COMPANY·HISTORIES
SIC 3351

Copper Rolling & Drawing

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

8companies1882–1950founding years6still active2no longer operating
§ 01

The industry over time

Companies foundedEconomyTechnologyEnvironmentHistory
FoundedARBED S.A.FoundedARBED S.A.
1882
FoundedOlin CorporationFoundedOlin Corporation
1892
1903
TechnologyThe Wright brothers achieve powered flight.
1914
EconomyWorld War I begins; global trade reorders.
FoundedWolverine Tube Inc.FoundedWolverine Tube Inc.
1916
1929
EconomyThe stock market crashes; the Great Depression spreads worldwide.
1939
EconomyWorld War II begins; wartime production surges.
1945
EconomyThe war ends; a long global expansion begins.
1947
TechnologyThe transistor is invented.
FoundedSouthwire Company, Inc.FoundedSouthwire Company, Inc.
1950
1958
TechnologyThe integrated circuit is demonstrated.
1962
EnvironmentSilent Spring launches the modern environmental movement.
1971
EconomyThe dollar leaves the gold standard; currencies float.
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

ARBED S.A. →
Defunct · founded 1882 · Luxembourg
ARBED S.A., based in the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, heads an international group of 189 companies engaged in every…
ARBED S.A. →
Defunct · founded 1882 · Luxembourg
ARBED S.A., based in the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, heads an international group of 189 companies engaged in every…
Olin Corporation →
Active · founded 1892
Olin Corporation is a Fortune 200 company whose businesses are concentrated in chemicals, materials and metals,…
Olin Corporation →
Active · founded 1892
Olin Corporation is a Fortune 200 company whose businesses are concentrated in chemicals, materials and metals,…
Wolverine Tube Inc. →
Active · founded 1916
Wolverine Tube Inc.
Wolverine Tube Inc. →
Active · founded 1916
Wolverine Tube Inc.
Southwire Company, Inc. →
Active · founded 1950
Southwire Company, Inc., is the largest manufacturer of copper and aluminum rod, wire, and cable in the United States.
Southwire Company, Inc. →
Active · founded 1950
Southwire Company, Inc., is the largest manufacturer of copper and aluminum rod, wire, and cable in the United States.
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