Inducted 2006

Jack Thomas, Dale Kleist, and Games Slayter invented the process for making glass fiber insulation in commercial quantities. Fiberglass insulation is used in buildings, stoves, refrigerators, and furnaces and is used to reinforce plastic materials in a variety of products, including cars, boats, and bathroom fixtures.  

Invention Impact

While Kleist was spraying molten glass once for a project, tiny fibers formed. Thomas immediately realized the process could be used to improve the production of fiberglass. Thomas refined the process, leading to what is known as the steam-blowing process, patented by Kleist and Thomas. In 1938, Owens-Illinois and Corning Glass jointly created a new company, Owens-Corning Fiberglas® Corporation, to make fiberglass products using the Kleist-Thomas process, as well as other innovations created by the trio.

Inventor Bio

Thomas was born in East St. Louis, Illinois. Studying at the University of Illinois, he earned his B.S. in 1931. Upon
graduating, Thomas was hired by Slayter to research new ways to use glass at Owens-Illinois Glass Company. Thomas hired
Kleist, a college student, to work on several projects, including architectural glass blocks and ways to produce glass fiber
insulation.