 1893, 22 years before Corning produced the Pyrex brand. Schott AG sells the product under the name "Duran".

In 1908, Eugene Sullivan, director of research at [[Corning Inc.|Corning Glass Works]], developed Nonex, a borosilicate low-expansion glass, to reduce breakage in shock-resistant lantern globes and battery jars. Sullivan had learned about Schott's borosilicate glass as a doctoral student in [[Leipzig]], [[Germany]]. Jesse Littleton of Corning discovered the cooking potential of borosilicate glass by giving his wife Bessie Littleton a casserole dish made from a cut-down Nonex battery jar. Corning removed the [[lead]] from Nonex and developed it as a consumer product.<ref name="IDSAQuote">[http://www.industrialdesignhistory.com/node/137 Corning Pyrex Bakeware], Carroll M. Gantz, Design Chronicles: Significant Mass-produced Designs of the 20th Century, Schiffer Publications, Ltd. 2005</ref> Pyrex made its public debut in 1915 during [[World War I]], positioned as an American-produced alternative to Duran.

A Corning executive gave the following account of the [[etymology]] of the name "Pyrex":

{{blockquote|The word PYREX is probably a purely arbitrary word which was devised in 1915 as a trade-mark for products manufactured and sold by Corning Glass Works. While some people have thought that it was made up from the [[Greek language|Greek]] [[wikt:πῦρ|{{transliteration|grc|pyr}}]] and the [[Latin]] {{lang|la|rex}}, we have always taken the position that no graduate of [[Harvard University|Harvard]] would be guilty of such a classical [[hybrid word|hybrid]]. Actually, we had a number of prior trade-marks ending in the letters ''ex''. One of the first commercial products to be sold under the new mark was a pie plate, and in the interests of [[euphonism]] the letter r was inserted between ''pie'' and ''ex'' and the whole thing condensed to PYREX.<ref>{{cite journal | journal = [[American Speech]] | volume = 32 | issue = 4 | year = 1957 | page = 290 | title = title unknown | last = Mathews | first = MM}}</ref>}}

Corning purchased the [[Macbeth-Evans Glass Company]] in 1936 and their Charleroi, PA plant was used to produce Pyrex opal ware bowls and bakeware made of tempered soda–lime glass.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Macbeth-Evans Glass Company {{!}} ArchivesSpace Public Interface |url=https://archivesspace.cmog.org/agents/corporate_entities/20 |access-date=2022-10-16 |website=archivesspace.cmog.org}}</ref> In 1958 an internal design department was started by John B. Ward. He redesigned the Pyrex ovenware and Flameware. Over the years, designers such as [[Penny Sparke]], Betty Baugh, Smart Design, TEAMS Design, and others have contributed to the design of the line.

[[File:Pyrex3 (2).jpg|alt=A white oval dish decorated with stylized orange, red and black flowers with a clear lid.|thumb|Pyrex casserole dish with the 'Toledo' pattern]]

Corning divested itself of the Corning Consumer Products Company (now known as [[Corelle Brands]]) in 1998 and production of consumer Pyrex products went with it. Its previous licensing of the name to [[Newell Rubbermaid|Newell Cookware Europe]] remained in effect.<ref name="History">{{cite web |url=http://www.pyrexware.com/thetruthaboutpyrex/manu.htm |title=Manufacturing History |publisher=Pyrex Products 
|access-date=5 June 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111002090834/http://www.pyrexware.com/thetruthaboutpyrex/manu.htm|archive-date=2 October 2011}}</ref>

France-based cookware maker [[Arc International]] acquired Newell's European business in early 2006<ref name="hoovers">{{cite web | url = http://www.hoovers.com/arc-international/--ID__103296--/free-co-factsheet.xhtml | title = Arc International page |publisher = [[Hoover's]] | access-date = 5 June 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070929140533/http://www.hoovers.com/arc-international/--ID__103296--/free-co-factsheet.xhtml|archive-date=29 September 2007}}</ref> to own rights to the brand in [[Europe]], the [[Middle East]] and [[Africa]].<ref>{{cite book | isbn = 978-1-84685-556-6 | title = The Little Book of Collectable British Pyrex | first = Susan | last = Hibberd | publisher = Exposure Publishing | year = 2007 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.arc-international-cookware.com/en_Glass_Ovenware.html | title = Glass Ovenware | publisher = [[Arc International]] | access-date = 2008-03-17 | year = 2005 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080311222706/http://www.arc-international-cookware.com/en_Glass_Ovenware.html <!-- Bot retrieved archive --> |archive-date = 2008-03-11}}</ref> In 2007, Arc closed the Pyrex soda–lime factory in [[Sunderland]], UK moving all European production to France. The Sunderland factory had first started making Pyrex in 1922.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/insideout/northeast/series11/week7_pyrex.shtml|title=BBC Inside Out -|website=www.bbc.co.uk}}</ref>

In 2014, [[Arc International]] sold off its Arc International Cookware division which operated the Pyrex business to Aurora Capital for its Resurgence Fund II. The division was renamed the International Cookware group.<ref>{{Cite press release|url=https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/aurora-capital-group-completes-acquisition-of-arc-international-cookware-243487371.html|title=Aurora Capital Group Completes Acquisition of Arc International Cookware |website=PR Newswire}}</ref> London-based [[private equity]] firm Kartesia<ref>{{cite web |title=Jaime Prieto - Kartesia |url=https://informaconnect.com/superreturn-international/speakers/jaime-prieto/ |access-date=16 November 2021 |website=informaconnect.com |language=en}}</ref> purchased International Cookware in 2020.<ref>{{cite web |title=Aurora Resurgence has sold International Cookware to Kartesia |url=https://www.lincolninternational.com/transactions/aurora-resurgence-has-sold-international-cookware-to-kartesia/ |access-date=16 November 2021 |website=Lincoln International LLC |language=en}}</ref>

In 2021, Pyrex rival [[Duralex]] was acquired by International Cookware group for €3.5 million (US$4.2m).<ref>{{Cite web |last=AFP |date=2021-01-29 |title=French glassmaker Duralex purchased by rival |url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1604250 |access-date=2021-01-29 |website=DAWN.COM |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Pyrex completes acquisition of Duralex |url=https://www.glass-international.com/news/pyrex-completes-acquisition-of-duralex |access-date=16 November 2021 |website=Glass International |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Whitten |first1=Zoe |date=31 January 2021 |title=International Cookware, Pyrex's parent company, takes over Duralex |url=https://www.glassonline.com/international-cookware-pyrexs-parent-company-takes-over-duralex/ |access-date=16 November 2021 |website=Glass Online}}</ref>

In March 2019, Corelle Brands, the makers of Pyrex in the United States, merged with Instant Brands, the makers of the [[Instant Pot]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Gottfried |first=Miriam |date=March 3, 2019 |title=Owners of Instant Pot, Corelle to Merge; Combined company would have enterprise value of more than $2 billion |work=The Wall Street Journal |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/owners-of-instant-pot-corelle-to-merge-11551654000 |access-date=June 23, 2023}}</ref> On June 12, 2023, Instant Brands filed for [[Chapter 11 bankruptcy]] after high interest rates and waning access to credit hit its cash position and made its debts unsustainable.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://finance.yahoo.com/news/instant-pot-pyrex-maker-instant-204114763.html|title=Instant Pot and Pyrex Maker Instant Brands Files for Bankruptcy|date=June 12, 2023|access-date=June 12, 2023|website=Yahoo Finance|language=en}}</ref> The company emerged from bankruptcy on February 27, 2024 under the previous Corelle Brands moniker, after having sold off its appliance business ("Instant" branded products).<ref>{{Cite web |last=Brands |first=Instant |title=Instant Brands Provides Update on Sale Process for its Appliance Business |url=https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/instant-brands-provides-update-on-sale-process-for-its-appliance-business-301982393.html |access-date=2024-03-21 |website=www.prnewswire.com |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-03-01 |title=Instant Brands emerges from chapter 11 as Corelle Brands {{!}} Davis Polk |url=https://www.davispolk.com/experience/instant-brands-emerges-chapter-11-corelle-brands |access-date=2024-03-21 |website=www.davispolk.com |language=en}}</ref>