COMPANY·HISTORIES
NAIC 335931

Current-Carrying Wiring Device Manufacturing

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

26companies1883–2000founding years26still active0no longer operating
§ 01

The industry over time

Companies foundedEconomyTechnologyEnvironment
FoundedThe Lamson & Sessions Co.FoundedThe Lamson & Sessions Co.
1883
FoundedGeneral Electric Company
1892
1903
TechnologyThe Wright brothers achieve powered flight.
FoundedHubbell IncorporatedFoundedHubbell Incorporated
1905
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.
FoundedThomas & Betts Corporation
1917
1929
EconomyThe stock market crashes; the Great Depression begins.
1933
EconomyNew Deal reforms reshape banking and industry.
FoundedFederal Prison Industries, Inc.
1934
FoundedMolex IncorporatedFoundedMolex Incorporated
1938
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.
1956
EconomyThe Interstate Highway program remakes commerce.
1958
TechnologyThe integrated circuit is demonstrated.
FoundedTyco International Ltd.
1962
EnvironmentSilent Spring launches the modern environmental movement.
FoundedKaty Industries, Inc.FoundedKaty Industries, Inc.
1967
FoundedParlex Corporation
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.
FoundedPhoenix Mecano AG
1975
TechnologyThe personal-computer era begins with the Altair.
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.
1984
TechnologyApple ships the Macintosh; the GUI era begins.
FoundedNovar plcFoundedNovar plcFoundedSLI, Inc.
1985
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.
FoundedNexans SA
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

The Lamson & Sessions Co. →
Active · founded 1883
Mid- to Late 1960s: Diversification outside fastener sector begins.
The Lamson & Sessions Co. →
Active · founded 1883
Mid- to Late 1960s: Diversification outside fastener sector begins.
General Electric Company →
Active · founded 1892
The history of General Electric Company is a significant part of the history of technology in the United States.
General Electric Company →
Active · founded 1892
The history of General Electric Company is a significant part of the history of technology in the United States.
Hubbell Incorporated →
Active · founded 1905
Hubbell Incorporated produces electrical and electronic items for commercial, industrial, utility, and…
Hubbell Incorporated →
Active · founded 1905
Hubbell Incorporated produces electrical and electronic items for commercial, industrial, utility, and…
Thomas & Betts Corporation →
Active · founded 1917
Thomas & Betts Corporation (T&B) is a leading global manufacturer of electrical connectors and components.
Thomas & Betts Corporation →
Active · founded 1917
Thomas & Betts Corporation (T&B) is a leading global manufacturer of electrical connectors and components.
Federal Prison Industries, Inc. →
Active · founded 1934
Federal Prison Industries, Inc., which is known by the trade name UNICOR, is a federal government-owned corporation…
Federal Prison Industries, Inc. →
Active · founded 1934
Federal Prison Industries, Inc., which is known by the trade name UNICOR, is a federal government-owned corporation…
Molex Incorporated →
Active · founded 1938
Late 1940s:Krehbiel's son, John H.
Molex Incorporated →
Active · founded 1938
Late 1940s:Krehbiel's son, John H.
Tyco International Ltd. →
Active · founded 1962 · Bermuda
Tyco International Ltd.
Tyco International Ltd. →
Active · founded 1962 · Bermuda
Tyco International Ltd.
Katy Industries, Inc. →
Active · founded 1967
Katy Industries, Inc.
Katy Industries, Inc. →
Active · founded 1967
Katy Industries, Inc.
Parlex Corporation →
Active · founded 1970
Parlex Corporation is a world leader in the flexible circuitry and laminated cable assemblies used throughout the…
Parlex Corporation →
Active · founded 1970
Parlex Corporation is a world leader in the flexible circuitry and laminated cable assemblies used throughout the…
Phoenix Mecano AG →
Active · founded 1975 · Switzerland
Phoenix Mecano AG produces a variety of electrotechnical and mechanical components.
Phoenix Mecano AG →
Active · founded 1975 · Switzerland
Phoenix Mecano AG produces a variety of electrotechnical and mechanical components.
Novar plc →
Active · founded 1985 · United Kingdom
Novar plc is a U.K.-based corporation consisting of three primary business segments: security systems, aluminum product…
Novar plc →
Active · founded 1985 · United Kingdom
Novar plc is a U.K.-based corporation consisting of three primary business segments: security systems, aluminum product…
SLI, Inc. →
Active · founded 1985
For the past 29 years, SLI, Inc.
SLI, Inc. →
Active · founded 1985
For the past 29 years, SLI, Inc.
Nexans SA →
Active · founded 2000 · France
France's Nexans SA is one of the world's largest manufacturers, installers, and integrators of cables and systems,…
Nexans SA →
Active · founded 2000 · France
France's Nexans SA is one of the world's largest manufacturers, installers, and integrators of cables and systems,…
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