West Trenton, NJ – Throughout the last
century – through 18 American presidents, seven major wars and
countless fads and trends – Homasote® has remained a leading
manufacturer of quality building and packaging products made from
recycled materials.
"Very few businesses can stay
relevant and successful for 100 years," said Warren Flicker, CEO of
Homasote. "Homasote's products have an enduring tradition of
industry-leading performance. Looking ahead, we expect our customers to
demand new solutions offering greater levels of value, performance and
sustainability and we are committed to meeting and exceeding their
expectations."
From sound deadening wall board to
industrial packaging materials, Homasote products have become deeply
engrained into America's rich history. The company also celebrated
several major milestones throughout its 100 year existence.
Early Uses of Homasote
Homasote was founded in 1909 by Eugenius H. Outerbridge, an
industrialist who imported innovative manufacturing techniques to the
U.S. from England. He later became the first chairman of what is now
the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. Early products were
manufactured for the lining of railroad carriages and the tops of
Buick, Dodge, Ford, Nash and Studebaker automobiles.
Homasote and the U.S. Government
After 1916, the Homasote board still used today was specified by the
U.S. military to build field hospitals, mess halls and housing for both
World War I and World War II bases. The famed explorer Admiral Richard
E. Byrd also relied on Homasote's thermal insulating properties for his
Antarctic expedition, which started in 1928. His executive offices,
laboratories and housing facilities were built with Homasote interior
and exterior products. A letter from a member of Admiral Byrd's team
describes Homasote materials as being "absolutely unharmed" after 18
years of blizzards and sub-zero temperatures. Homasote was later
specified during the Cold War Era by the U.S. government in the
construction of the Distant Early Warning (DEW) line of radar sites,
designed to alert Western forces to impending Soviet attacks.
Homasote Product Milestones
In the 1960s, the company increased its reliance and commitment to
independent, third-party testing. As a result, the performance of
Homasote's products in the areas of sound control, fire protection,
thermal insulation and wind resistance are well proven and documented.
Homasote products have been tested, rated and certified by several
major government and trade organizations, including but not limited to
the U.S. Green Building Council's (USGBC) LEED® program, the
International Building Council (IBC), the Collaborative for High
Performance Schools (CHPS) and the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC).
A
full timeline with details of Homasote's history is available upon
request. For more information on Homasote products, please visit
www.homasote.com.
