COMPANY·HISTORIES
NAIC 325998

All Other Miscellaneous Chemical Product and Preparation Manufacturing (pt)

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

62companies1806–1999founding years58still active4no longer operating
§ 01

The industry over time

Companies foundedEconomyTechnologyEnvironment
FoundedColgate-Palmolive Company
1806
FoundedWella AG
1880
FoundedH.B. Fuller Company
1887
FoundedDSM N.V.
1902
1903
TechnologyThe Wright brothers achieve powered flight.
FoundedElementis plc
1908
TechnologyThe Ford Model T brings the automobile to the middle class.
1913
EconomyThe Federal Reserve is created.
1914
EconomyWorld War I begins; global trade reorders.
FoundedAsahi Denka Kogyo KK
1917
FoundedUniversal Corporation
1918
FoundedFerro Corporation
1919
FoundedOccidental Petroleum Corporation
1920
1929
EconomyThe stock market crashes; the Great Depression begins.
1933
EconomyNew Deal reforms reshape banking and industry.
FoundedTosoh Corporation
1935
FoundedSmith International, Inc.
1937
1939
EconomyWorld War II begins; wartime production surges.
FoundedGrupo Cydsa, S.A. de C.V.
1945
EconomyThe war ends; a long postwar expansion begins.
1947
TechnologyThe transistor is invented at Bell Labs.
1956
EconomyThe Interstate Highway program remakes commerce.
1958
TechnologyThe integrated circuit is demonstrated.
1962
EnvironmentSilent Spring launches the modern environmental movement.
1970
EnvironmentThe EPA is founded; environmental regulation expands.
1971
EconomyThe dollar leaves the gold standard; Nasdaq opens.
1973
EconomyThe OPEC oil embargo triggers a global shock.
1975
TechnologyThe personal-computer era begins with the Altair.
FoundedB.J. Alan Co., Inc.
1977
1979
EconomyA second oil crisis drives inflation higher.
1980
EnvironmentSuperfund law makes polluters pay for cleanup.
1981
TechnologyThe IBM PC launches and sets a standard.
FoundedDynaction S.A.
1982
1984
TechnologyApple ships the Macintosh; the GUI era begins.
FoundedBaker Hughes IncorporatedFoundedRHI AG
1987
EconomyBlack Monday: markets fall 22% in a single day.
1990
EnvironmentThe Clean Air Act amendments tighten emissions limits.
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.
FoundedAstraZeneca PLCFoundedCrompton Corporation
1999
2000
EconomyThe dot-com bubble bursts.
2001
EconomyThe September 11 attacks; a recession follows.
2004
TechnologySocial media and Web 2.0 begin to take hold.
2007
TechnologyThe iPhone launches the smartphone era.
2008
EconomyThe global financial crisis freezes credit.
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

Colgate-Palmolive Company →
Active · founded 1806
Colgate-Palmolive Company's growth from a small candle and soap manufacturer to one of the most powerful consumer…
Colgate-Palmolive Company →
Active · founded 1806
Colgate-Palmolive Company's growth from a small candle and soap manufacturer to one of the most powerful consumer…
Wella AG →
Active · founded 1880 · Germany
Wella AG operates as one of the world's top cosmetic suppliers with brands found in over 150 countries.
Wella AG →
Active · founded 1880 · Germany
Wella AG operates as one of the world's top cosmetic suppliers with brands found in over 150 countries.
Burmah Castrol PLC →
Defunct · founded 1886 · United Kingdom
Originally known as The Burmah Oil Company Ltd., Burmah Castrol PLC is the oldest oil enterprise in the United Kingdom.
Burmah Castrol PLC →
Defunct · founded 1886 · United Kingdom
Originally known as The Burmah Oil Company Ltd., Burmah Castrol PLC is the oldest oil enterprise in the United Kingdom.
H.B. Fuller Company →
Active · founded 1887
A top performer among specialty chemicals firms, H.B.
H.B. Fuller Company →
Active · founded 1887
A top performer among specialty chemicals firms, H.B.
W.R. Grace & Company →
Active · founded 1899
W.R.
W.R. Grace & Company →
Active · founded 1899
W.R.
DSM N.V. →
Active · founded 1902 · The Netherlands
DSM N.V.
DSM N.V. →
Active · founded 1902 · The Netherlands
DSM N.V.
Elementis plc →
Active · founded 1908 · United Kingdom
Specialty chemicals producer Elementis plc holds world-leading positions in three areas: chromium chemicals, which are…
Elementis plc →
Active · founded 1908 · United Kingdom
Specialty chemicals producer Elementis plc holds world-leading positions in three areas: chromium chemicals, which are…
Hercules Inc. →
Active · founded 1912
Hercules Inc.
Hercules Inc. →
Active · founded 1912
Hercules Inc.
Asahi Denka Kogyo KK →
Active · founded 1917 · Japan
Asahi Denka Kogyo KK (the company uses Asahi Denka Co.
Asahi Denka Kogyo KK →
Active · founded 1917 · Japan
Asahi Denka Kogyo KK (the company uses Asahi Denka Co.
Kikkoman Corporation →
Active · founded 1917 · Japan
Kikkoman Corporation is the world's largest and most famous producer of soy sauce.
Kikkoman Corporation →
Active · founded 1917 · Japan
Kikkoman Corporation is the world's largest and most famous producer of soy sauce.
Universal Corporation →
Active · founded 1918
Universal Corporation, known until 1987 as Universal Leaf Tobacco Company Inc., operates as the world's largest buyer…
Universal Corporation →
Active · founded 1918
Universal Corporation, known until 1987 as Universal Leaf Tobacco Company Inc., operates as the world's largest buyer…
English China Clays Ltd. →
Defunct · founded 1919 · United Kingdom
English China Clays Ltd.
English China Clays Ltd. →
Defunct · founded 1919 · United Kingdom
English China Clays Ltd.
Ferro Corporation →
Active · founded 1919
Ferro Corporation is a leading worldwide producer of coatings and performance chemicals used in the electronics,…
Ferro Corporation →
Active · founded 1919
Ferro Corporation is a leading worldwide producer of coatings and performance chemicals used in the electronics,…
Occidental Petroleum Corporation →
Active · founded 1920
Occidental Petroleum Corporation, an oil and gas and chemicals company, conducts its business through two major…
Occidental Petroleum Corporation →
Active · founded 1920
Occidental Petroleum Corporation, an oil and gas and chemicals company, conducts its business through two major…
Sequa Corporation →
Active · founded 1929
Sequa Corporation is a diversified industrial company that produces a broad range of aerospace products, printing and…
Sequa Corporation →
Active · founded 1929
Sequa Corporation is a diversified industrial company that produces a broad range of aerospace products, printing and…
Tosoh Corporation →
Active · founded 1935 · Japan
Tosoh Corporation is one of Japan's leading manufacturers of industrial and specialty chemicals.
Tosoh Corporation →
Active · founded 1935 · Japan
Tosoh Corporation is one of Japan's leading manufacturers of industrial and specialty chemicals.
NOF Corporation →
Active · founded 1937 · Japan
NOF Corporation is Japan's leading oleochemicals group, producing a highly diversified range of products derived from…
NOF Corporation →
Active · founded 1937 · Japan
NOF Corporation is Japan's leading oleochemicals group, producing a highly diversified range of products derived from…
Smith International, Inc. →
Active · founded 1937
1920s:Smith's company, now known as H.C.
Smith International, Inc. →
Active · founded 1937
1920s:Smith's company, now known as H.C.
Grupo Cydsa, S.A. de C.V. →
Active · founded 1945 · Mexico
Grupo Cydsa, S.A.
Grupo Cydsa, S.A. de C.V. →
Active · founded 1945 · Mexico
Grupo Cydsa, S.A.
Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation →
Active · founded 1950 · Japan
Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation (MCC) was formed by the 1994 merger of Mitsubishi Kasei Corp.
Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation →
Active · founded 1950 · Japan
Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation (MCC) was formed by the 1994 merger of Mitsubishi Kasei Corp.
B.J. Alan Co., Inc. →
Active · founded 1977
B.J.
B.J. Alan Co., Inc. →
Active · founded 1977
B.J.
Bush Boake Allen Inc. →
Active · founded 1982
Bush Boake Allen Inc.
Bush Boake Allen Inc. →
Active · founded 1982
Bush Boake Allen Inc.
Dynaction S.A. →
Active · founded 1982 · France
Once a model "mini-conglomerate," Dynaction S.A.
Dynaction S.A. →
Active · founded 1982 · France
Once a model "mini-conglomerate," Dynaction S.A.
Celgene Corporation →
Active · founded 1986
Celgene Corporation is a biopharmaceutical company focused on developing and marketing therapies to treat leprosy,…
Celgene Corporation →
Active · founded 1986
Celgene Corporation is a biopharmaceutical company focused on developing and marketing therapies to treat leprosy,…
Baker Hughes Incorporated →
Active · founded 1987
Baker Hughes Incorporated is the product of the 1987 merger of two oilfield-services companies with surprisingly…
Baker Hughes Incorporated →
Active · founded 1987
Baker Hughes Incorporated is the product of the 1987 merger of two oilfield-services companies with surprisingly…
RHI AG →
Active · founded 1987 · Austria
RHI AG is the world's top manufacturer of heat-resistant refractory products, with a global market share of some 15…
RHI AG →
Active · founded 1987 · Austria
RHI AG is the world's top manufacturer of heat-resistant refractory products, with a global market share of some 15…
Ridley Corporation Ltd. →
Active · founded 1987 · Australia
Ridley Corporation Ltd.
Ridley Corporation Ltd. →
Active · founded 1987 · Australia
Ridley Corporation Ltd.
AstraZeneca PLC →
Active · founded 1999 · United Kingdom
AstraZeneca PLC is one of the world's leading pharmaceutical companies.
AstraZeneca PLC →
Active · founded 1999 · United Kingdom
AstraZeneca PLC is one of the world's leading pharmaceutical companies.
Avecia Group PLC →
Active · founded 1999 · United Kingdom
Avecia Group PLC is in the process of redefining itself as a focused specialty and fine chemicals group.
Avecia Group PLC →
Active · founded 1999 · United Kingdom
Avecia Group PLC is in the process of redefining itself as a focused specialty and fine chemicals group.
Crompton Corporation →
Active · founded 1999
Crompton Corporation is a specialty chemical manufacturer whose main operations involve the creation of additives,…
Crompton Corporation →
Active · founded 1999
Crompton Corporation is a specialty chemical manufacturer whose main operations involve the creation of additives,…
OMNOVA Solutions Inc. →
Active · founded 1999
For 1999, in the midst of the spinoff from GenCorp, OMNOVA recorded solid improvements over the previous year.
OMNOVA Solutions Inc. →
Active · founded 1999
For 1999, in the midst of the spinoff from GenCorp, OMNOVA recorded solid improvements over the previous year.
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