COMPANY·HISTORIES
SIC 2611

Pulp Mills

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

18companies1869–1997founding years16still active2no longer operating
§ 01

The industry over time

Companies foundedEconomyTechnologyEnvironmentHistory
FoundedPapeteries de LanceyFoundedPapeteries de Lancey
1869
1903
TechnologyThe Wright brothers achieve powered flight.
1914
EconomyWorld War I begins; global trade reorders.
FoundedFederal Paper Board Company, Inc.FoundedFederal Paper Board Company, Inc.
1916
FoundedRayonier Inc.FoundedRayonier Inc.
1926
1929
EconomyThe stock market crashes; the Great Depression spreads worldwide.
FoundedThe Mead CorporationFoundedThe Mead Corporation
1930
1939
EconomyWorld War II begins; wartime production surges.
1945
EconomyThe war ends; a long global expansion begins.
1947
TechnologyThe transistor is invented.
FoundedSierra Pacific IndustriesFoundedSierra Pacific Industries
1951
1958
TechnologyThe integrated circuit is demonstrated.
1962
EnvironmentSilent Spring launches the modern environmental movement.
FoundedInternational Telephone and Telegraph CorporationFoundedInternational Telephone and Telegraph Corporation
1968
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.
FoundedFletcher Challenge Ltd.FoundedFletcher Challenge Ltd.
1981
TechnologyThe IBM PC launches and sets a standard.
FoundedSmurfit-Stone Container CorporationFoundedSmurfit-Stone Container Corporation
1983
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

Papeteries de Lancey →
Active · founded 1869 · France
Papeteries de Lancey has entered a new era of its 120-year history.
Papeteries de Lancey →
Active · founded 1869 · France
Papeteries de Lancey has entered a new era of its 120-year history.
Federal Paper Board Company, Inc. →
Active · founded 1916
Federal Paper Board Company, Inc., is a leading producer of recycled and bleached paperboard, which is used to make…
Federal Paper Board Company, Inc. →
Active · founded 1916
Federal Paper Board Company, Inc., is a leading producer of recycled and bleached paperboard, which is used to make…
Rayonier Inc. →
Active · founded 1926
Rayonier Inc.
Rayonier Inc. →
Active · founded 1926
Rayonier Inc.
The Mead Corporation →
Active · founded 1930
The Mead Corporation is one of the world's largest manufacturers of paper (producing more than 1.7 million tons each…
The Mead Corporation →
Active · founded 1930
The Mead Corporation is one of the world's largest manufacturers of paper (producing more than 1.7 million tons each…
Sierra Pacific Industries →
Active · founded 1951
The largest timber company in California, Sierra Pacific Industries harvests and mills timber in northern California.
Sierra Pacific Industries →
Active · founded 1951
The largest timber company in California, Sierra Pacific Industries harvests and mills timber in northern California.
International Telephone and Telegraph Corporation →
Active · founded 1968
Once known primarily as a telecommunications company, the International Telephone and Telegraph Corporation (ITT) has…
International Telephone and Telegraph Corporation →
Active · founded 1968
Once known primarily as a telecommunications company, the International Telephone and Telegraph Corporation (ITT) has…
Fletcher Challenge Ltd. →
Defunct · founded 1981 · New Zealand
Fletcher Challenge Ltd., New Zealand's largest group of companies, specializes in transforming resources into…
Fletcher Challenge Ltd. →
Defunct · founded 1981 · New Zealand
Fletcher Challenge Ltd., New Zealand's largest group of companies, specializes in transforming resources into…
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…
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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