COMPANY·HISTORIES
SIC 2842

Specialty Cleaning, Polishing & Sanitation Preparations

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

16companies1892–1950founding years16still active0no longer operating
§ 01

The industry over time

Companies foundedEconomyTechnologyEnvironmentHistory
FoundedOlin CorporationFoundedOlin Corporation
1892
1903
TechnologyThe Wright brothers achieve powered flight.
FoundedThe Clorox CompanyFoundedThe Clorox Company
1913
1914
EconomyWorld War I begins; global trade reorders.
FoundedDrackett Professional ProductsFoundedDrackett Professional Products
1915
FoundedNCH CorporationFoundedNCH Corporation
1919
1929
EconomyThe stock market crashes; the Great Depression spreads worldwide.
FoundedHawkins Chemical, Inc.FoundedHawkins Chemical, Inc.
1938
1939
EconomyWorld War II begins; wartime production surges.
FoundedTurtle Wax, Inc.FoundedTurtle Wax, Inc.
1941
1945
EconomyThe war ends; a long global expansion begins.
FoundedPremier Industrial CorporationFoundedPremier Industrial Corporation
1946
1947
TechnologyThe transistor is invented.
FoundedGrow Group Inc.FoundedGrow Group Inc.
1950
1958
TechnologyThe integrated circuit is demonstrated.
1962
EnvironmentSilent Spring launches the modern environmental movement.
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.
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

Olin Corporation →
Active · founded 1892
Olin Corporation is a Fortune 200 company whose businesses are concentrated in chemicals, materials and metals,…
Olin Corporation →
Active · founded 1892
Olin Corporation is a Fortune 200 company whose businesses are concentrated in chemicals, materials and metals,…
The Clorox Company →
Active · founded 1913
Although best known for the household bleach that bears the firm's name, The Clorox Company is a diversified…
The Clorox Company →
Active · founded 1913
Although best known for the household bleach that bears the firm's name, The Clorox Company is a diversified…
Drackett Professional Products →
Active · founded 1915
For over 70 years, Drackett Co.
Drackett Professional Products →
Active · founded 1915
For over 70 years, Drackett Co.
NCH Corporation →
Active · founded 1919
NCH Corporation is a major international marketer of maintenance products, and one of the largest companies in the…
NCH Corporation →
Active · founded 1919
NCH Corporation is a major international marketer of maintenance products, and one of the largest companies in the…
Hawkins Chemical, Inc. →
Active · founded 1938
Hawkins Chemical, Inc.
Hawkins Chemical, Inc. →
Active · founded 1938
Hawkins Chemical, Inc.
Turtle Wax, Inc. →
Active · founded 1941
Turtle Wax, Inc.
Turtle Wax, Inc. →
Active · founded 1941
Turtle Wax, Inc.
Premier Industrial Corporation →
Active · founded 1946
Premier Industrial Corporation is one of the United States' largest broad-line electronics distributors.
Premier Industrial Corporation →
Active · founded 1946
Premier Industrial Corporation is one of the United States' largest broad-line electronics distributors.
Grow Group Inc. →
Active · founded 1950
Grow Group Inc.
Grow Group Inc. →
Active · founded 1950
Grow Group Inc.
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