COMPANY·HISTORIES
SIC 2865

Industrial Organic Crude Dyes & Pigments

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

22companies1848–1986founding years22still active0no longer operating
§ 01

The industry over time

Companies foundedEconomyTechnologyEnvironmentHistory
FoundedMorton International Inc.FoundedMorton International Inc.
1848
FoundedCiba-Geigy Ltd.FoundedCiba-Geigy Ltd.
1884
FoundedRhône-Poulenc S.A.
1895
1903
TechnologyThe Wright brothers achieve powered flight.
1914
EconomyWorld War I begins; global trade reorders.
FoundedEnglish China Clays plcFoundedEnglish China Clays plc
1919
FoundedM. A. Hanna CompanyFoundedM. A. Hanna Company
1923
1929
EconomyThe stock market crashes; the Great Depression spreads worldwide.
1939
EconomyWorld War II begins; wartime production surges.
FoundedAir Products and Chemicals, Inc.
1940
1945
EconomyThe war ends; a long global expansion begins.
1947
TechnologyThe transistor is invented.
FoundedHoechst A.G.FoundedHoechst A.G.
1952
FoundedFirst Mississippi CorporationFoundedFirst Mississippi Corporation
1957
1958
TechnologyThe integrated circuit is demonstrated.
1962
EnvironmentSilent Spring launches the modern environmental movement.
1971
EconomyThe dollar leaves the gold standard; currencies float.
FoundedDesc, S.A. de C.V.
1973
EconomyThe OPEC oil embargo triggers a global shock.
1975
TechnologyThe personal-computer era begins.
1979
EconomyA second oil crisis drives inflation higher worldwide.
FoundedNovacor Chemicals Ltd.FoundedNovacor Chemicals Ltd.
1981
TechnologyThe IBM PC launches and sets a standard.
1984
TechnologyApple ships the Macintosh; the GUI era begins.
FoundedSterling Chemicals, Inc.
1986
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

Morton International Inc. →
Active · founded 1848
Morton International&mdash′obably best known for its popular blue canister of table salt, featuring a raincoat-clad…
Morton International Inc. →
Active · founded 1848
Morton International&mdash′obably best known for its popular blue canister of table salt, featuring a raincoat-clad…
Ciba-Geigy Ltd. →
Active · founded 1884 · Switzerland
Ciba-Geigy is the largest chemical company in Switzerland.
Ciba-Geigy Ltd. →
Active · founded 1884 · Switzerland
Ciba-Geigy is the largest chemical company in Switzerland.
Rhône-Poulenc S.A. →
Active · founded 1895 · France
Rhône-Poulenc S.A.
Rhône-Poulenc S.A. →
Active · founded 1895 · France
Rhône-Poulenc S.A.
English China Clays plc →
Active · founded 1919 · United Kingdom
English China Clays plc (formerly known as ECC Group plc) is perhaps best known as the world's largest producer of…
English China Clays plc →
Active · founded 1919 · United Kingdom
English China Clays plc (formerly known as ECC Group plc) is perhaps best known as the world's largest producer of…
M. A. Hanna Company →
Active · founded 1923
The M.
M. A. Hanna Company →
Active · founded 1923
The M.
Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. →
Active · founded 1940
Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.
Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. →
Active · founded 1940
Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.
Hoechst A.G. →
Active · founded 1952 · Federal Republic of Germany
With operations in 120 nations around the globe, Hoechst (pronounced "herckst") A.G.
Hoechst A.G. →
Active · founded 1952 · Federal Republic of Germany
With operations in 120 nations around the globe, Hoechst (pronounced "herckst") A.G.
First Mississippi Corporation →
Active · founded 1957
First Mississippi Corporation is the largest company chartered in Mississippi and the only company from that state to…
First Mississippi Corporation →
Active · founded 1957
First Mississippi Corporation is the largest company chartered in Mississippi and the only company from that state to…
Desc, S.A. de C.V. →
Active · founded 1973 · Mexico
Desc, S.A.
Desc, S.A. de C.V. →
Active · founded 1973 · Mexico
Desc, S.A.
Novacor Chemicals Ltd. →
Active · founded 1981 · Canada
Novacor Chemicals Ltd.
Novacor Chemicals Ltd. →
Active · founded 1981 · Canada
Novacor Chemicals Ltd.
Sterling Chemicals, Inc. →
Active · founded 1986
Sterling Chemicals, Inc.
Sterling Chemicals, Inc. →
Active · founded 1986
Sterling Chemicals, Inc.
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