COMPANY HISTORY
Consolidated Glass Corporation was founded in 1967 by Mr. Calvin Braecklein from Baltimore, MD as a sister company to the original family glass business, Art Plate Glass. Formed in the late 1920’s by Calvin’s father Ferdinand Braecklein, Art Plate Glass began a family tradition of working within the glass industry that has spanned five generations and includes current President and CEO, Shane Merryman.
Consolidated Glass Corporation originally entered the glass business as a fabricator of jalousie door glass and in the 1970’s expanded into a retail store fixture business that also offered local glazing work. Growing steadily, the company saw its first significant expansion in 1994 after previous President, Louis Merryman, purchased the business and made substantial investments in new cutting, edging and tempering lines. These investments allowed Consolidated Glass Corporation to expand into new markets including office partitions, handrails, and high-end shower doors, all while specializing in high quality, quick turn glass projects.
The growth that was attained in these new markets allowed Consolidated Glass Corporation to continue investing in the business, that in 2016 included a new tempering line, as well as a fully automated robotic edging line. Under the direction of President, Shane Merryman, numerous investments have been made on the business including an automated cutting line, upgraded water filtration system, a state-of-the-art real time digital scanning system, as well as a custom built software system to enhance output while decreasing lead times across the board.
This commitment to continuous improvement has created a culture within our organization that prioritizes enhancing the customer’s experience on a daily basis. We strive to develop and cultivate relationships that make a positive difference in our customers’ lives. With this philosophy and commitment to improvement, we have become the premier, high quality fabricator in North America. Consolidated Glass Corporation expects to continue being a leader in glass fabrications for many generations to come.
LOUIS MERRYMAN
FORMER PRESIDENT & CO-OWNER
The former President of Consolidated Glass Corporation, Louis Merryman followed in the footsteps of his family by representing the 4th generation in the glass industry. A member of our team since 1984, Louis brought over forty years of personal experience into the glass fabrication business. He ascended into the role of President in 1994 where under his direction Consolidated Glass Corporation experienced exponential growth due to his investment in the company’s first tempering furnace. Louis’s decision to invest in new tempering, cutting, and edging lines during his time, helped Consolidated Glass Corporation evolve into the premier, high quality, glass fabricator it is today.
During his career, Louis received many awards for his hard work and dedication within the glass industry. Most notably he received the Pennsylvania Governors Labor Management Award and the Vistage Lifetime Achievement award. Alongside running Consolidated Glass Corporation, Louis was a part of numerous boards within the community. He held the position of Chairman of the New Castle YMCA Board, was a member of the Jameson Health Network Board of Directors and is currently on the UPMC Jameson Advisory Board.
Prior to entering the business, Louis earned a BA in Mathematics and Economics from Denison University where he met his wife, Lynn. Together they share their two children Shane and Madison, who both make up the 5th generation of Consolidated Glass Corporation. Louis can always be found spoiling his five grandchildren, Connor, Aidan, Luca, Gracyn and Tulsa. Since retirement, Louis has been perfecting his golf game, traveling the world with Lynn, piloting his hot air balloon, Stairway to Heaven and spending time with his family.
CGC TIMELINE
1923
Art Plate Glass is formed by Ferdinand Braecklein in Baltimore, Maryland and becomes the largest distributor of OLF Glass specializing in mirrors and automotive glass in the United States.
1967
Consolidated Glass Corporation is formed by Calvin Braecklein in New Castle, Pennsylvania.
MID 1970'S
· The Baltimore, Maryland location closes.
EARLY 1980's
Consolidated Glass Corporation breaks in to the ready to build furniture market.
1984
Louis Merryman becomes General Manager of Consolidated Glass Corporation, representing the 4th generation in the glass industry.
1990
Consolidated Glass Corporation takes it first steps towards automation by implementing its first computer system, a Hegla Billco partially automated cutting table specializing in XYZ cutting and the first Schiatti partially automated edging system known as the “Single Double.”
1992
The second Schiatti “Single Double” edging system is installed to increase production rate.
1996
Consolidated Glass Corporation gets its first building expansion. With this expansion, Louis Merryman purchases the first Tempering Furnace for the business, allowed CGC to break into the Shower Enclosure market. Along with the new tempering furnace, a Besana Straight Line Edger and a third Schiatti “Double Double” is added to the fabrication line up.
2000
Consolidated Glass Corporation expands into the interior office partitions, glass handrail and Ice Hockey rink glass.
2002
The first Forvet CNC drilling and Notching machine is installed.
2005
· The second Forvet CNC drilling and notching machine is installed to increase production rate.
2008
A new computerized sandblasting machine is installed.
2011
Consolidated Glass Corporation adopts the LEAN manufacturing approach to maximize productivity while simultaneously minimizing waste within the fabrication process.
2016
Consolidated Glass Corporation undergoes its second building expansion to create room for the new tempering furnace installation. In addition to the new tempering furnace, a new box truck is added to our delivery fleet.
2017
The installation of our fully automated Bovone Robotics Line is installed. Becoming the first in the United States to receive the new edging line.
2018
With a commitment to continuous innovation, Consolidated Glass Corporation goes paperless within the office. In addition, two new trucks are added to the fleet and two new Forvet CNC machines are installed with a new fully integrated drafting software.
2019
A total of three new Bovone Vertical Edging machines are installed alongside our fully automated robotics line.
2020
Louis Merryman retires as President from Consolidated Glass Corporation after 36 years within the business. His son, Shane Merryman, takes over as President and CEO representing the 5th generation in the glass industry.
2021
The new partially automated Hegla Billco Cutting Table and Rapid Store Transfer System is installed allowing for our inventory positions to expand from 4 to 29 and our output to increase by 35%. Along with this addition, a new real time digital scanning system paired with a custom build software was implemented within the plant to enhance output while decreasing lead times.
2022
A new CentraSep water filtration system is added for the Robotic Edging Line. This closed system has allowed Consolidated Glass Corporation to increase the quality of the edgework, as well as, increasing output.
