COMPANYHISTORIES
SIC 3492

Fluid Power Valves and Hose Fittings

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

7companies1905–1985founding years6still active1no longer operating
§ 01

The industry over time

Companies foundedEconomyTechnologyEnvironmentHistory
FoundedBadger Meter, Inc.
1905
FoundedDuriron Company Inc.
1912
1914
EconomyWorld War I begins; global trade reorders.
FoundedDana Corporation
1916
FoundedAlliedSignal Inc.
1920
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.
1962
EnvironmentSilent Spring launches the modern environmental movement.
FoundedOsmonics, Inc.
1969
1975
TechnologyThe personal-computer era begins.
1981
TechnologyThe IBM PC launches and sets a standard.
FoundedSudbury Inc.
1983
1984
TechnologyApple ships the Macintosh; the GUI era begins.
FoundedWatts Industries, Inc.
1985
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

Badger Meter, Inc. →
Active · founded 1905
Badger Meter, Inc.
Duriron Company Inc. →
Active · founded 1912
Duriron Company Inc.
Dana Corporation →
Active · founded 1916
Dana Corporation is a leading manufacturer and distributor of vehicular and industrial products with 430 manufacturing…
AlliedSignal Inc. →
Defunct · founded 1920
AlliedSignal Inc., formed from the acquisition of Signal Companies, Inc.
Osmonics, Inc. →
Active · founded 1969 · www.osmonics.com
Osmonics, Inc.
Sudbury Inc. →
Active · founded 1983
Sudbury Inc.
Watts Industries, Inc. →
Active · founded 1985
Watts Industries, Inc., is one of the country's leading designers, manufacturers, and sellers of valves that regulate…
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