COMPANY·HISTORIES
SIC 2821

Resins & Plastics

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

62companies1880–1993founding years58still active4no longer operating
§ 01

The industry over time

Companies foundedEconomyTechnologyEnvironmentHistory
FoundedImperial Oil Limited
1880
FoundedPPG Industries, Inc.
1883
FoundedBorden, Inc.
1899
FoundedKerr Group Inc.
1903
TechnologyThe Wright brothers achieve powered flight.
FoundedAmerican Cyanamid
1907
FoundedCongoleum Corp.
1911
1914
EconomyWorld War I begins; global trade reorders.
FoundedGenCorp Inc.
1915
FoundedUnion Carbide Corporation
1917
FoundedAlliedSignal Inc.
1920
FoundedQuantum Chemical Corporation
1924
1929
EconomyThe stock market crashes; the Great Depression spreads worldwide.
1939
EconomyWorld War II begins; wartime production surges.
FoundedAir Products and Chemicals, Inc.
1940
1945
EconomyThe war ends; a long global expansion begins.
1947
TechnologyThe transistor is invented.
FoundedOwens Corning Corporation
1949
1958
TechnologyThe integrated circuit is demonstrated.
1962
EnvironmentSilent Spring launches the modern environmental movement.
FoundedMontedison S.p.A.
1966
1971
EconomyThe dollar leaves the gold standard; currencies float.
FoundedDesc, S.A. de C.V.
1973
EconomyThe OPEC oil embargo triggers a global shock.
1975
TechnologyThe personal-computer era begins.
1979
EconomyA second oil crisis drives inflation higher worldwide.
FoundedNovacor Chemicals Ltd.
1981
TechnologyThe IBM PC launches and sets a standard.
FoundedHuntsman Chemical Corporation
1983
1984
TechnologyApple ships the Macintosh; the GUI era begins.
FoundedHoechst Celanese Corporation
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.
FoundedFoamex International Inc.
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

Imperial Oil Limited →
Active · founded 1880 · Canada
Imperial Oil Limited is Canada's largest producer of crude oil and a leading producer of natural gas.
Imperial Oil Limited →
Active · founded 1880 · Canada
Imperial Oil Limited is Canada's largest producer of crude oil and a leading producer of natural gas.
PPG Industries, Inc. →
Active · founded 1883
PPG Industries, Inc.
PPG Industries, Inc. →
Active · founded 1883
PPG Industries, Inc.
The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company →
Active · founded 1898
The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company (Goodyear) is a major manufacturer, distributor, and seller of tires worldwide and…
The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company →
Active · founded 1898
The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company (Goodyear) is a major manufacturer, distributor, and seller of tires worldwide and…
Borden, Inc. →
Active · founded 1899
The Borden, Inc.
Borden, Inc. →
Active · founded 1899
The Borden, Inc.
Westvaco Corporation →
Active · founded 1899
Westvaco Corporation is a major manufacturer of printing papers and envelopes, consumer and industrial packaging, and…
Westvaco Corporation →
Active · founded 1899
Westvaco Corporation is a major manufacturer of printing papers and envelopes, consumer and industrial packaging, 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…
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…
American Cyanamid →
Active · founded 1907
When William Bell became president of American Cyanamid in 1922, he is reported to have said "even a fool could see…
American Cyanamid →
Active · founded 1907
When William Bell became president of American Cyanamid in 1922, he is reported to have said "even a fool could see…
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…
Congoleum Corp. →
Active · founded 1911
Congoleum Corp., a manufacturer of vinyl sheet and tile products is among the nation's largest manufacturers of…
Congoleum Corp. →
Active · founded 1911
Congoleum Corp., a manufacturer of vinyl sheet and tile products is among the nation's largest manufacturers of…
The Dexter Corporation →
Active · founded 1914
With a history that stretches back over two centuries, The Dexter Corporation is the oldest company listed on the New…
The Dexter Corporation →
Active · founded 1914
With a history that stretches back over two centuries, The Dexter Corporation is the oldest company listed on the New…
GenCorp Inc. →
Active · founded 1915
As the parent corporation for three principal segments--Aerojet, GenCorp Automotive and GenCorp Polymer…
GenCorp Inc. →
Active · founded 1915
As the parent corporation for three principal segments--Aerojet, GenCorp Automotive and GenCorp Polymer…
Rohm and Haas Company →
Active · founded 1917
Rohm and Haas Company is a specialty chemical company that is best known for the invention of Plexiglas, a product it…
Rohm and Haas Company →
Active · founded 1917
Rohm and Haas Company is a specialty chemical company that is best known for the invention of Plexiglas, a product it…
Union Carbide Corporation →
Active · founded 1917
Union Carbide Corporation is the world's largest producer of ethylene glycol, commonly used as antifreeze, and is a…
Union Carbide Corporation →
Active · founded 1917
Union Carbide Corporation is the world's largest producer of ethylene glycol, commonly used as antifreeze, and is a…
AlliedSignal Inc. →
Defunct · founded 1920
AlliedSignal Inc., formed from the acquisition of Signal Companies, Inc.
AlliedSignal Inc. →
Defunct · founded 1920
AlliedSignal Inc., formed from the acquisition of Signal Companies, Inc.
M. A. Hanna Company →
Active · founded 1923
The M.
M. A. Hanna Company →
Active · founded 1923
The M.
Quantum Chemical Corporation →
Active · founded 1924
Quantum Chemical Corporation (prior to 1988, the National Distillers and Chemical Corporation) is one of the largest…
Quantum Chemical Corporation →
Active · founded 1924
Quantum Chemical Corporation (prior to 1988, the National Distillers and Chemical Corporation) is one of the largest…
Reichhold Chemicals, Inc. →
Active · founded 1927
Reichhold Chemicals, Inc.
Reichhold Chemicals, Inc. →
Active · founded 1927
Reichhold Chemicals, Inc.
Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. →
Active · founded 1940
Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.
Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. →
Active · founded 1940
Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.
Owens Corning Corporation →
Active · founded 1949
Owens Corning Corporation is the undisputed world leader in fiberglass products for industry and insulation for homes,…
Owens Corning Corporation →
Active · founded 1949
Owens Corning Corporation is the undisputed world leader in fiberglass products for industry and insulation for homes,…
Lawter International Inc. →
Active · founded 1958
Lawter International Inc.
Lawter International Inc. →
Active · founded 1958
Lawter International Inc.
Montedison S.p.A. →
Defunct · founded 1966 · Italy
Montedison S.p.A.
Montedison S.p.A. →
Defunct · founded 1966 · Italy
Montedison S.p.A.
Melamine Chemicals, Inc. →
Active · founded 1968
Melamine Chemicals, Inc.
Melamine Chemicals, Inc. →
Active · founded 1968
Melamine Chemicals, Inc.
Desc, S.A. de C.V. →
Active · founded 1973 · Mexico
Desc, S.A.
Desc, S.A. de C.V. →
Active · founded 1973 · Mexico
Desc, S.A.
Alfa, S.A. de C.V. →
Active · founded 1974 · Mexico
Alfa, S.A.
Alfa, S.A. de C.V. →
Active · founded 1974 · Mexico
Alfa, S.A.
Novacor Chemicals Ltd. →
Active · founded 1981 · Canada
Novacor Chemicals Ltd.
Novacor Chemicals Ltd. →
Active · founded 1981 · Canada
Novacor Chemicals Ltd.
Huntsman Chemical Corporation →
Active · founded 1983
The Huntsman Chemical Corporation is the largest manufacturer of polystyrene in the United States.
Huntsman Chemical Corporation →
Active · founded 1983
The Huntsman Chemical Corporation is the largest manufacturer of polystyrene in the United States.
Sterling Chemicals, Inc. →
Active · founded 1986
Sterling Chemicals, Inc.
Sterling Chemicals, Inc. →
Active · founded 1986
Sterling Chemicals, Inc.
Hoechst Celanese Corporation →
Active · founded 1987
A subsidiary of the enormous German chemical company Hoechst A.G., Hoechst Celanese Corporation manufactured and sold a…
Hoechst Celanese Corporation →
Active · founded 1987
A subsidiary of the enormous German chemical company Hoechst A.G., Hoechst Celanese Corporation manufactured and sold a…
Orkla A/S →
Active · founded 1991 · Norway
Orkla A/S is the largest branded consumer goods group and food and beverage producer in Scandinavia and one of the five…
Orkla A/S →
Active · founded 1991 · Norway
Orkla A/S is the largest branded consumer goods group and food and beverage producer in Scandinavia and one of the five…
Foamex International Inc. →
Active · founded 1993
Foamex International Inc.
Foamex International Inc. →
Active · founded 1993
Foamex International Inc.
The Geon Company →
Active · founded 1993
The Geon Company is the world's largest producer of vinyl compounds and a leading North American producer of polyvinyl…
The Geon Company →
Active · founded 1993
The Geon Company is the world's largest producer of vinyl compounds and a leading North American producer of polyvinyl…
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