COMPANY·HISTORIES
NAIC 339999

Miscellaneous Manufacturing

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

46companies1898–1999founding years46still active0no longer operating
§ 01

The industry over time

Companies foundedEconomyTechnologyEnvironmentHistory
FoundedMadison-Kipp Corporation
1898
FoundedNewell Rubbermaid Inc.
1902
1903
TechnologyThe Wright brothers achieve powered flight.
1914
EconomyWorld War I begins; global trade reorders.
FoundedMcKechnie plc
1915
1929
EconomyThe stock market crashes; the Great Depression spreads worldwide.
FoundedZippo Manufacturing Company
1932
1939
EconomyWorld War II begins; wartime production surges.
1945
EconomyThe war ends; a long global expansion begins.
FoundedEmpresas ICA Sociedad Controladora, S.A. de C.V.
1947
TechnologyThe transistor is invented.
FoundedFrank J. Zamboni & Co., Inc.
1949
1958
TechnologyThe integrated circuit is demonstrated.
FoundedTyco International Ltd.
1962
EnvironmentSilent Spring launches the modern environmental movement.
FoundedFirst Alert, Inc.
1967
1971
EconomyThe dollar leaves the gold standard; currencies float.
1973
EconomyThe OPEC oil embargo triggers a global shock.
FoundedTandycrafts, Inc.
1975
TechnologyThe personal-computer era begins.
1979
EconomyA second oil crisis drives inflation higher worldwide.
1981
TechnologyThe IBM PC launches and sets a standard.
FoundedRonson PLC
1982
FoundedShuffle Master Inc.
1983
1984
TechnologyApple ships the Macintosh; the GUI era begins.
FoundedDirect Focus, Inc.FoundedMikohn Gaming CorporationFoundedPumpkin Masters, Inc.
1986
FoundedMace Security International, Inc.
1987
EconomyBlack Monday: markets fall sharply around the world.
1989
HistoryThe Berlin Wall falls; global markets open up.
FoundedMultimedia Games, Inc.
1991
TechnologyThe World Wide Web is released to the public.
FoundedAptarGroup, Inc.
1993
TechnologyThe Mosaic browser brings the web to everyone.
1995
TechnologyWindows 95 launches; the internet goes mainstream.
Founded180s, L.L.C.
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

Madison-Kipp Corporation →
Active · founded 1898
1960s:Company reorganizes into two divisions: Kippcast (die-castings) and the Products Division (automatic machine tool…
Madison-Kipp Corporation →
Active · founded 1898
1960s:Company reorganizes into two divisions: Kippcast (die-castings) and the Products Division (automatic machine tool…
Newell Rubbermaid Inc. →
Active · founded 1902
c.
Newell Rubbermaid Inc. →
Active · founded 1902
c.
McKechnie plc →
Active · founded 1915 · United Kingdom
Once nicknamed 'Widget plc'--because of its myriad of low-margin, high-volume commodity products, such as the plastic…
McKechnie plc →
Active · founded 1915 · United Kingdom
Once nicknamed 'Widget plc'--because of its myriad of low-margin, high-volume commodity products, such as the plastic…
Zippo Manufacturing Company →
Active · founded 1932 · Call or Text 602-300-7153 for more information!
Zippo Manufacturing Company is world famous for its Zippo windproof lighter, its lifetime guarantee, and the…
Zippo Manufacturing Company →
Active · founded 1932 · Call or Text 602-300-7153 for more information!
Zippo Manufacturing Company is world famous for its Zippo windproof lighter, its lifetime guarantee, and the…
American Greetings Corporation →
Active · founded 1944
Founded in 1906 as a small Cleveland jobber's shop, American Greetings Corporation, which advertises itself as "the…
American Greetings Corporation →
Active · founded 1944
Founded in 1906 as a small Cleveland jobber's shop, American Greetings Corporation, which advertises itself as "the…
Empresas ICA Sociedad Controladora, S.A. de C.V. →
Active · founded 1947 · Mexico
Empresas ICA Sociedad Controladora, S.A.
Empresas ICA Sociedad Controladora, S.A. de C.V. →
Active · founded 1947 · Mexico
Empresas ICA Sociedad Controladora, S.A.
Frank J. Zamboni & Co., Inc. →
Active · founded 1949
Frank J.
Frank J. Zamboni & Co., Inc. →
Active · founded 1949
Frank J.
Tyco International Ltd. →
Active · founded 1962 · Bermuda
Tyco International Ltd.
Tyco International Ltd. →
Active · founded 1962 · Bermuda
Tyco International Ltd.
First Alert, Inc. →
Active · founded 1967
For more than 25 years, First Alert, Inc., along with its subsidiaries, has been a leading worldwide manufacturer and…
First Alert, Inc. →
Active · founded 1967
For more than 25 years, First Alert, Inc., along with its subsidiaries, has been a leading worldwide manufacturer and…
Elamex, S.A. de C.V. →
Active · founded 1972
Elamex, S.A.
Elamex, S.A. de C.V. →
Active · founded 1972
Elamex, S.A.
Tandycrafts, Inc. →
Active · founded 1975
Tandycrafts, Inc.
Tandycrafts, Inc. →
Active · founded 1975
Tandycrafts, Inc.
Ronson PLC →
Active · founded 1982 · United Kingdom
Ronson PLC is the holding company for Ronson International Limited, distributor of Ronson brand lighters and associated…
Ronson PLC →
Active · founded 1982 · United Kingdom
Ronson PLC is the holding company for Ronson International Limited, distributor of Ronson brand lighters and associated…
Shuffle Master Inc. →
Active · founded 1983
Shuffle Master Inc.
Shuffle Master Inc. →
Active · founded 1983
Shuffle Master Inc.
IMCO Recycling, Incorporated →
Active · founded 1985
IMCO Recycling, Incorporated is the world's largest recycler of both aluminum and zinc.
IMCO Recycling, Incorporated →
Active · founded 1985
IMCO Recycling, Incorporated is the world's largest recycler of both aluminum and zinc.
Direct Focus, Inc. →
Active · founded 1986
Direct Focus, Inc.
Direct Focus, Inc. →
Active · founded 1986
Direct Focus, Inc.
Mikohn Gaming Corporation →
Active · founded 1986 · Las Vegas, Nevada 89119
Mikohn Gaming, Inc.
Mikohn Gaming Corporation →
Active · founded 1986 · Las Vegas, Nevada 89119
Mikohn Gaming, Inc.
Pumpkin Masters, Inc. →
Active · founded 1986
Colorado-based Pumpkin Masters, Inc.
Pumpkin Masters, Inc. →
Active · founded 1986
Colorado-based Pumpkin Masters, Inc.
Mace Security International, Inc. →
Active · founded 1987
Mace Security International, Inc.
Mace Security International, Inc. →
Active · founded 1987
Mace Security International, Inc.
Vermont Pure Holdings, Ltd. →
Active · founded 1990
Vermont Pure Holdings, Ltd.
Vermont Pure Holdings, Ltd. →
Active · founded 1990
Vermont Pure Holdings, Ltd.
Multimedia Games, Inc. →
Active · founded 1991
Multimedia Games, Inc.
Multimedia Games, Inc. →
Active · founded 1991
Multimedia Games, Inc.
AptarGroup, Inc. →
Active · founded 1993
AptarGroup, Inc.
AptarGroup, Inc. →
Active · founded 1993
AptarGroup, Inc.
180s, L.L.C. →
Active · founded 1997
180s, L.L.C., is known for its distinctive, highly engineered ear warmers, called Arctic 180s, which wrap around the…
180s, L.L.C. →
Active · founded 1997
180s, L.L.C., is known for its distinctive, highly engineered ear warmers, called Arctic 180s, which wrap around the…
Water Pik Technologies, Inc. →
Active · founded 1999
Water Pik Technologies, Inc.
Water Pik Technologies, Inc. →
Active · founded 1999
Water Pik Technologies, Inc.
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