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1/ One of my favorite companies is @Corning $GLW. I hold a small position, but it's not b/c $GLW might make a good investment that it's a personal favorite.
No, it's b/c this material science leader has been innovating for 169+ yrs and is still leading today.
A thread
No, it's b/c this material science leader has been innovating for 169+ yrs and is still leading today.
A thread
2/ $GLW is an all-American success story, applying its expertise in glass science, ceramics science, and optical physics, along with its manufacturing and engineering capabilities, "to develop category-defining products that transform industries and enhance people's lives."
3/ Corning was founded in 1851 as the Bay State Glass Co. After a small series of moves and name changes, the company settled into a small town in upper state New York named Corning in 1868. For 121 years, it would be known as Corning Glass Works.
4/ In 1879, Corning develops a bulb-shaped glass encasement for Thomas Edison's new incandescent lamp. At first, bulbs were made by hand, but soon $GLW would develop a new manufacturing process that would mass produce bulbs, making the electric lamp more affordable to the masses.
5/ In early 1900s, railroad lanterns would shatter when the warm glass hit the cold outside air, leading to train accidents. Corning solved this problem by developing a heat-resistant, low expansion glass able to withstand sudden jolts of heat and cold.
https://www.corning.com/worldwide/en/innovation/materials-science/32-shades-of-green.html
https://www.corning.com/worldwide/en/innovation/materials-science/32-shades-of-green.html
6/ Corning solved the railroad lantern problem so well, that demand plummeted. The company began looking for other ways it could use heat-resistant glass. During this time, one of $GLW's scientist's wife complained about her cooking ware always shattering when she baked. Voila!
7/ In 1935, Corning physicist Dr. George McCauley designs and produces a 200 inch mirror for the Hale Telescope at Mt. Palomar. This was the largest single piece of glass in the world at this time.
8/ In 1952, $GLW scientist accidentally overheats photosensitive glass, and sees that it maintains its shape, turns white from crystallization, and doesn’t break when it's dropped. It's classified as new class of material, glass ceramics, and public is introduced to CorningWare.
9/ In 1970, Corning scientists develop the first optical fiber capable of maintaining the strength of laser light signals over significant distances with only an attenuation of 17db/km. Two years later this improved to only 4db/km. By 2017, $GLW had made a LOT of optical fiber.
10/ In 1990, Corning produces glass for the mirror of the Hubble Telescope. https://www.stargazette.com/story/money/2016/03/23/hubble-telescope-mirror-still-impressive/82162584/
11/ In 2007, Corning introduced the first edition of Gorilla Glass, a light, durable, and tough glass that is used for monitor screens of the world’s best smartphones, tablets, and laptop computers.
12/ This is really just a glorified commercial and it's 6 yrs old, but I still think this video is really cool
13/ I love studying companies and discussing stocks. I would hesitate to recommend $GLW as an investment, I can't help being its fan. Just a reminder that not all the science is being done in Silicon Valley. Sometimes the coolest science is being done by the oldest companies.
14/ I'll break down $GLW's current business model soon, but it's rich history of material science innovations deserved its own thread.
