COMPANY·HISTORIES
SIC 2891

Adhesives and Sealants

How the companies in this industry began, and the forces that shaped them.

42companies1848–1984founding years40still active0no longer operating
§ 01

The industry over time

Companies foundedEconomyTechnologyEnvironmentHistory
FoundedMorton International Inc.
1848
FoundedArmstrong World Industries, Inc.
1891
FoundedThe Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company
1898
FoundedBorden, Inc.FoundedSonoco Products Company
1899
FoundedKerr Group Inc.
1903
TechnologyThe Wright brothers achieve powered flight.
FoundedCourtaulds plcFoundedFormica Corporation
1913
FoundedThe Dexter Corporation
1914
EconomyWorld War I begins; global trade reorders.
FoundedIllinois Tool Works Inc.
1915
FoundedM. A. Hanna Company
1923
FoundedFederal-Mogul Corporation
1924
1929
EconomyThe stock market crashes; the Great Depression spreads worldwide.
FoundedW. H. Brady Co.
1939
EconomyWorld War II begins; wartime production surges.
FoundedAir Products and Chemicals, Inc.
1940
1945
EconomyThe war ends; a long global expansion begins.
1947
TechnologyThe transistor is invented.
FoundedGrow Group Inc.
1950
1958
TechnologyThe integrated circuit is demonstrated.
1962
EnvironmentSilent Spring launches the modern environmental movement.
FoundedBig Flower Press Holdings, Inc.
1967
1971
EconomyThe dollar leaves the gold standard; currencies float.
FoundedArmor All Products Corp.
1972
FoundedDesc, S.A. de C.V.
1973
EconomyThe OPEC oil embargo triggers a global shock.
1975
TechnologyThe personal-computer era begins.
1979
EconomyA second oil crisis drives inflation higher worldwide.
1981
TechnologyThe IBM PC launches and sets a standard.
1984
TechnologyApple ships the Macintosh; the GUI era begins.
1987
EconomyBlack Monday: markets fall sharply around the world.
1989
HistoryThe Berlin Wall falls; global markets open up.
1991
TechnologyThe World Wide Web is released to the public.
1993
TechnologyThe Mosaic browser brings the web to everyone.
1995
TechnologyWindows 95 launches; the internet goes mainstream.
1997
EconomyThe Asian financial crisis rattles global markets.
EnvironmentThe Kyoto Protocol sets the first climate targets.
2000
EconomyThe dot-com bubble bursts.
2004
TechnologySocial media and Web 2.0 take hold.
2007
TechnologyThe iPhone launches the smartphone era.
2008
EconomyThe global financial crisis freezes credit worldwide.
2010
TechnologyCloud computing goes mainstream for business.
2015
EnvironmentThe Paris Agreement sets global climate targets.
2020
EconomyThe COVID-19 pandemic upends the global economy.
2022
EconomyInflation spikes; central banks raise rates sharply.
2023
TechnologyGenerative AI reaches mainstream business use.
§ 02

The companies

Morton International Inc. →
Active · founded 1848
Morton International&mdash′obably best known for its popular blue canister of table salt, featuring a raincoat-clad…
Morton International Inc. →
Active · founded 1848
Morton International&mdash′obably best known for its popular blue canister of table salt, featuring a raincoat-clad…
Armstrong World Industries, Inc. →
Renamed · founded 1891
Armstrong World Industries, Inc.
Armstrong World Industries, Inc. →
Renamed · founded 1891
Armstrong World Industries, Inc.
The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company →
Active · founded 1898
The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company (Goodyear) is a major manufacturer, distributor, and seller of tires worldwide and…
The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company →
Active · founded 1898
The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company (Goodyear) is a major manufacturer, distributor, and seller of tires worldwide and…
Borden, Inc. →
Active · founded 1899
The Borden, Inc.
Borden, Inc. →
Active · founded 1899
The Borden, Inc.
Sonoco Products Company →
Active · founded 1899
Sonoco Products Co.
Sonoco Products Company →
Active · founded 1899
Sonoco Products Co.
Kerr Group Inc. →
Active · founded 1903
Kerr Group Inc., formerly Kerr Glass Manufacturing Corp., is a nearly 100-year-old company that is a major producer and…
Kerr Group Inc. →
Active · founded 1903
Kerr Group Inc., formerly Kerr Glass Manufacturing Corp., is a nearly 100-year-old company that is a major producer and…
Brunswick Corporation →
Active · founded 1907
Brunswick Corporation, the oldest and largest manufacturer of recreation and leisure-time products in the United…
Brunswick Corporation →
Active · founded 1907
Brunswick Corporation, the oldest and largest manufacturer of recreation and leisure-time products in the United…
Courtaulds plc →
Active · founded 1913 · England
Courtaulds plc is the world's second-largest producer of acrylic fibers and a major global producer of rayon.
Courtaulds plc →
Active · founded 1913 · England
Courtaulds plc is the world's second-largest producer of acrylic fibers and a major global producer of rayon.
Formica Corporation →
Active · founded 1913
Perhaps best known for its kitchen counter surfaces, Formica Corporation is the world's largest manufacturer of…
Formica Corporation →
Active · founded 1913
Perhaps best known for its kitchen counter surfaces, Formica Corporation is the world's largest manufacturer of…
The Dexter Corporation →
Active · founded 1914
With a history that stretches back over two centuries, The Dexter Corporation is the oldest company listed on the New…
The Dexter Corporation →
Active · founded 1914
With a history that stretches back over two centuries, The Dexter Corporation is the oldest company listed on the New…
Illinois Tool Works Inc. →
Active · founded 1915
In 1912, four Smith brothers advertised for experienced manufacturing workers to help them set up a new business…
Illinois Tool Works Inc. →
Active · founded 1915
In 1912, four Smith brothers advertised for experienced manufacturing workers to help them set up a new business…
M. A. Hanna Company →
Active · founded 1923
The M.
M. A. Hanna Company →
Active · founded 1923
The M.
Federal-Mogul Corporation →
Active · founded 1924
Federal-Mogul Corporation manufactures precision components for cars, trucks, and construction vehicles, marketing its…
Federal-Mogul Corporation →
Active · founded 1924
Federal-Mogul Corporation manufactures precision components for cars, trucks, and construction vehicles, marketing its…
Federal-Mogul Corporation →
Active · founded 1924
Federal-Mogul Corporation manufactures precision components for cars, trucks, and construction vehicles, marketing its…
Federal-Mogul Corporation →
Active · founded 1924
Federal-Mogul Corporation manufactures precision components for cars, trucks, and construction vehicles, marketing its…
W. H. Brady Co. →
Active · founded 1939
W.
W. H. Brady Co. →
Active · founded 1939
W.
Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. →
Active · founded 1940
Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.
Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. →
Active · founded 1940
Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.
Grow Group Inc. →
Active · founded 1950
Grow Group Inc.
Grow Group Inc. →
Active · founded 1950
Grow Group Inc.
Big Flower Press Holdings, Inc. →
Active · founded 1967
Big Flower Press Holdings, Inc.
Big Flower Press Holdings, Inc. →
Active · founded 1967
Big Flower Press Holdings, Inc.
Armor All Products Corp. →
Active · founded 1972
Armor All Products Corp.
Armor All Products Corp. →
Active · founded 1972
Armor All Products Corp.
Desc, S.A. de C.V. →
Active · founded 1973 · Mexico
Desc, S.A.
Desc, S.A. de C.V. →
Active · founded 1973 · Mexico
Desc, S.A.
Nobel Industries AB →
Active · founded 1984 · Sweden
Nobel Industries AB is one of Europe's leading manufacturers of specialty industrial chemicals, paints, and adhesives.
Nobel Industries AB →
Active · founded 1984 · Sweden
Nobel Industries AB is one of Europe's leading manufacturers of specialty industrial chemicals, paints, and adhesives.
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