COMPANY·HISTORIES
SIC 3589

Service Industry Machines, Not Elsewhere Classified

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

28companies1892–1995founding years28still active0no longer operating
§ 01

The industry over time

Companies foundedEconomyTechnologyEnvironmentHistory
FoundedRexnord CorporationFoundedRexnord Corporation
1892
1903
TechnologyThe Wright brothers achieve powered flight.
FoundedRoyal Appliance Manufacturing Company
1905
1914
EconomyWorld War I begins; global trade reorders.
FoundedAktiebolaget ElectroluxFoundedAktiebolaget Electrolux
1919
FoundedWelbilt Corp.
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.
FoundedUnited States Filter Corporation
1953
FoundedBetz Laboratories, Inc.FoundedBetz Laboratories, Inc.
1957
1958
TechnologyThe integrated circuit is demonstrated.
FoundedTalley Industries, Inc.
1960
1962
EnvironmentSilent Spring launches the modern environmental movement.
FoundedLancer CorporationFoundedLancer Corporation
1967
FoundedOsmonics, Inc.
1969
1971
EconomyThe dollar leaves the gold standard; currencies float.
FoundedNature's Sunshine Products, Inc.
1972
1973
EconomyThe OPEC oil embargo triggers a global shock.
FoundedMinntech CorporationFoundedMinntech Corporation
1974
1975
TechnologyThe personal-computer era begins.
1979
EconomyA second oil crisis drives inflation higher worldwide.
1981
TechnologyThe IBM PC launches and sets a standard.
FoundedSpecialty Equipment Companies, Inc.
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.
FoundedBallantyne of Omaha, Inc.
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

Recovery Engineering, Inc. →
Active
Recovery Engineering, Inc.
Recovery Engineering, Inc. →
Active
Recovery Engineering, Inc.
Rexnord Corporation →
Active · founded 1892
A wholly owned subsidiary of BTR PLC, an international holding company based in London, England, since 1994, the…
Rexnord Corporation →
Active · founded 1892
A wholly owned subsidiary of BTR PLC, an international holding company based in London, England, since 1994, the…
Royal Appliance Manufacturing Company →
Active · founded 1905
Best known for its Dirt Devil brand vacuum cleaners, Royal Appliance Manufacturing Company is one of the world's oldest…
Royal Appliance Manufacturing Company →
Active · founded 1905
Best known for its Dirt Devil brand vacuum cleaners, Royal Appliance Manufacturing Company is one of the world's oldest…
Aktiebolaget Electrolux →
Active · founded 1919 · Sweden
To the average consumer, the name Electrolux says two things: vacuum cleaners and refrigerators.
Aktiebolaget Electrolux →
Active · founded 1919 · Sweden
To the average consumer, the name Electrolux says two things: vacuum cleaners and refrigerators.
Welbilt Corp. →
Active · founded 1929
Welbilt Corp., through its subsidiaries, is the largest manufacturer of cooking and warming equipment in North America.
Welbilt Corp. →
Active · founded 1929
Welbilt Corp., through its subsidiaries, is the largest manufacturer of cooking and warming equipment in North America.
United States Filter Corporation →
Active · founded 1953
United States Filter Corporation (USF) is the world's largest and fastest-growing water and wastewater treatment…
United States Filter Corporation →
Active · founded 1953
United States Filter Corporation (USF) is the world's largest and fastest-growing water and wastewater treatment…
Betz Laboratories, Inc. →
Active · founded 1957
Betz Laboratories, Inc.
Betz Laboratories, Inc. →
Active · founded 1957
Betz Laboratories, Inc.
Talley Industries, Inc. →
Active · founded 1960
Talley Industries Inc.
Talley Industries, Inc. →
Active · founded 1960
Talley Industries Inc.
Lancer Corporation →
Active · founded 1967
Lancer Corporation manufactures and designs soft-drink beverage dispensers and related food service equipment such as…
Lancer Corporation →
Active · founded 1967
Lancer Corporation manufactures and designs soft-drink beverage dispensers and related food service equipment such as…
Osmonics, Inc. →
Active · founded 1969 · www.osmonics.com
Osmonics, Inc.
Osmonics, Inc. →
Active · founded 1969 · www.osmonics.com
Osmonics, Inc.
Nature's Sunshine Products, Inc. →
Active · founded 1972
A leading alternative health care company, Nature's Sunshine Products, Inc.
Nature's Sunshine Products, Inc. →
Active · founded 1972
A leading alternative health care company, Nature's Sunshine Products, Inc.
Minntech Corporation →
Active · founded 1974
Minntech Corporation, a leading producer and developer of dialysis solutions and sterilization systems, primarily…
Minntech Corporation →
Active · founded 1974
Minntech Corporation, a leading producer and developer of dialysis solutions and sterilization systems, primarily…
Specialty Equipment Companies, Inc. →
Active · founded 1984
Specialty Equipment Companies, Inc., is a leading designer and manufacturer of cooking, refrigeration, and sanitation…
Specialty Equipment Companies, Inc. →
Active · founded 1984
Specialty Equipment Companies, Inc., is a leading designer and manufacturer of cooking, refrigeration, and sanitation…
Ballantyne of Omaha, Inc. →
Active · founded 1995
Ballantyne of Omaha, Inc.
Ballantyne of Omaha, Inc. →
Active · founded 1995
Ballantyne of Omaha, Inc.
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