COMPANYHISTORIES
SIC 3498

Fabricated Pipe and Pipe Fittings

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

6companies1850–1962founding years6still active0no longer operating
§ 01

The industry over time

Companies foundedEconomyTechnologyEnvironmentHistory
FoundedGrinnell Corp.
1850
FoundedGroupe Legris Industries
1863
FoundedSimplex Technologies Inc.
1895
1903
TechnologyThe Wright brothers achieve powered flight.
1914
EconomyWorld War I begins; global trade reorders.
FoundedBundy Corporation
1922
FoundedKubota Corporation
1930
1939
EconomyWorld War II begins; wartime production surges.
1945
EconomyThe war ends; a long global expansion begins.
1947
TechnologyThe transistor is invented.
1958
TechnologyThe integrated circuit is demonstrated.
FoundedIMI plc
1962
EnvironmentSilent Spring launches the modern environmental movement.
1975
TechnologyThe personal-computer era begins.
1981
TechnologyThe IBM PC launches and sets a standard.
1984
TechnologyApple ships the Macintosh; the GUI era begins.
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
EnvironmentThe Kyoto Protocol sets the first climate targets.
2004
TechnologySocial media and Web 2.0 take hold.
2007
TechnologyThe iPhone launches the smartphone era.
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

Grinnell Corp. →
Active · founded 1850
Grinnell Corp., a subsidiary of Tyco International Ltd., became the largest fire protection company in the world when…
Groupe Legris Industries →
Active · founded 1863 · France
France's Groupe Legris Industries is a diversified industrial group with leading domestic and worldwide positions in…
Simplex Technologies Inc. →
Active · founded 1895
Simplex Technologies Inc.
Bundy Corporation →
Active · founded 1922
Bundy Corporation is a subsidiary of the London-based specialized engineering group TI Group plc and a world leader in…
Kubota Corporation →
Active · founded 1930 · Japan
Kubota Corporation prides itself on being flexible and adjusting as necessary to compete under changing economic…
IMI plc →
Active · founded 1962 · England
IMI plc--formed in 1962 under the name Imperial Metal Industries Ltd., a wholly owned subsidiary of British…
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