COMPANY·HISTORIES
SIC 3086

Plastics Foam Products.

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

16companies1903–1997founding years16still active0no longer operating
§ 01

The industry over time

Companies foundedEconomyTechnologyEnvironmentHistory
FoundedKerr Group Inc.FoundedKerr Group Inc.
1903
TechnologyThe Wright brothers achieve powered flight.
FoundedBrunswick CorporationFoundedBrunswick CorporationFoundedThermos CompanyFoundedThermos Company
1907
FoundedCourtaulds plcFoundedCourtaulds plc
1913
1914
EconomyWorld War I begins; global trade reorders.
1929
EconomyThe stock market crashes; the Great Depression spreads worldwide.
FoundedAMETEK, Inc.FoundedAMETEK, Inc.
1930
1939
EconomyWorld War II begins; wartime production surges.
1945
EconomyThe war ends; a long global expansion begins.
1947
TechnologyThe transistor is invented.
1958
TechnologyThe integrated circuit is demonstrated.
1962
EnvironmentSilent Spring launches the modern environmental movement.
FoundedLeslie's Poolmart, Inc.FoundedLeslie's Poolmart, Inc.
1963
1971
EconomyThe dollar leaves the gold standard; currencies float.
FoundedNorwood Promotional Products, Inc.FoundedNorwood Promotional Products, 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.
FoundedFort James CorporationFoundedFort James Corporation
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

Kerr Group Inc. →
Active · founded 1903
Kerr Group Inc., formerly Kerr Glass Manufacturing Corp., is a nearly 100-year-old company that is a major producer and…
Kerr Group Inc. →
Active · founded 1903
Kerr Group Inc., formerly Kerr Glass Manufacturing Corp., is a nearly 100-year-old company that is a major producer and…
Brunswick Corporation →
Active · founded 1907
Brunswick Corporation, the oldest and largest manufacturer of recreation and leisure-time products in the United…
Brunswick Corporation →
Active · founded 1907
Brunswick Corporation, the oldest and largest manufacturer of recreation and leisure-time products in the United…
Thermos Company →
Active · founded 1907
Although Thermos Company may be best known for its line of vacuum-insulated bottles and lunch boxes, the Illinois-based…
Thermos Company →
Active · founded 1907
Although Thermos Company may be best known for its line of vacuum-insulated bottles and lunch boxes, the Illinois-based…
Courtaulds plc →
Active · founded 1913 · England
Courtaulds plc is the world's second-largest producer of acrylic fibers and a major global producer of rayon.
Courtaulds plc →
Active · founded 1913 · England
Courtaulds plc is the world's second-largest producer of acrylic fibers and a major global producer of rayon.
AMETEK, Inc. →
Active · founded 1930
AMETEK, Inc.
AMETEK, Inc. →
Active · founded 1930
AMETEK, Inc.
Leslie's Poolmart, Inc. →
Active · founded 1963
The world's largest specialty retailer of swimming pool supplies, Leslie's Poolmart, Inc.
Leslie's Poolmart, Inc. →
Active · founded 1963
The world's largest specialty retailer of swimming pool supplies, Leslie's Poolmart, Inc.
Norwood Promotional Products, Inc. →
Active · founded 1973
Norwood Promotional Products, Inc.
Norwood Promotional Products, Inc. →
Active · founded 1973
Norwood Promotional Products, Inc.
Fort James Corporation →
Active · founded 1997
Fort James Corporation is one of the largest makers of tissues, napkins, and other paper products in the world.
Fort James Corporation →
Active · founded 1997
Fort James Corporation is one of the largest makers of tissues, napkins, and other paper products in the world.
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