COMPANY·HISTORIES
NAIC 335314

Relay and Industrial Control Manufacturing

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

20companies1885–1973founding years20still active0no longer operating
§ 01

The industry over time

Companies foundedEconomyTechnologyEnvironmentHistory
FoundedJohnson Controls, Inc.FoundedJohnson Controls, Inc.
1885
FoundedHella KGaA Hueck & Co.FoundedHella KGaA Hueck & Co.
1899
FoundedWoodward Governor CompanyFoundedWoodward Governor Company
1902
1903
TechnologyThe Wright brothers achieve powered flight.
FoundedEaton CorporationFoundedEaton Corporation
1911
1914
EconomyWorld War I begins; global trade reorders.
FoundedFuji Electric Co., Ltd.
1923
1929
EconomyThe stock market crashes; the Great Depression spreads worldwide.
FoundedTexas Instruments Inc.FoundedTexas Instruments Inc.
1930
1939
EconomyWorld War II begins; wartime production surges.
FoundedTech-Sym CorporationFoundedTech-Sym Corporation
1944
1945
EconomyThe war ends; a long global expansion begins.
FoundedWhittaker CorporationFoundedWhittaker Corporation
1947
TechnologyThe transistor is invented.
FoundedStrix Ltd.FoundedStrix Ltd.
1951
1958
TechnologyThe integrated circuit is demonstrated.
1962
EnvironmentSilent Spring launches the modern environmental movement.
1971
EconomyThe dollar leaves the gold standard; currencies float.
FoundedOwosso Corporation
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.
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

Johnson Controls, Inc. →
Active · founded 1885
Johnson Controls, Inc.
Johnson Controls, Inc. →
Active · founded 1885
Johnson Controls, Inc.
Hella KGaA Hueck & Co. →
Active · founded 1899 · Germany
Hella KG Hueck & Co.
Hella KGaA Hueck & Co. →
Active · founded 1899 · Germany
Hella KG Hueck & Co.
Woodward Governor Company →
Active · founded 1902
1930s:Company expands into controls for diesel engines and for airplane propellers.
Woodward Governor Company →
Active · founded 1902
1930s:Company expands into controls for diesel engines and for airplane propellers.
Eaton Corporation →
Active · founded 1911
Eaton Corporation is a diversified industrial manufacturer whose operations are divided into four main groups: fluid…
Eaton Corporation →
Active · founded 1911
Eaton Corporation is a diversified industrial manufacturer whose operations are divided into four main groups: fluid…
Fuji Electric Co., Ltd. →
Active · founded 1923 · Japan
Fuji Electric Co., Ltd.
Fuji Electric Co., Ltd. →
Active · founded 1923 · Japan
Fuji Electric Co., Ltd.
Texas Instruments Inc. →
Active · founded 1930
Texas Instruments Inc.
Texas Instruments Inc. →
Active · founded 1930
Texas Instruments Inc.
Tech-Sym Corporation →
Active · founded 1944
When Tech-Sym Corporation was purchased by Veritas Capital Fund L.P.'s Integrated Defense Technologies (IDT) unit in…
Tech-Sym Corporation →
Active · founded 1944
When Tech-Sym Corporation was purchased by Veritas Capital Fund L.P.'s Integrated Defense Technologies (IDT) unit in…
Whittaker Corporation →
Active · founded 1947
Whittaker Corporation, once a $2 billion conglomerate, operates as the parent company of Whittaker Controls Inc.
Whittaker Corporation →
Active · founded 1947
Whittaker Corporation, once a $2 billion conglomerate, operates as the parent company of Whittaker Controls Inc.
Strix Ltd. →
Active · founded 1951 · Isle Of Man
Strix Ltd.
Strix Ltd. →
Active · founded 1951 · Isle Of Man
Strix Ltd.
Owosso Corporation →
Active · founded 1973
Owosso Corporation, through its subsidiaries, produces engineered component products, including motors, timers, heat…
Owosso Corporation →
Active · founded 1973
Owosso Corporation, through its subsidiaries, produces engineered component products, including motors, timers, heat…
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