COMPANY·HISTORIES
SIC 2752

Commercial Printing--Lithographic

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

20companies1885–1984founding years20still active0no longer operating
§ 01

The industry over time

Companies foundedEconomyTechnologyEnvironment
FoundedPet IncorporatedFoundedPet Incorporated
1885
1903
TechnologyThe Wright brothers achieve powered flight.
FoundedJostens, Inc.FoundedJostens, Inc.
1906
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.
1929
EconomyThe stock market crashes; the Great Depression begins.
1933
EconomyNew Deal reforms reshape banking and industry.
1939
EconomyWorld War II begins; wartime production surges.
1945
EconomyThe war ends; a long postwar expansion begins.
1947
TechnologyThe transistor is invented at Bell Labs.
FoundedSchawk, Inc.FoundedSchawk, Inc.
1953
1956
EconomyThe Interstate Highway program remakes commerce.
1958
TechnologyThe integrated circuit is demonstrated.
1962
EnvironmentSilent Spring launches the modern environmental movement.
FoundedBig Flower Press Holdings, Inc.FoundedBig Flower Press Holdings, Inc.
1967
FoundedGraphic Industries Inc.FoundedGraphic Industries Inc.
1970
EnvironmentThe EPA is founded; environmental regulation expands.
FoundedQuad/Graphics, Inc.FoundedQuad/Graphics, Inc.
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.
1979
EconomyA second oil crisis drives inflation higher.
FoundedThe Miner Group InternationalFoundedThe Miner Group International
1980
1981
TechnologyThe IBM PC launches and sets a standard.
FoundedSmurfit-Stone Container CorporationFoundedSmurfit-Stone Container Corporation
1983
FoundedCadmus Communications CorporationFoundedCadmus Communications Corporation
1984
TechnologyApple ships the Macintosh; the GUI era begins.
1987
EconomyBlack Monday: markets fall 22% in a single day.
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.
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

Burda Holding GmbH. & Co. →
Active · Germany
Burda Holding GmbH.
Burda Holding GmbH. & Co. →
Active · Germany
Burda Holding GmbH.
Pet Incorporated →
Active · founded 1885
Pet Incorporated, a specialty food producer with a number of familiar name-brands, operates 33 manufacturing plants…
Pet Incorporated →
Active · founded 1885
Pet Incorporated, a specialty food producer with a number of familiar name-brands, operates 33 manufacturing plants…
Jostens, Inc. →
Active · founded 1906
Jostens, Inc.
Jostens, Inc. →
Active · founded 1906
Jostens, Inc.
Schawk, Inc. →
Active · founded 1953
Schawk, Inc.
Schawk, Inc. →
Active · founded 1953
Schawk, Inc.
Big Flower Press Holdings, Inc. →
Active · founded 1967
Big Flower Press Holdings, Inc.
Big Flower Press Holdings, Inc. →
Active · founded 1967
Big Flower Press Holdings, Inc.
Graphic Industries Inc. →
Active · founded 1970
One of the ten highest-volume commercial printing operations in the United States, Graphic Industries was founded in…
Graphic Industries Inc. →
Active · founded 1970
One of the ten highest-volume commercial printing operations in the United States, Graphic Industries was founded in…
Quad/Graphics, Inc. →
Active · founded 1971
Quad/Graphics, Inc.
Quad/Graphics, Inc. →
Active · founded 1971
Quad/Graphics, Inc.
The Miner Group International →
Active · founded 1980
Calling The Miner Group International a printing business really fails to capture the essence of this company.
The Miner Group International →
Active · founded 1980
Calling The Miner Group International a printing business really fails to capture the essence of this company.
Smurfit-Stone Container Corporation →
Active · founded 1983
Smurfit-Stone Container Corporation is the world's largest manufacturer of paperboard and paper-based packaging…
Smurfit-Stone Container Corporation →
Active · founded 1983
Smurfit-Stone Container Corporation is the world's largest manufacturer of paperboard and paper-based packaging…
Cadmus Communications Corporation →
Active · founded 1984
Cadmus Communications Corporation was named after the Greek mythological figure who founded Thebes and introduced the…
Cadmus Communications Corporation →
Active · founded 1984
Cadmus Communications Corporation was named after the Greek mythological figure who founded Thebes and introduced the…
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