COMPANY·HISTORIES
NAIC 325131

Inorganic Dye and Pigment Manufacturing

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

30companies1881–1999founding years28still active2no longer operating
§ 01

The industry over time

Companies foundedEconomyTechnologyEnvironmentHistory
FoundedPerstorp ABFoundedPerstorp AB
1881
FoundedSensient Technologies Corporation
1882
1903
TechnologyThe Wright brothers achieve powered flight.
FoundedSuntory Ltd.
1907
FoundedElementis plc
1908
1914
EconomyWorld War I begins; global trade reorders.
FoundedFerro Corporation
1919
FoundedKemira OyjFoundedKemira OyjFoundedKemira Oyj
1920
1929
EconomyThe stock market crashes; the Great Depression spreads worldwide.
FoundedTosoh Corporation
1935
FoundedNOF Corporation
1937
FoundedEngelhard Corporation
1938
1939
EconomyWorld War II begins; wartime production surges.
1945
EconomyThe war ends; a long global expansion begins.
FoundedThe Dow Chemical CompanyFoundedThe Dow Chemical Company
1947
TechnologyThe transistor is invented.
FoundedPT Astra International Tbk
1957
1958
TechnologyThe integrated circuit is demonstrated.
1962
EnvironmentSilent Spring launches the modern environmental movement.
FoundedIsrael Chemicals Ltd.
1968
1971
EconomyThe dollar leaves the gold standard; currencies float.
FoundedInterface, Inc.
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.
FoundedAstraZeneca PLC
1999
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

Perstorp AB →
Active · founded 1881 · Sweden
Perstorp AB operates as a specialty chemicals group focusing on polyalcohols, which are used in the production of…
Perstorp AB →
Active · founded 1881 · Sweden
Perstorp AB operates as a specialty chemicals group focusing on polyalcohols, which are used in the production of…
Sensient Technologies Corporation →
Active · founded 1882
Early 1970s:[fsps*2.5]Company expands into soft-drink bottling.
Sensient Technologies Corporation →
Active · founded 1882
Early 1970s:[fsps*2.5]Company expands into soft-drink bottling.
Suntory Ltd. →
Active · founded 1907 · Japan
1950s:The company develops the Torys bar chain, which grows into more than 1,500 bars.
Suntory Ltd. →
Active · founded 1907 · Japan
1950s:The company develops the Torys bar chain, which grows into more than 1,500 bars.
Elementis plc →
Active · founded 1908 · United Kingdom
Specialty chemicals producer Elementis plc holds world-leading positions in three areas: chromium chemicals, which are…
Elementis plc →
Active · founded 1908 · United Kingdom
Specialty chemicals producer Elementis plc holds world-leading positions in three areas: chromium chemicals, which are…
Ferro Corporation →
Active · founded 1919
Ferro Corporation is a leading worldwide producer of coatings and performance chemicals used in the electronics,…
Ferro Corporation →
Active · founded 1919
Ferro Corporation is a leading worldwide producer of coatings and performance chemicals used in the electronics,…
Kemira Oyj →
Active · founded 1920 · Finland
Finland's Kemira Oyj is a leading industrial chemicals manufacturer focused on four primary areas: Paints and Coatings;…
Kemira Oyj →
Active · founded 1920 · Finland
Finland's Kemira Oyj is a leading industrial chemicals manufacturer focused on four primary areas: Paints and Coatings;…
Kemira Oyj →
Active · founded 1920 · Finland
Finland's Kemira Oyj is a leading industrial chemicals manufacturer focused on four primary areas: Paints and Coatings;…
Kemira Oyj →
Active · founded 1920 · Finland
Finland's Kemira Oyj is a leading industrial chemicals manufacturer focused on four primary areas: Paints and Coatings;…
Tosoh Corporation →
Active · founded 1935 · Japan
Tosoh Corporation is one of Japan's leading manufacturers of industrial and specialty chemicals.
Tosoh Corporation →
Active · founded 1935 · Japan
Tosoh Corporation is one of Japan's leading manufacturers of industrial and specialty chemicals.
NOF Corporation →
Active · founded 1937 · Japan
NOF Corporation is Japan's leading oleochemicals group, producing a highly diversified range of products derived from…
NOF Corporation →
Active · founded 1937 · Japan
NOF Corporation is Japan's leading oleochemicals group, producing a highly diversified range of products derived from…
Engelhard Corporation →
Active · founded 1938
Engelhard Corporation is a leading supplier of catalysts used in the petroleum, chemical, and food industries.
Engelhard Corporation →
Active · founded 1938
Engelhard Corporation is a leading supplier of catalysts used in the petroleum, chemical, and food industries.
The Dow Chemical Company →
Defunct · founded 1947
To say that The Dow Chemical Company is a very large chemical company is an understatement.
The Dow Chemical Company →
Defunct · founded 1947
To say that The Dow Chemical Company is a very large chemical company is an understatement.
PT Astra International Tbk →
Active · founded 1957 · Indonesia
PT Astra International Tbk is one of Indonesia's largest diversified conglomerates.
PT Astra International Tbk →
Active · founded 1957 · Indonesia
PT Astra International Tbk is one of Indonesia's largest diversified conglomerates.
Israel Chemicals Ltd. →
Active · founded 1968 · Israel
Israel Chemicals Ltd.
Israel Chemicals Ltd. →
Active · founded 1968 · Israel
Israel Chemicals Ltd.
Interface, Inc. →
Active · founded 1973
Originally a manufacturer and distributor of carpet tile, Interface, Inc., has developed into an international presence…
Interface, Inc. →
Active · founded 1973
Originally a manufacturer and distributor of carpet tile, Interface, Inc., has developed into an international presence…
AstraZeneca PLC →
Active · founded 1999 · United Kingdom
AstraZeneca PLC is one of the world's leading pharmaceutical companies.
AstraZeneca PLC →
Active · founded 1999 · United Kingdom
AstraZeneca PLC is one of the world's leading pharmaceutical companies.
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