COMPANY·HISTORIES
NAIC 335224

Household Laundry Equipment Manufacturing

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

14companies1892–1967founding years12still active2no longer operating
§ 01

The industry over time

Companies foundedEconomyTechnologyEnvironmentHistory
FoundedGeneral Electric CompanyFoundedGeneral Electric Company
1892
FoundedMiele & Cie. KGFoundedMiele & Cie. KG
1899
FoundedDe'Longhi S.p.A.FoundedDe'Longhi S.p.A.
1903
TechnologyThe Wright brothers achieve powered flight.
1914
EconomyWorld War I begins; global trade reorders.
FoundedElectrolux ABFoundedElectrolux AB
1919
FoundedWhirlpool CorporationFoundedWhirlpool Corporation
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.
FoundedSANYO Electric Co., Ltd.FoundedSANYO Electric Co., Ltd.
1950
1958
TechnologyThe integrated circuit is demonstrated.
1962
EnvironmentSilent Spring launches the modern environmental movement.
FoundedBSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgeräte GmbHFoundedBSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgeräte GmbH
1967
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

General Electric Company →
Active · founded 1892
The history of General Electric Company is a significant part of the history of technology in the United States.
General Electric Company →
Active · founded 1892
The history of General Electric Company is a significant part of the history of technology in the United States.
Miele & Cie. KG →
Active · founded 1899 · Germany
Miele & Cie.
Miele & Cie. KG →
Active · founded 1899 · Germany
Miele & Cie.
De'Longhi S.p.A. →
Active · founded 1903 · Italy
1950s:De'Longhi incorporates, with a specialty in supplying components to the heating appliance industry.
De'Longhi S.p.A. →
Active · founded 1903 · Italy
1950s:De'Longhi incorporates, with a specialty in supplying components to the heating appliance industry.
Electrolux AB →
Active · founded 1919 · Sweden
Electrolux AB operates as the largest appliance manufacturer in the world with customers in more than 150 countries.
Electrolux AB →
Active · founded 1919 · Sweden
Electrolux AB operates as the largest appliance manufacturer in the world with customers in more than 150 countries.
Whirlpool Corporation →
Active · founded 1929
From its beginning as a manufacturer of electrically powered clothes washers, Whirlpool Corporation has become the…
Whirlpool Corporation →
Active · founded 1929
From its beginning as a manufacturer of electrically powered clothes washers, Whirlpool Corporation has become the…
SANYO Electric Co., Ltd. →
Defunct · founded 1950 · Japan
SANYO Electric Co., Ltd.
SANYO Electric Co., Ltd. →
Defunct · founded 1950 · Japan
SANYO Electric Co., Ltd.
BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgeräte GmbH →
Active · founded 1967 · Germany
BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgeräte GmbH, a joint venture between German industrial giants Robert Bosch GmbH and Siemens…
BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgeräte GmbH →
Active · founded 1967 · Germany
BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgeräte GmbH, a joint venture between German industrial giants Robert Bosch GmbH and Siemens…
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