COMPANY·HISTORIES
NAIC 324121

Asphalt and Asphalt Products (Manufacturers)

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

18companies1893–1972founding years16still active0no longer operating
§ 01

The industry over time

Companies foundedEconomyTechnologyEnvironmentHistory
FoundedNippon Oil CorporationFoundedNippon Oil Corporation
1893
FoundedTarmac plcFoundedTarmac plc
1903
TechnologyThe Wright brothers achieve powered flight.
1914
EconomyWorld War I begins; global trade reorders.
FoundedCRH plcFoundedCRH plc
1926
1929
EconomyThe stock market crashes; the Great Depression spreads worldwide.
FoundedRMC Group p.l.c.FoundedRMC Group p.l.c.
1930
1939
EconomyWorld War II begins; wartime production surges.
FoundedShowa Shell Sekiyu K.K.FoundedShowa Shell Sekiyu K.K.
1942
1945
EconomyThe war ends; a long global expansion begins.
1947
TechnologyThe transistor is invented.
FoundedVulcan Materials CompanyFoundedVulcan Materials Company
1956
FoundedR.B. Pamplin Corp.FoundedR.B. Pamplin Corp.
1957
1958
TechnologyThe integrated circuit is demonstrated.
1962
EnvironmentSilent Spring launches the modern environmental movement.
FoundedHanson PLCFoundedHanson PLC
1964
1971
EconomyThe dollar leaves the gold standard; currencies float.
FoundedFred Weber, Inc.FoundedFred Weber, Inc.
1972
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

Nippon Oil Corporation →
Active · founded 1893 · Japan
Nippon Oil Corporation is Japan's largest importer and distributor of petroleum products, controlling about 25 percent…
Nippon Oil Corporation →
Active · founded 1893 · Japan
Nippon Oil Corporation is Japan's largest importer and distributor of petroleum products, controlling about 25 percent…
Tarmac plc →
Active · founded 1903 · United Kingdom
Tarmac plc is one of the leading heavy building materials and construction services groups in Europe, with additional…
Tarmac plc →
Active · founded 1903 · United Kingdom
Tarmac plc is one of the leading heavy building materials and construction services groups in Europe, with additional…
CRH plc →
Active · founded 1926 · Ireland
1930s:Tom and Donald Roach found a cement production business, one of only two licensed cement producers in Ireland.
CRH plc →
Active · founded 1926 · Ireland
1930s:Tom and Donald Roach found a cement production business, one of only two licensed cement producers in Ireland.
RMC Group p.l.c. →
Renamed · founded 1930 · United Kingdom
RMC Group p.l.c.
RMC Group p.l.c. →
Renamed · founded 1930 · United Kingdom
RMC Group p.l.c.
Showa Shell Sekiyu K.K. →
Active · founded 1942 · Japan
c.
Showa Shell Sekiyu K.K. →
Active · founded 1942 · Japan
c.
Vulcan Materials Company →
Active · founded 1956
Vulcan Materials Company, with headquarters in Birmingham, Alabama, is the largest producer of construction aggregates…
Vulcan Materials Company →
Active · founded 1956
Vulcan Materials Company, with headquarters in Birmingham, Alabama, is the largest producer of construction aggregates…
R.B. Pamplin Corp. →
Active · founded 1957
R.B.
R.B. Pamplin Corp. →
Active · founded 1957
R.B.
Hanson PLC →
Active · founded 1964 · United Kingdom
Hanson PLC is an international building materials company with three principal operations.
Hanson PLC →
Active · founded 1964 · United Kingdom
Hanson PLC is an international building materials company with three principal operations.
Fred Weber, Inc. →
Active · founded 1972
Based in the St.
Fred Weber, Inc. →
Active · founded 1972
Based in the St.
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