COMPANY·HISTORIES
NAIC 331419

Primary Smelting and Refining of Nonferrous Metal (Except Copper and Aluminum)

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

14companies1906–1985founding years14still active0no longer operating
§ 01

The industry over time

Companies foundedEconomyTechnologyEnvironmentHistory
FoundedNV Umicore SAFoundedNV Umicore SA
1906
1914
EconomyWorld War I begins; global trade reorders.
FoundedInco LimitedFoundedInco Limited
1916
FoundedCabot CorporationFoundedCabot Corporation
1922
1929
EconomyThe stock market crashes; the Great Depression spreads worldwide.
FoundedBrush Engineered Materials Inc.FoundedBrush Engineered Materials Inc.
1931
FoundedVolkswagen AktiengesellschaftFoundedVolkswagen Aktiengesellschaft
1938
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.
FoundedGrupo Mexico, S.A. de C.V.FoundedGrupo Mexico, S.A. de C.V.
1965
1971
EconomyThe dollar leaves the gold standard; currencies float.
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.
FoundedHeraeus Holding GmbHFoundedHeraeus Holding GmbH
1985
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

NV Umicore SA →
Active · founded 1906 · Belgium
NV Umicore SA--known as Union Minière until late 2001--is one of the world's leading producers of zinc, precious…
NV Umicore SA →
Active · founded 1906 · Belgium
NV Umicore SA--known as Union Minière until late 2001--is one of the world's leading producers of zinc, precious…
Inco Limited →
Active · founded 1916 · Canada
Inco Limited is one of the world's top producers of nickel.
Inco Limited →
Active · founded 1916 · Canada
Inco Limited is one of the world's top producers of nickel.
Cabot Corporation →
Active · founded 1922
Cabot Corporation is a diversified, global chemical and plastics manufacturer with industry leadership in such areas as…
Cabot Corporation →
Active · founded 1922
Cabot Corporation is a diversified, global chemical and plastics manufacturer with industry leadership in such areas as…
Brush Engineered Materials Inc. →
Active · founded 1931
Through its wholly owned subsidiaries, Brush Engineered Materials Inc.
Brush Engineered Materials Inc. →
Active · founded 1931
Through its wholly owned subsidiaries, Brush Engineered Materials Inc.
Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft →
Active · founded 1938 · Germany
Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft, a company born in the shadow of Nazism, rose to become the world's third largest…
Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft →
Active · founded 1938 · Germany
Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft, a company born in the shadow of Nazism, rose to become the world's third largest…
Grupo Mexico, S.A. de C.V. →
Active · founded 1965 · Mexico
Grupo Mexico, S.A.
Grupo Mexico, S.A. de C.V. →
Active · founded 1965 · Mexico
Grupo Mexico, S.A.
Heraeus Holding GmbH →
Active · founded 1985 · Germany
Heraeus Holding GmbH is a family-owned company whose principal activities are the processing of specialty metals,…
Heraeus Holding GmbH →
Active · founded 1985 · Germany
Heraeus Holding GmbH is a family-owned company whose principal activities are the processing of specialty metals,…
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