COMPANY·HISTORIES
NAIC 324191

Petroleum Lubricating Oil and Grease Manufacturing

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

16companies1884–1998founding years12still active4no longer operating
§ 01

The industry over time

Companies foundedEconomyTechnologyEnvironmentHistory
FoundedMilacron, Inc.FoundedMilacron, Inc.
1884
FoundedBurmah Castrol PLCFoundedBurmah Castrol PLC
1886
FoundedNippon Oil CorporationFoundedNippon Oil Corporation
1893
1903
TechnologyThe Wright brothers achieve powered flight.
1914
EconomyWorld War I begins; global trade reorders.
FoundedThe Lubrizol CorporationFoundedThe Lubrizol Corporation
1928
1929
EconomyThe stock market crashes; the Great Depression spreads worldwide.
1939
EconomyWorld War II begins; wartime production surges.
FoundedShowa Shell Sekiyu K.K.FoundedShowa Shell Sekiyu K.K.
1942
1945
EconomyThe war ends; a long global expansion begins.
FoundedWynn's International, Inc.FoundedWynn's International, Inc.
1947
TechnologyThe transistor is invented.
1958
TechnologyThe integrated circuit is demonstrated.
1962
EnvironmentSilent Spring launches the modern environmental movement.
1971
EconomyThe dollar leaves the gold standard; currencies float.
1973
EconomyThe OPEC oil embargo triggers a global shock.
1975
TechnologyThe personal-computer era begins.
FoundedPTT Public Company Ltd.FoundedPTT Public Company Ltd.
1978
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.
FoundedBP p.l.c.FoundedBP p.l.c.
1998
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

Milacron, Inc. →
Active · founded 1884
At the dawn of the 21st century, Cincinnati-based Milacron, Inc.
Milacron, Inc. →
Active · founded 1884
At the dawn of the 21st century, Cincinnati-based Milacron, Inc.
Burmah Castrol PLC →
Defunct · founded 1886 · United Kingdom
Originally known as The Burmah Oil Company Ltd., Burmah Castrol PLC is the oldest oil enterprise in the United Kingdom.
Burmah Castrol PLC →
Defunct · founded 1886 · United Kingdom
Originally known as The Burmah Oil Company Ltd., Burmah Castrol PLC is the oldest oil enterprise in the United Kingdom.
Nippon Oil Corporation →
Active · founded 1893 · Japan
Nippon Oil Corporation is Japan's largest importer and distributor of petroleum products, controlling about 25 percent…
Nippon Oil Corporation →
Active · founded 1893 · Japan
Nippon Oil Corporation is Japan's largest importer and distributor of petroleum products, controlling about 25 percent…
The Lubrizol Corporation →
Active · founded 1928
The Lubrizol Corporation is one of the world's leading suppliers of performance chemicals, including specialty…
The Lubrizol Corporation →
Active · founded 1928
The Lubrizol Corporation is one of the world's leading suppliers of performance chemicals, including specialty…
Showa Shell Sekiyu K.K. →
Active · founded 1942 · Japan
c.
Showa Shell Sekiyu K.K. →
Active · founded 1942 · Japan
c.
Wynn's International, Inc. →
Active · founded 1947
Wynn's International, Inc.
Wynn's International, Inc. →
Active · founded 1947
Wynn's International, Inc.
PTT Public Company Ltd. →
Active · founded 1978 · Thailand
PTT Public Company Ltd., formerly the state-owned Petroleum Authority of Thailand before its privatization and public…
PTT Public Company Ltd. →
Active · founded 1978 · Thailand
PTT Public Company Ltd., formerly the state-owned Petroleum Authority of Thailand before its privatization and public…
BP p.l.c. →
Defunct · founded 1998 · United Kingdom
Formed by the 1998 merger of British Petroleum Company and Amoco Corporation, BP p.l.c.
BP p.l.c. →
Defunct · founded 1998 · United Kingdom
Formed by the 1998 merger of British Petroleum Company and Amoco Corporation, BP p.l.c.
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