History
For over a century, the Pittsburgh region was the center of production and marketing for America's glass industry, becoming as famously known as 'Glass City' as it is the 'Steel City'. The Glass Beads Company (GBC) was founded in 1958 and carried on the Pittsburgh area tradition of high quality glass products, serving the world's electronics industry.
A few milestones in the company’s history:
1958 - Glass Beads Company founded, producing glass preforms for glass to metal seal applications
Late 1960s - Expansion into alumina ceramic components.
1986 - Acquisition of Basic Glass Products, manufacturer of drawn glass tubing in Lone Grove, OK. Glass Beads Company changed name to GBC Materials, Inc.
1998 - GBC Materials became part of Morgan Advanced Ceramics, a global leader in performance technical ceramic products. Morgan Advanced Ceramics is backed by the strength of its parent, The Morgan Crucible Company, PLC.
2000 - Upgrade to roller hearth kilns for maximum firing quality and pressroom capacity expansion.
2001 - Relocation of Basic Glass Products from Lone Grove, OK to GBC Materials in Latrobe, PA
2001 - Upgrade of spray drying system for capacity expansion.
2001 - Earned ISO 9000 certification
2005 - Earned ISO 14000 certification and added custom designed 2 Ton press for high volume micro-sized intricate ceramic components.
2006 - Started manufacturing WESGO VX Super Refractory Crucibles
2007 – WESGO VX Super Refractory Crucibles available for online purchase.
