COMPANY·HISTORIES
SIC 2759

Printing, Not Elsewhere Classified

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

20companies1903–1984founding years20still active0no longer operating
§ 01

The industry over time

Companies foundedEconomyTechnologyEnvironmentHistory
FoundedWorld Color Press Inc.FoundedWorld Color Press Inc.
1903
TechnologyThe Wright brothers achieve powered flight.
FoundedBowne & Co., Inc.FoundedBowne & Co., Inc.
1909
FoundedWestern Publishing Group, Inc.FoundedWestern Publishing Group, Inc.
1910
1914
EconomyWorld War I begins; global trade reorders.
FoundedDeluxe CorporationFoundedDeluxe Corporation
1920
1929
EconomyThe stock market crashes; the Great Depression spreads worldwide.
1939
EconomyWorld War II begins; wartime production surges.
1945
EconomyThe war ends; a long global expansion begins.
1947
TechnologyThe transistor is invented.
FoundedVolt Information Sciences Inc.
1957
1958
TechnologyThe integrated circuit is demonstrated.
1962
EnvironmentSilent Spring launches the modern environmental movement.
FoundedGraphic Industries Inc.FoundedGraphic Industries Inc.FoundedKinko's Inc.FoundedKinko's Inc.
1970
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.
FoundedSmurfit-Stone Container CorporationFoundedSmurfit-Stone Container Corporation
1983
FoundedCadmus Communications Corporation
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.
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

World Color Press Inc. →
Active · founded 1903
World Color Press Inc.
World Color Press Inc. →
Active · founded 1903
World Color Press Inc.
Bowne & Co., Inc. →
Active · founded 1909
The world's largest financial printer and one of the oldest companies in the United States, Bowne & Co., Inc.
Bowne & Co., Inc. →
Active · founded 1909
The world's largest financial printer and one of the oldest companies in the United States, Bowne & Co., Inc.
Western Publishing Group, Inc. →
Active · founded 1910
Western Publishing Group, Inc.
Western Publishing Group, Inc. →
Active · founded 1910
Western Publishing Group, Inc.
Deluxe Corporation →
Active · founded 1920
A shining example of a company built upon the right idea at the right time, Deluxe Corporation is the largest supplier…
Deluxe Corporation →
Active · founded 1920
A shining example of a company built upon the right idea at the right time, Deluxe Corporation is the largest supplier…
Volt Information Sciences Inc. →
Active · founded 1957
Volt Information Sciences Inc.
Volt Information Sciences Inc. →
Active · founded 1957
Volt Information Sciences Inc.
Graphic Industries Inc. →
Active · founded 1970
One of the ten highest-volume commercial printing operations in the United States, Graphic Industries was founded in…
Graphic Industries Inc. →
Active · founded 1970
One of the ten highest-volume commercial printing operations in the United States, Graphic Industries was founded in…
Kinko's Inc. →
Active · founded 1970
Kinko's Inc.
Kinko's Inc. →
Active · founded 1970
Kinko's Inc.
Norwood Promotional Products, Inc. →
Active · founded 1973
Norwood Promotional Products, Inc.
Norwood Promotional Products, Inc. →
Active · founded 1973
Norwood Promotional Products, Inc.
Smurfit-Stone Container Corporation →
Active · founded 1983
Smurfit-Stone Container Corporation is the world's largest manufacturer of paperboard and paper-based packaging…
Smurfit-Stone Container Corporation →
Active · founded 1983
Smurfit-Stone Container Corporation is the world's largest manufacturer of paperboard and paper-based packaging…
Cadmus Communications Corporation →
Active · founded 1984
Cadmus Communications Corporation was named after the Greek mythological figure who founded Thebes and introduced the…
Cadmus Communications Corporation →
Active · founded 1984
Cadmus Communications Corporation was named after the Greek mythological figure who founded Thebes and introduced the…
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