Founded in 1886, GAF has become one of the largest roofing manufacturers in North America, with sales approaching $3 billion. With more than two dozen manufacturing plants located throughout the United States, the company has over 3,000 employees and sells its roofing products worldwide. Originally American IG, began as the American holdings of the German IG Farben.
Timeline
1886 – Company founded as The Standard Paint Company 1892 – First ready-to-lay asphalt roofing is created, known as "Ruberoid" 1904 – Method perfected to embed colored granules in asphalt coating 1912 – Individually-cut asphalt shingles are introduced 1921 – Based on the success of its roofing line, Standard Paint changes its name to the Ruberoid Company 1928 - The American holdings of the German company I.G.Farben were organized into American I.G.; later renamed General Aniline & Film or GAF for short. 1933 – Interlocking shingles introduced 1941 - American assets seized as enemy property by the U.S. government. 1965 - The U.S. government sells shares of GAF. 1966 – General Aniline & Film acquires Sawyer's, manufacturer of photographic equipment 1967 – Ruberoid merges with General Aniline & Film and adopts the GAF name 1967 – "Timberline" architectural shingle introduced 1968 – General Aniline & Film Corp. formally changes its name to GAF Corporation 1982 – Samuel J. Heyman took control of the company 1987 – Samuel J. Heyman took the company private; it continues to be owned by the Heyman family 2004 – Introduced first pre-coated energy-efficient modified bitumen membranes 2005 – Introduced first energy-efficient asphalt shingle 2007 – GAF acquires ElkCorp 2010 – Introduced solar grade single-ply TPO membranes 2011 – First company to offer lifetime limited warranty on all laminated shingles 2012 – First company to offer lifetime limited warranty on entire roofing system
Bankruptcy
On Jan. 7, 2001, GAF's principal shareholder became the 27th company in the United States to file for protection under Chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code from liabilities relating to asbestos-related bodily injury claims. In what was an ill-fated acquisition, GAF's purchase of Ruberoid brought with it a product line that contained considerable quantities of asbestos. The asbestos-containing products ranged from roofing shingles and siding to insulation and numerous other construction-related products. Along with the purchase came ownership of an asbestos mine in Vermont. Once the sale was complete, GAF Corporation became the de facto leader in asbestos supplies in the state. The mine was shut down in 1975. GAF's roofing business was not involved in the manufacture or sale of asbestos containing products and thus it did not have any liability related to these claims. GAF's shareholder emerged from bankruptcy in 2009 having discharged its asbestos-related bodily injury claims.
